Philadelphia, PA -- (Sports Network) - It was a scene repeated at several locales last Saturday. The reality of a sudden end to playoff dreams following the first round of the NCAA Division I National Football Championships.

At Appalachian State, James Madison was preparing to set up for a potential game-winning field goal against the two-time defending national champion when a fumble and a recovery by ASU's Pierre Banks with 22 seconds left brought the game to a stunning end.

With the realization that they had lost 28-27, the Dukes players resembled zombies as they slowly and silently left the Kidd Brewer Stadium field.

A couple of hours later, the scene was repeated in Missoula, Mont.

The Grizzlies were trailing 23-22 after Wofford's Michael Hobbs scored on a six-yard touchdown blast with 32 seconds left. When quarterback Cole Bergquist moved Montana into position for a field goal attempt from 47 yards on the final play, the Washington-Grizzly Stadium crowd got ready to celebrate another close win.

But when Dan Carpenter's kick sailed wide, a perfect season and dreams of a national championship came crashing down.

At Northern Iowa's UNI-Dome, the top-seeded Panthers were teetering on the brink of elimination after Ricky Santos and Chad Kackert sparked New Hampshire to a fourth-quarter lead with 1:16 to play.

But it was the Wildcats who were stunned a short time later when UNI quarterback Eric Sanders found Montario Leonard open for a 22-yard scoring pass with seven seconds remaining.

The death of a dream was a lingering theme for McNeese State. The Cowboys trailed most of the way against Eastern Washington and had no answers as the Eagles rolled to a 44-15 win over the undefeated No. 2 seed.

The losses may not have been so sudden for Eastern Illinois against Southern Illinois, Eastern Kentucky against Richmond, Fordham against Massachusetts, or Delaware State against Delaware, but it didn't blunt the pain.

This weekend, we have four great quarterfinal games scheduled and after the first wild weekend, it will be fascinating to see how things play out. There is sure to be more heartbreak and heartache as the field is trimmed to the final four.

AND THE FINALISTS ARE ...

Voting was completed over the weekend for the Walter Payton Award, the Buck Buchanan Award and the Eddie Robinson Award, and the three finalists for the Payton honor were announced.

Three quarterbacks will be heading to Chattanooga, Tenn. on Dec. 13 for the annual Sports Network awards dinner, with one of them to be named the Payton Award winner.

Jayson Foster of Georgia Southern, Josh Johnson of San Diego and Eric Sanders of Northern Iowa, three quarterbacks of diverse styles, were named the finalists.

The Buchanan Award and Robinson Award winners will also be announced on Dec. 13.

FLY LIKE AN EAGLE

A year ago, Cal Poly linebacker Kyle Shotwell was awaiting news of his Buchanan Award candidacy. Last December, Shotwell became the third consecutive Cal Poly player to win the award, joining former teammates Chris Gocong and Jordan Beck.

This week, Shotwell is rejoining Gocong as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. Shotwell was signed to the Eagles' practice squad. Shotwell replaces linebacker William Kershaw, who was signed off the Philadelphia practice squad by the Houston Texans.

Ironically, all three of the top-vote-getters for the 2006 Buchanan Award have made their way through Philadelphia during the season. Former James Madison linebacker Akeem Jordan is playing with the Eagles and Appalachian State defensive end Marques Murrell was on the Philadelphia practice squad until being signed by the New York Jets a few weeks ago.

CHANGING TIMES

One of the things I hate worst about this time of year is the inevitable coaching changes that occur at the end of the season.

So far, Western Carolina has fired Kent Briggs, Rhode Island has relieved Tim Stowers of his duties, Alcorn State has let go Dr. Johnny Thomas and Florida A&M removed not only coach Rubin Carter, but also accepted the resignation of athletic director Nelson Townsend. FAMU announced that Samuel Bogan would replace Townsend on an interim basis.

Earlier in the season Texas Southern had fired Steve Wilson and replaced him temporarily with DeChon Burns, and Indiana State had axed Lou West and brought in former coach Dennis Raetz.

While lack of on-field success was at the center of all of these decisions, I can't help but feel sad to see these coaches go.

I remember a night in September of 2005 when Briggs, battling cancer, led Western Carolina to a big victory over Furman. Later that season, Briggs had his Catamounts playing for a share of the Southern Conference title.

