Nov. 10, 2006

Special to CSTV.com from I-AA.org

(Poll: Sports Network. Notes are by I-AA Conferences and Schools. All games are 11/11/06.)

Between Ranked I-AA:

No. 3 Massachusetts (8-1) vs. No. 19 Maine (6-3)

No. 5 North Dakota State (8-1) vs. No. 9 Cal Poly (6-3)

No. 12 Northern Iowa (6-3) at No. 14 Southern Illinois (6-3)

Ranked I-AA vs. I-A:

None.

Ranked I-AA Idle:

No. 18 Montana State (7-3)

Ranked I-AA Capsules:

1. Appalachian State (9-1) at Western Carolina (2-7)

Where: Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, N.C.

When: 4:00 p.m.

Series: Appalachian State leads 51-18-1.

Notes: The Battle for the Old Mountain Jug. Last week Appalachian State defeated The Citadel 42-13 and Western Carolina lost to Liberty 21-0.  Appalachian State, which clinched the Southern Conference title last week, closes out the regular season at Western Carolina. The Mountaineers have held their last four opponents to just 11.8 points per game. Appalachian State leads the SoCon in six of eight major categories. Appalachian State's Kevin Richardson needs just 31 yards and Western Carolina's Darius Fudge needs 96 yards to reach the 1,000-yard plateau. Richardson, who scored 21 TDs a year ago, has 18 in 2006. Fudge is just one of two players (UTC's Eldra Buckley is the other) to average more than 100 yards per game on the ground.

2. Montana (8-1) at Northern Colorado (1-8)

Where: Nottingham Field, Greeley, Colo.

When: 12:05 p.m.

Series: Montana leads 5-1.

Notes: Montana can clinch a tie for the conference championship with a victory. It would be UM's ninth straight conference title. If UM beats Northern Colorado, the Grizzlies will need to beat MSU on Nov. 18 to win the title outright.  Montana won 20-10 in 1979, the last time the teams played in Greeley. Former Northern Colorado and Montana coach Joe Glenn will be honored during halftime. Montana ranks 11th in the nation in total defense, allowing 263.8 yards of total offense per game. The Grizzlies are eighth in nation against the run, allowing 100 yards per game. UNC ranks ninth in the Big Sky in scoring offense (11.7 points per game, passing offense (157.4 yards per game) and is seventh in total defense (388.8 ypg). UNC RB Andre Wilson needs 234 yards in his final two games to become the Bears' all-time leading rusher. Montana has won eight in a row, its longest winning streak since a 24-game win streak from 2001-2002. Montana is 3-1 on the road this season. UNC is 0-4 at home.

3. Massachusetts (8-1) vs. No. 19 Maine (6-3)

Where: McGuirk Alumni Stadium, Amherst, Mass.

When: 12:00 p.m.

Series: Massachusetts leads, 38-13-1.

Notes: Massachusetts has won seven of the past eight meetings in the series, which dates back to 1909. The Minutemen have won four straight at home over the Black Bears and hold a 21-3-1 advantage all-time in Amherst. The lone time UMass has been held scoreless in the series came in 1909. The two teams combined for 853 yards and seven turnovers in last year's contest.  Massachusetts is 4-0 at home this season and has outscored its opponents by a 165-37 margin. Senior WR Brandon London's 126 career receptions ranks third in UMass history. Maine seeks its first win in Amherst since 1996 and its first 6-1 start in Conference play since 1989. Black Bears senior QB Ron Whitcomb is 73 passing yards shy of reaching 8,000 for his career.

4. James Madison (8-1) at Villanova (4-5)

Where: Villanova Stadium, Villanova, Pa.

When: 1:00 p.m.

Series: James Madison leads, 7-6.

Notes: James Madison has won the past two meetings in the series and the two teams have met every year since 1993. Villanova senior S Allyn Bacchus and JMU T Corey Davis were high school teammates at Kecoughtan in Hampton, VA.  Maurice Fenner (127) and Alvin Banks (114) each rushed for over 100 yards and a touchdown as the Dukes held a 291-38 advantage in rushing yards in last season's contest. Villanova jumped out to a 28-0 first-half lead on Sat. in its 31-21 win over Richmond to snap a four-game home losing streak.  JMU had three scoring plays of at least 50 yards in its 44-24 win over Delaware on Sat., including a 70-yard touchdown pass by senior QB Justin Rascati to senior wideout D.D. Boxley.

5. North Dakota State (8-1) vs. No. 9 Cal Poly (6-3)

Where: Fargodome, Fargo, N.D.

When: 1 p.m.

Series: Cal Poly leads, 3-2.

