FCS Football Recap: Week 9 Takeaways

Week 9 of the FCS football season helped shape conference title races and the FCS Playoff picture. Four unranked teams pulled off upsets over Top-25 programs,

Week 9 of the FCS football season helped shape conference title races and the FCS Playoff picture. Four unranked teams pulled off upsets over Top-25 programs, including a massive Top-10 upset that could have a massive impact on the FCS Playoff picture. 

Below are some major takeaways from all the Week 9 FCS football action.

No. 1 South Dakota State Continues To Dominate The FCS

South Dakota State extended their winning streak to 22 games with a dominant win over South Dakota on Saturday. The Jackrabbits have defeated three Top-10 teams this season, including two Top-5 opponents. 

The Jackrabbits held South Dakota to 183 total yards and 3.5 yards per play. The Coyotes only had one drive for more than 40 yards and did not have a possession enter the red zone. Linebackers Isaiah Stalbird and Jason Freeman led the Jackrabbits with seven total tackles. 

South Dakota State continued to dominate on the ground with 266 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. Amar Johnson led the Jackrabbits with two rushing touchdowns and averaged 8.3 yards per carry.

Chaos has defined this FCS season with many top-ranked teams suffering upset losses, but the Jackrabbits continue to improve each week. This team has been dominant for the majority of this season and there is no question that the road to the FCS National Championship runs through Brookings.

No. 9 Idaho Stuns No. 2 Montana State In 24-21 Thriller

Montana State kicker Brendan Hall missed a 43-yard field goal with 18 seconds remaining as the Vandals stunned the Bobcats inside the Kibbie Dome. Saturday's win was the third win over a ranked opponent and the second win over a Top-5 program for Idaho this season.

Idaho dominated the time of possession, holding the ball for almost 42 minutes and limiting Montana State to 18 minutes of possession time. Quarterback Gevani McCoy completed 22-of-29 attempts for 229 passing yards and two passing touchdowns. Wide receiver Hayden Hatten led the Vandals with four receptions for 63 receiving yards and the game-winning touchdown with 2:47 remaining in the game. 

The Vandals held the No. 1 rushing attack in the country to only 128 rushing yards, which is a season-low for the Bobcats. Defensive back Tommy McCormick led the Vandals with eight total tackles. Idaho blocked a field goal at the end of the second quarter, which allowed the Vandals to take a 10-0 lead into halftime. 

No. 16 Florida A&M Punches Ticket To SWAC Championship

Florida A&M punched their ticket to the SWAC Championship game with a dominant win over Prairie View A&M and Alabama A&M's loss to Alabama State this weekend. The Rattlers now have a chance to win the first outright conference championship since 2001.

The offense was explosive against the Panthers, averaging 8.4 yards per play and rolling up over 450 yards of total offense. Quarterback Jeremy Moussa totaled 272 passing yards and three passing touchdowns. The rushing attack averaged over 6.0 yards per carry, led by Jaquez Yant with 63 rushing yards.

The Rattlers have been dominant defensively this season and the trend continued this weekend. Florida A&M's defense held the Panthers to 220 total yards and 3.3 yards per play while forcing three interceptions, including Tevin Griffey's pick-six in the fourth quarter. Linebacker Isaiah Major led the Rattlers with 11 total tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss.

Buck Buchanan Award Favorite Emerges At Tennessee State

The FCS award races are beginning to take shape as the season shifts to November and there is a new favorite for the Buck Buchanan Award. 

Tennessee State defensive lineman Terrell Allen has exploded onto the national scene after another dominant performance against Lindenwood this weekend. Allen led the Tigers with 10 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. He has now recorded four or more tackles for loss in three consecutive games.

Allen has totaled 46 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, and eight quarterback hurries this season. He leads the FCS in sacks, tackles for loss, and forced fumbles over the first nine weeks of the season. It's time to include Allen in the conversation for the best defensive player of the year and he may be the most dominant player in FCS football right now. 

Mercer Keeps FCS Playoff Hopes Alive vs. No. 10 Western Carolina

Mercer needed a signature win to keep their playoff hopes alive and the Bears delivered against Western Carolina this weekend. The Bears built a 28-7 lead in the second quarter and the deficit was too much to overcome for the Catamounts. 

The defense held the Catamounts to only 86 yards rushing and forced three interceptions from quarterback Cole Gonzales. Western Carolina has continued to struggle as running back Desmond Reid is sidelined with an injury. The Bears scored two defensive touchdowns, including a pick-six from safety Lance Wise to extend the lead to 35-14 early in the third quarter.

Wide receiver Ty James continues to be the star of the offense, leading the Bears with six receptions for 115 receiving yards and one touchdown. The Bears rushed for 210 yards and three touchdowns, led by Al Wooten II with 68 rushing yards. 

The Bears now sit at 6-3 with a Top-10 win on their resume and two losses to ranked opponents (Furman, Chattanooga). Wins over The Citadel and Samford could lock the Bears into a playoff bid for the first time in school history.

Other Notable Scores:

No. 3 Furman 16, ETSU 8
No. 5 Delaware 51, Towson 13
No. 6 Sacramento State 51, Idaho State 16
No. 7 Montana 40, Northern Colorado 0
No. 8 Incarnate Word 17, Lamar 7
No. 11 Southern Illinois 63, Western Illinois 0
No. 12 North Dakota State 38, Murray State 6
No. 13 North Carolina Central 62, South Carolina State 28
Gardner-Webb 38, No. 14 UT Martin 34
No. 15 North Dakota 36, Indiana State 33
No. 17 Chattanooga 24, VMI 23
Tarleton State 25, No. 18 Central Arkansas 23
No. 19 Villanova 48, Stony Brook 13
No. 20 Austin Peay 49, North Alabama 39
No. 21 Lafayette 35, Georgetown 25
No. 22 William & Mary 31, Monmouth 28
No. 23 Northern Iowa 24, Illinois State 21
No. 24 Youngstown State 44, Missouri State 28
Northern Arizona 38, No. 25 UC Davis 21
Holy Cross 49, Fordham 47 
Harvard 17, Dartmouth 7
UAlbany 37, Maine 21
Rhode Island 34, New Hampshire 28 (OT)
Portland State 47, Eastern Washington 35
Brown 30, Penn 26
Richmond 44, Campbell 13
Princeton 14, Cornell 3
Alabama State 31, Alabama A&M 16