I got to know Tim Stowers during his days at Georgia Southern, a school he led to the 1990 national championship. I renewed that relationship a few years later after Stowers had gone to Rhode Island to attempt rebuilding a resource- poor program.

Even more sad for me was seeing an entire football program come crashing down last week. Not only did a young and enthusiastic coach named Tim Miller lose his job when La Salle dropped football, but all of his players are now looking for a place to land as well.

More on La Salle at a later time.

FCS PLAYOFFS

No. 14 Eastern Washington (9-3) at No. 5 Appalachian State (10-2), Noon ET

It will be a giant-slayer from the Big Sky Conference, Eastern Washington, against the biggest Herculean opponent in FCS, two-time defending national champion Appalachian State, in a compelling quarterfinal that features two of the subdivision's best offenses.

How They Got Here

Eastern Washington finished as the runner-up to Montana in the Big Sky and earned an at-large bid. Last week, the Eagles went on the road and chewed up No. 2 seed McNeese State 44-15, ruining the Cowboys' perfect season. Dale Morris rushed 22 times for 130 yards and four TDs and Matt Nicholls completed 34-of-44 passes for 434 yards and two TDs.

Appalachian State tied for the Southern Conference championship with Wofford and earned an at-large bid. Last week, the Mountaineers scored on quarterback Armanti Edwards' five-yard dash with 1:10 remaining and forced a fumble with 22 seconds left as James Madison was getting in position for a potential winning field goal to hang on 28-27.

Offense

Eastern Washington uses multiple sets on offense, but the center of attention is the quarterback. Nicholls threw for just 1,749 yards with eight TDs and 17 interceptions last season as a freshman, but has made one of the most dramatic improvements of any quarterback in FCS as a sophomore. Nicholls has thrown for 3,559 yards, with 32 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Nicholls ranks sixth in passing efficiency and fifth in total offense (325 yards per game).

Aaron Boyce (80 catches, 15.9 average, nine TDs) heads up a good group of receivers. Perhaps the biggest key for the Eagles will be the play of running back Dale Morris (861 yards, 4.7 average, 11 TDs). Morris has games of 109 and 130 yards, two of only three 100-yard rushing games this season, in the past three games. EWU also boasts one of the top offensive lines in FCS, led by All-Americans Matt Alfred and Rocki Hanni. The Eagles are fourth in total offense (470 yards) and 18th in scoring (33.5).

Appalachian State has been one of the most successful proponents of the spread attack. Sophomore quarterback Armanti Edwards has 1,060 yards rushing and 16 TDs in just eight games, and has passed for 1,347 yards and nine touchdowns. Backup quarterback Trey Elder would rank near the top of the NCAA passing efficiency charts if he had thrown enough passes. Elder has 1,396 yards of total offense with eight TD passes, five rushing touchdowns and only three interceptions.

Kevin Richardson set ASU records for rushing (4,541) and all-purpose yardage (5,866). Richardson has 1,085 yards rushing, 31 catches and 16 total touchdowns. Tackle Kerry Brown is considered by many to be the top offensive lineman in FCS and is a two-time winner of the Southern Conference Jacobs Blocking Trophy. ASU has a bevy of dependable receivers, including speedster Dexter Jackson, Hans Batichon (44 catches) and CoCo Hillary. The Mountaineers are ranked third in scoring (41.6), fifth in total offense (469 yards), fifth in rushing (268 yards) and 11th in passing efficiency.

Defense

Eastern Washington has one of the top defensive ends in FCS with Greg Peach, who is seventh nationally in sacks (11) for a team that averages over two sacks per game. Jason Belford is also a pass rush threat. The Eagles are ranked 19th in pass efficiency defense, but have been scorched for 249 yards per game (104th) through the air - something that ASU is likely to exploit. EWU is better against the run, giving up 130 yards per contest. The Eagles are 23rd in scoring defense, allowing just 20.8 points per game.