Notes: James Noble rushed for 161 yards and a touchdown as Cal Poly throttled North Dakota State, 26-7 in last year's matchup. Kyle Shotwell had 11 tackles in the contest and registered one of four Mustang sacks in the game. Cal Poly also won in the 2004 Great West encounter, 13-10 in Fargo.  The statistics show that NDSU has the edge in several categories - first downs (184-128), touchdowns (35-20), pass completion percentage (61.5 - 44.4), and third down conversions (52.1%-29.3%). This will be the 33rd Harvest Bowl at NDSU, and the Bison have a 28-1-2 record in previous Harvest Bowl games.

6. Youngstown State (8-2) at Western Kentucky (5-4)

Where: L.T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, Ky.

When: 5:07 p.m.

Series: WKU leads 10-5.

Notes: It is Youngstown State's final game of the regular season. The Penguins can clinch at least a share of the conference championship with a win over the Hilltoppers. YSU came-from-behind to beat Southern Illinois last Saturday 31-24. Western Kentucky is coming off a 31-20 loss at Northern Iowa. The Hilltoppers have won three of four home games this year losing by one point to Illinois State. The game is the final Gateway contest for WKU as the school plans on joining the Division I-A ranks in the near future.  YSU enjoyed a 42-10 victory over the Hilltoppers in last year's season finale at Stambaugh Stadium. That game snapped a four-game losing streak to the Hilltoppers. But winning in Bowling Green has been tricky. In six trips, the Penguins have won just once -- a 17-14 victory in 1990. The `Guins lost 44-19 at WKU in 2004.

7. Illinois State (7-2) at Indiana State (1-9)

Where: Memorial Stadium, Terre Haute, Ind.

When: 11:05 a.m.

Series: Indiana State leads 28-27-2.

Notes: For the fourth time in the last five seasons, Illinois State will serve as the final opponent in Indiana State's season. The 'Birds have won the three previous matchups, including a 70-28 win last season at Hancock Stadium. The Redbirds have won seven of the last eight meetings. Returning from a high-ankle sprain last week, wide receiver Laurént Robinson enters the game in search of six catches for 116 yards. With each achievement, Robinson would become Illinois State's all-time leader in career receptions and receiving yards. Running back Pierre Rembert needs just 34 yards to reach the 2,000-yard milestone for his Illinois State career. He is also 74 yards shy of moving into sole possession of eighth place among ISU's alltime leading rushers. With 21 more passing yards, quarterback Luke Drone will become only the third Redbird in school history to pass for 5,000 yards in a career. The Sycamores' 41 points scored against Western Illinois last week in a loss were the most by an ISU offensive unit since the 2004 season.

8. Tennessee-Martin (8-1) vs. Eastern Kentucky (4-5)

Where: Graham Stadium, Martin, Tenn.

When: 1 p.m.

Series: EKU leads 17-0.

Notes: The Skyhawks have already registered wins against defending OVC champ Eastern Illinois and perennial league contender Jacksonville State. The strength of the team lies in the defense as UTM has allowed just 11.8 points per game against conference competition. Tennessee-Martin's defense ranks among the top-10 nationally in scoring defense, rushing defense, pass efficiency defense and total defense. Not to be overlooked, Don Chapman is one of three running backs in the OVC to average over 100 yards per game on the ground (115.9). The Colonels exploded for a season-high 51 points last week against rival Murray State. Eastern's offense registered five plays longer than 30 yards versus the Racers with four of those resulting in touchdowns. Quarterbacks Josh Greco and Allan Holland split time behind center last week. On defense, the Colonels tallied a season-best five sacks against Murray and were led by senior defensive tackle Mark Cristiani with 1.5 sacks and three quarterback hurries.

9. Cal Poly (6-3) at No. 5 North Dakota State (8-1) (see No. 5)

10. Furman (7-3) vs. Georgia Southern (3-6)

Where: Paladin Stadium, Greenville, S.C.

When: 3:30 p.m.

Series: Georgia Southern leads 12-5.

Notes: Last week Georgia Southern lost to Wofford 28-10 and Furman beat Elon 24-13. The Furman running game is led by Cedrick Gipson (76.7 yards per game with 4 TDs) and Jerome Felton (63.6 yards per outing and 22 touchdowns).  Renaldo Gray (115.0 yards per game) and Jordan Sorrells (81.6 yards per

game) combine for 196.6 passing yards. The two are completing 59 percent of their passes. Georgia Southern has the league's top running back combo in Chris Covington (84.1 yards per game with 8 TDs) and Lamar Lewis (79.4 yards per game with 6 scores). Georgia Southern comes into the game with Furman with a three-game losing streak. The Eagles are assured of a losing record for only the second time (1996) since football was revived in 1982.