Appalachian State's young defensive line - with three new starters - has been much-maligned and has been a major contributor to the fact the Mountaineers have allowed 202 yards per game (94th) on the ground. But ASU has one of the nation's most experienced secondaries with Buchanan finalist Corey Lynch at free safety and Jerome Touchstone and Justin Woazeah starting on the corners. All are four-year starters. Lynch is the FCS career leader in interceptions with 22. Touchstone missed most of last week's game with a nagging shoulder injury, but should be back this Saturday. Sophomore Cortez Gilbert backs Touchstone. Linebackers Pierre Banks, Jacque Roman (team-high 107 tackles) and D.J. Smith are probably the fastest trio in FCS. Roman had a career-high 19 tackles and a fumble recovery against James Madison. The Mountaineers rank 14th in tackles for loss and 20th in pass defense (173 yards). They allow 25.8 points per game (57th).

Special Teams

Eastern Washington has been pretty unremarkable on special teams. Kicker Felipe Macias is averaging almost a field goal per game, but has his share of misses. Fritz Brayton averages 39.8 yards per punt and is 46th in net punting at 33.1. Shane Eller is the top punt returner.

Appalachian State has made its mark by blocking kicks in the past two years. The Mountaineers have five this season, including two in the 34-32 victory over Michigan. Lynch, who had the college football play of the year with his last-second block against Michigan, has five blocked kicks in his past 18 games. Strong-legged Julian Rauch, a three-time Jewish All-American, is exceptional on kickoffs, but has slumped recently on placements. Rauch missed two extra points last week, but hit a key 44-yard field goal with ASU trailing by eight points in the fourth quarter. Jackson is a big threat as a punt returner, while Hillary has one kickoff return for a touchdown. Neil Young doesn't get much work with the ASU offense so dominating, but he is averaging 38.6 yards per punt and is 19th in net punting (35 yards).

What's next

The winner meets the survivor of the Richmond-Wofford game in the semifinals next week. Should Appalachian State win, it would almost certainly host the game at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Eastern Washington would likely be on the road with a victory.

Summary

Appalachian State has won 33 of its past 34 games at Kidd Brewer Stadium and led FCS in attendance during the regular season. The Mountaineers have won seven consecutive playoff games at home and nine straight since 2005. Eastern Washington faces a grueling cross-country trip from Cheney, Wash. to Boone, N.C.

The two teams have one common opponent. ASU beat Northern Arizona 34-21 at home on Sept. 15, but that was with Edwards on the sidelines with a shoulder injury. EWU toppled the Lumberjacks 52-24 on the road in a battle for second place in the Big Sky on Nov. 10. EWU and ASU have both won five consecutive games.

After receiving a big scare last week, Appalachian State should be focused this week and the Mountaineers will have a big speed advantage against the Eagles. EWU will have to force turnovers and control the ball to keep the ASU offense off the field, something that will be difficult for the Eagles to do.

Appalachian State 42, Eastern Washington 24

No. 13 Delaware (9-3) at No. 1 Northern Iowa (12-0), 2 p.m. ET

One of the top offenses in FCS faces one of the best defenses in a game that features two of the great programs in FCS.

How They Got Here

Delaware finished second in the Colonial Athletic Association South Division and earned an at-large bid. The Blue Hens dropped two of their last three games in the regular season, but rebounded last week to play well in the historic first meeting with Delaware State, winning 44-7.

Northern Iowa was undefeated in the regular season and won the Gateway Conference to draw the top seed and the league's auto bid. The Panthers survived a Ricky Santos-led comeback to beat New Hampshire, 38-35. Eric Sanders completed a 24-yard scoring strike to freshman Montario Leornard with seven seconds left to win it for UNI.

Offense

Delaware has shown a high-powered attack since the opening game, when Omar Cuff scored seven of his FCS-record 37 touchdowns. Cuff has run for 1,657 yards (seventh nationally) and is an effective receiver with 41 receptions. Quarterback Joe Flacco is 10th in total offense (285 yards) and 12th in passing efficiency, but the senior with 3,374 yards and 18 TDs passing has been less sharp in the past several games. Aaron Love has 59 catches. The Blue Hens are third in total offense (474 yards) and seventh in scoring (38.6).

Northern Iowa is all about efficiency on offense, and the Panthers have the perfect quarterback in Payton Award finalist Eric Sanders. Sanders is fourth in passing efficiency and 29th in total offense (224 yards), but the four-year starter is better as a leader than he is for piling up stats. Corey Lewis rushed for a career-high 220 yards against New Hampshire in the playoffs and has 1,363 yards and 16 TDs for the season. Lewis also has 47 pass receptions. Johnny Gray has 61 catches and 10 touchdowns overall. The Panthers are ninth in scoring (36.8), 13th in rushing (232 yards) and seventh in total offense (457 yards).

Defense

Delaware doesn't look so bad on paper, but the numbers don't tell the whole story. The Blue Hens are vulnerable to big plays, even though they rank 30th nationally in total defense (336 yards). Delaware is just 49th in scoring defense (24.5). They give up 161 yards rushing (59th) and 174 yards passing (21st). Defensive end Matt Marcorelle is the top defender for the Blue Hens, while linebackers Erik Johnson and Anthony Bratton lead in tackles.

Northern Iowa has been as consistently good as any defense in the country. The Panthers are third in scoring defense (15.0), sixth in rushing defense (92 yards) and 11th in total defense (297 yards). Defensive tackle Mark Huygens is a key performer in the middle of the defense and linebacker Brannon Carter was named the Gateway defensive player of the year. If the Panthers have a weakness on defense, it is against the pass. UNI is giving up 205 yards per game through the air. The Panthers lost three-year starting safety Chris Parsons to dismissal for a violation of team rules, but they still have athletic Clifford Waters at the other safety spot.

Special Teams

Delaware has a good kickoff returnman in Kevin Michaud (21.1) and Jon Striefsky has been near-perfect, hitting 17-of-19 field goals. Striefsky's misses, however, have been costly in late-season losses to Richmond and Villanova. The Blue Hens are 43rd in net punting (33.3).

Northern Iowa has a dangerous returnman in Gray, who is second national in punt returns (17.7). Billy Hallgren is 15-of-23 on field goals and has a strong leg. The Panthers are 75th in net punting (31.7).

What's next

Whoever wins this game will likely be at home if Massachusetts is the opponent in the semifinals, with UNI as the top seed and Delaware with its drawing power and ability to bid for a home game. UNI would be at home against Southern Illinois, because of the higher seed, but Delaware would have to travel to SIU.

Summary

Northern Iowa has experienced a magical ride to the quarterfinals and will be tough to beat at the UNI-Dome. The teams have one common opponent in New Hampshire. Northern Iowa beat the Wildcats 38-35 last week and Delaware lost 35-30 in a game that wasn't really that close. UNI will be one of the best defenses the potent Delaware offense has seen, and the Panthers should be able to score against the Blue Hen defense. Lewis for UNI and Cuff for Delaware will be the key players as the two teams put an emphasis on ball control. UNI's defense and its home-field advantage should prove enough for the Panthers to advance.

Northern Iowa 31, Delaware 24

No. 7 Massachusetts (10-2) at No. 4 Southern Illinois (11-1), 3:15 p.m. ET

The defending national finalist, UMass, goes up against a Southern Illinois team that has struggled to get past the quarterfinals in recent years.

How They Got Here

UMass won the Colonial Athletic Association North Division title and shared the overall CAA crown with Richmond. The Minutemen won a coin toss to draw the automatic bid into the tournament. UMass broke a 35-all tie with Fordham on two Matt Lawrence touchdown runs in the fourth quarter to win 49-35 at home.

Southern Illinois finished second in the Gateway Conference and earned an at- large bid and the No. 4 seed. The Salukis dominated Eastern Illinois 30-11 behind a 234-yard passing performance by quarterback Nick Hill at home.

Offense

UMass is at its best when it is able to establish the running game with Lawrence (1,473 yards, 5.0 average, 16 TDs) and then get the passing game going with quarterback Liam Coen. But Coen hasn't broken loose that often in an injury-plagued junior season. Coen managed to come through with his best game of the year last Saturday when he completed 24-of-37 passes for 419 yards and four TDs. Coen has passed for 2,670 yards, with 27 TDs and 11 interceptions. He ranks 10th in passing efficiency and 37th in total offense (216 yards). J.J. Moore (73 catches, five TDs) and Rasheed Rancher (44 catches, eight TDs) give Coen a pair of quality receivers. The Minutemen are 25th in scoring offense (31.3 points), but rank just 43rd in total offense (392 yards).

Southern Illinois used to be a team that would look to establish the running game and mix in an occasional pass, but the Salukis have taken advantage of Hill's passing prowess to become more of a passing team. Hill has thrown for 2,853 yards, but even more impressive is his 25 touchdown passes against only four interceptions. The left-handed passer is third nationally in passing efficiency and 17th in total offense (261 yards). John Randle has taken advantage of a strong offensive line to run for 856 yards and 10 TDs, but he doesn't read holes, or make something out of nothing like Arkee Whitlock did. Larry Warner has added 461 yards and four touchdowns and Deji Karim has 386 yards and eight scores. Hill has managed his great season without a great receiver. Justin Allen has 52 catches and six TDs and Alan Turner has added 36 catches and seven TDs. The Salukis are fourth in scoring (39.9) and ninth in total offense (453 yards). SIU is about as balanced as you can get between running (23rd, 205 yards) and passing (21st, 248 yards).

Defense

UMass still likes to put tremendous pressure on offenses with its blitz packages, but teams seem to have found ways to combat those schemes this season. The Minutemen still rank fourth in sacks (3.4), eighth in passing efficiency defense, ninth in rushing defense (105 yards), 11th in total defense (297 yards) and 13th in scoring defense (17.9 points). But the Minutemen can be burnt by the pass and are allowing 192 yards per game (44th). Defensive end David Burris is 14th in sacks (9.5), while Charles Walker and Jason Hatchell are among the leaders in tackles.

Southern Illinois doesn't necessarily excel in any aspect of defense, but has played consistently enough to rank ninth in scoring defense (16.3) and 17th in total defense (318 yards). James Cloud has been a big-play performer at defensive end, while Chauncey Mixon and Brandin Jordan lead a solid linebacking corps. The Salukis are 11th nationally with 18 interceptions and rank 21st in turnover margin.

Special Teams

UMass received as big a boost as any team last year from its punting game, but after the graduation of Christian Koegel, the Minutemen have seen their net punting average drop from 40.9 to 29.5 (102nd) under Brett Arnold. Chris Koepplin is also erratic on placements. Courtney Robinson is averaging 25.7 yards per kickoff return and Moore can be dangerous as a punt returner.

Southern Illinois has one of the top returnmen in the country with Craig Turner, who is 23rd in kickoff returns (26.3) and 25th in punt returns (10.9). Kyle Dougherty helped SIU win an important game against Western Illinois with his clutch kicking and is 14-of-17 this season with 99 points. The Salukis are 13th in net punting (40.0).

What's next

If Southern Illinois wins, it would be on the road against No. 1 Northern Iowa, or would be at home against Delaware. UMass would likely be on the road for the semifinals against Northern Iowa, or Delaware.

Summary

Southern Illinois has been observing the top teams around FCS and has slowly built up its core of athletes. This is the most balanced team and the most overall athletic squad that Jerry Kill has fielded at SIU. The Salukis have always had a weakness on defense when they have gotten to the playoffs, but most of those holes have been plugged. Ironically, in a year where SIU has a great passer in Hill, it also lacks the dominant running back like Whitlock or Brandon Jacobs that it has featured in the past. One problem has been the Salukis' tendency to fall behind early in games, something that can be fatal in the playoffs.

UMass did enough to win 10 of 12 games, but has seemed to be missing the chemistry it had in last year's championship game drive. There have been times when the blitzing Minuteman defense has struggled and others when the offense has been inconsistent. The vulnerability on defense showed up again in the first round of the playoffs as UMass gave up 407 yards, including 281 through the air. Coen has seemed to get stronger after nursing a knee injury since the third game of the year. But playing a strong opponent on the road, the Minutemen will need to be firing on all cylinders to have a chance.

Southern Illinois 38, Massachusetts 28

No. 6 Richmond (10-2) at No. 11 Wofford (9-3), 7 p.m. ET

Two teams that like to grind thing outs on the ground, Richmond and Wofford, meet in what should be a hard-fought game between co-champions of two of the top leagues in FCS.

How They Got Here

Richmond won the Colonial Athletic Association South Division title and tied UMass for the overall CAA crown. The Spiders lost a coin toss for the automatic bid from the conference, but received an at-large berth. Richmond crushed Eastern Kentucky 31-14 at home, forcing four turnovers against a team that ranked first nationally in turnover margin, as Tim Hightower rushed 31 times for 180 yards and a touchdown.

Wofford shared the Southern Conference title with three-time consecutive winner Appalachian State and won the automatic bid. The Terriers beat No. 3 seed Montana 23-22 at home on a six-yard scoring run from fullback Michael Hobbs with 32 seconds left and a missed 47-yard field goal attempt by Montana's Dan Carpenter on the final play.

Offense

Richmond has put its trust in Hightower, who ranks sixth in rushing with 1,741 yards and 18 TDs. He also has 30 catches and three more touchdowns in the passing attack. Josh Vaughan has complemented Hightower with 690 yards and nine TDs. Quarterback Eric Ward is asked to not make mistakes. He is 46th nationally in passing efficiency and 50th in total offense (194 yards). Ward has 1,952 yards passing and 13 touchdowns, but has been picked off nine times. The Spiders are 12th nationally in rushing (248 yards), but just 85th in passing (167 yards), and rank 24th overall (415 yards) and 14th in scoring (36.1).

Wofford has been tough to slow down when running the football from its wingbone attack. The Terriers rank second nationally (319 yards) and are 11th in total offense (438 yards) and 13th in scoring (36.2). The Terriers have improved their passing attack, but still only pass for 118 yards per game (110th). Quarterback Josh Collier averages 130 yards of total offense per game. He has rushed for 515 yards and thrown for 918, with 15 total touchdowns. Halfback Kevious Johnson is the game-breaker for the Terriers with 1,174 yards and 11 touchdowns. Hobbs (467 yards) must also be contained from the fullback slot. Andy Strickland leads the Terriers with 24 receptions and five TDs, while tight end Fenn Allen (16 catches) can be another target in the passing attack.

Defense

Richmond wasn't sure what to expect when the Spiders returned only three starters entering 2007. It also didn't help to lose All-American-caliber defensive end Sherman Logan to a career-ending injury. But the young Spiders have flourished enough to rank 21st in rushing defense (125 yards), 35th in scoring (22.4) and 42nd in total defense. Richmond is seventh in sacks, but the Spiders have struggled in passing defense and are ranked 86th nationally (225 yards). Linebacker Collin McConaughy leads the defense in sacks and tackles for loss and is second in total tackles (102) to linebacker Eric McBride (113 tackles).

Wofford has had its share of ups and downs on defense. The Terriers rank 63rd in total defense (373 yards) and 54th in scoring (25.2). Wofford has been better against the run (45th, 147 yards) than the pass (88th, 226 yards). Safety Dan Tavani, the son of Lafayette coach Frank Tavani, is playing in the secondary despite torn knee ligaments, putting more of the load on Brian Kemp in the secondary. Linebacker Seth Goldwire has 101 tackles to lead the Terriers. Matt Norcia and James Gonsoulin are the main pass rushers.

Special Teams

Richmond has the second-ranked kickoff returner in the country with Justin Rogers (32.1) and is also tough on punt returns with Derek Hatcher (14th at 12.4), Andrew Howard has been a solid 15-of-20 on field goals. The Spiders are 30th in net punting (34.4).

Wofford has a kicking game it doesn't really trust. Patrick Mugan is 8-of-10 on field goals, but the Terriers need to be in close range to try to kick. Freshman Sean Lees has been a big addition as a kick returner (25.4). But the Terriers rank 109th in punt returns. Wofford is 30th in net punting (34.4).

What's next

Richmond and Wofford would be on the road for the semifinals if Appalachian State wins on Saturday. Should Eastern Washington beat ASU, Wofford or Richmond would likely host in the semifinals.

Summary

This could be the most competitive of the four quarterfinal games on Saturday. The team that wins the turnover battle and controls the ball on the ground will likely be the one that advances. Richmond has an advantage over many of Wofford's opponents, due to the fact that the Spiders have played two option teams this season, beating Bucknell 45-14 and Rhode Island 38-6. But the Terriers will be the best option team Richmond has faced and the misdirection element of the attack is different than most other triple-option attacks. Wofford is 4-2 at home and Richmond is 4-2 on the road. Wofford has an edge playing at home and is also the more experienced team, so that might tip the scales towards the Terriers.

Wofford 24, Richmond 20

GRIDIRON CLASSIC

No. 3 Albany (8-3) at No. 1 Dayton (10-1), 1 p.m. ET

The Sports Network Cup will be riding on this game between the champions of the Northeast Conference and the Pioneer Football League. This is the second year of the Gridiron Classic.

Offense

Albany has built its attack around the running of sophomore David McCarty (1,369 yards rushing, 6.7 average, 11 TDs), who is 12th with 124.5 yards per game. The Great Danes rank 16th nationally in rushing (216 yards), but have struggled with their passing (156 yards, ranked 92nd). Quarterback Vinny Esposito has thrown for just 1,678 yards, but has 11 TDs and only six interceptions. Albany is 57th in total offense (372 yards) and 36th in scoring (29.1).

Dayton has relied heavily on multi-talented quarterback Kevin Hoyng to lead an attack that is ranked 10th nationally in total offense (451 yards), is tied for sixth in passing (297 yards) and eighth in scoring (38.6 points). Hoyng has passed for 3,001 yards and 28 touchdowns with just eight interceptions. He has also rushed for 625 yards and nine TDs. Hoyng ranks fourth in total offense (330 yards per game) and has 9,197 yards for his career. He is seventh in passing efficiency. J. Michael Jonard is Hoyng's favorite receiver with 55 catches and six TDs. Nick Ruhe has added 53 catches and four TDs as a possession-type receiver. Ben Shapple is the next best running threat with 467 yards. Justin Watkins only has 20 catches, but six have gone for touchdowns.

Defense

Albany is third in sacks, with Mark Sheehan (12th nationally) leading the defensive line. The Great Danes are sixth in turnover margin, 11th in tackles for loss, 12th in scoring defense (17.4), 14th in rushing defense (116 yards) and 23rd in total defense (321 yards). Linebacker Colin Disch was on the Buchanan Award watch list earlier in the season before injuries slowed him down. Other players to watch include Michael Dungey and Jon Volpe on the line, linebacker Dave Nicomini and defensive back L.B. McCloskey (three interceptions).

Dayton ranks first nationally in sacks, averaging over four per game. Scott Vossler, Bobby Burger and Sean Heenan are all ranked in the top 20 in sacks individually. Kalen Hemmelgarn is 27th. The Flyers are second in rushing defense (71 yards), fourth in total defense (273 yards) and scoring defense (15.1), fifth in tackles for loss (8.5 per game), sixth in turnover margin and 17th in passing efficiency defense. If the Flyers have a weakness on defense, it is in pass defense, where they are allowing 202 yards per game. Brian Kelly, Steve McDonald, Corey Vossler and Scott Vossler are all averaging six or more tackles per game.

Special Teams

Albany is 11th in kickoff returns (23.6) with Mike Wall leading the way. Daniel Bocanegra is a solid punt returner. Jason Fralicker is 13th in field goals (1.4 per game), while Chris Lynch averages 40.2 yards per punt.

Dayton has received solid play from Ruhe, who is averaging 102 all-purpose yards per game and is a threat as a punt returner. Joe Casteneda is averaging 24.4 yards per kickoff return. The Flyers are not in the national rankings in kicking or punting.

Summary

Albany has prepared for this game with a challenging schedule that included a win over Fordham and tough losses to Montana, Hofstra and Colgate. A 49-14 victory over Central Connecticut State clinched the NEC title for the Great Danes, who closed the season with seven consecutive wins. Dayton shocked the Mid-Major world with its 35-16 victory over San Diego. The Flyers lost 42-35 early in PFL play to Morehead State, but came back to win six straight games. With two defenses that are difficult to run on and like to rush quarterbacks, offensive line play could prove to be the difference. Dayton hasn't played as tough a schedule as Albany, but it has answered its challenges down the stretch in a competitive PFL, beating the likes of Drake. The two teams have two common opponents. Albany beat Robert Morris 45-17 and Fordham 23-20, while Dayton stopped Robert Morris 23-12 and Fordham 31-24. This one should be decided late and Dayton's home advantage could prove to be the difference. Dayton is 6-0 at home, while Albany is 5-2 on the road, including that trip to Montana.

Dayton 27, Albany 23