11. Hampton (9-1) at Florida A & M (6-3)

Where: Bragg Memorial Stadium, Tallahassee, Fla.

When: 6 p.m.

Series: Florida A & M leads 10-4.

Notes: Hampton closes out the 2006 regular season and on the line for the Pirates is a chance to capture their third consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference MEAC) championship and the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs. A victory would make Hampton the first team since South Carolina State (1980-83) to win three consecutive league titles. In their last outing against Bethune-Cookman the Pirates got 180 yards rushing and two touchdowns from the MEAC Co-Player of the Week Alonzo Coleman as the Pirates doubled up the Wildcats, 34-17, at Armstrong Stadium in Hampton.  Defensively, Hampton held Bethune-Cookman to just 144 total yards over the final three quarters, while also blocking three kicks on special teams.  Florida A&M enters the game having won six of its last seven games, including two overtime victories over Tennessee State and Norfolk State.  With a conference record of 4-2, the Rattlers are currently sitting in third place, but a win over Hampton would put them in a two-way tie with the Pirates for second place.

12. Northern Iowa (6-3) at No. 14 Southern Illinois (6-3)

Where: McAndrew Stadium, Carbondale, Ill.

When: 3 p.m.

Series: UNI leads 14-10.

Notes: The teams have alternated wins since 1997 with the home team winning the past nine meetings. Southern Illinois has lost three of four after beginning the season 5-0. This past weekend, Southern Illinois lost to Youngstown State, 31-24. Running back Arkee Whitlock leads the Southern Illinois offense as he has tallied 1,191 yards on the ground and scored 14 rushing touchdowns. Whitlock is ranked fifth in the nation in rushing yards per game (132.3). Despite a 6-3 overall record, UNI is in the driver's seat for the Gateway Football Conference's automatic bid with two games remaining at Southern Illinois and at home against Illinois State (11/18). With two victories, UNI would clinch the league's bid into the NCAA I-AA playoffs.

13. New Hampshire (6-3) at Rhode Island (4-5)

Where: Meade Stadium, Kingston, R.I.

When: 12:00 p.m.

Series: New Hampshire leads, 48-27-5.

Notes: The two teams have split the last four matchups in the series, which began in 1905. Rhode Island has won two of the last three meetings in Kingston. New Hampshire scored 47 first-half points and had a pair of kick returns for touchdowns in last year's contest. Junior LB Husain Karim recorded his team-leading fourth double-digit tackle performance of the season on Sat. with 10 stops in the Wildcats' 28-20 loss to Massachusetts. Rhode Island downed Hofstra on Sat., 20-13, giving the Rams their first two-game winning streak in Nov. since 1990. URI leads the A-10 with 10 interceptions.

14. Southern Illinois (6-3) vs. No. 12 Northern Iowa (6-3) (see No. 12)

15. San Diego (9-0) vs. Dayton (4-5)

Where: Torero Stadium, San Diego, Calif.

When: 6:05 p.m.

Series: Dayton leads 10-3.

Notes: With 18 straight home wins, San Diego is also looking to set a new school mark with 10 wins to open a season. USD is currently tied with the 1981 Torero club with 9 straight wins. USD has won the last three meetings between the teams. Last season the Toreros earned a 48-24 road win over the Flyers. Fifteen seniors, playing their last home game, will be recognized in pre-game ceremonies. This past weekend the Flyers handed Valparaiso a 51-7 defeat to snap a 5-game PFL losing string. For the season the Flyers are paced by QB Kevin Hoyng (123-203 for 1,930 yards; 10 TDs), WR Carlton McFadgen (46 catches for 833 yards; 5 TDs), WR Nick Ruhe (45 catches for 911 yards, 3 TDs), RB Brandon Godsey (314 yards, 4 TDs), LB Brian Kelly (89 tackles) and DB John Hoppe (65 stops). With their 38-21 win at Jacksonville last week, the Toreros clinched their second consecutive PFL championship.  QB Josh Johnson earned his 5th PFL Player of the week honor after setting a school-record in total offense with 470 yards.

16. Coastal Carolina (7-2) at Gardner-Webb (6-3)

Where: Spangler Stadium, Boiling Springs, N.C.

When: 1:30 p.m.

Series: Coastal Carolina leads 2-1.

Notes: The Chanticleers have won the last two meetings, including a 34-31 overtime decision last year. In honor of Veteran's Day Saturday, GWU is offering free admission to veterans with proper ID, and will honor veterans during pregame ceremonies. Coastal Carolina is in the midst of a six-game win streak. The Chanticleers are looking to become the first Big South squad to open 3-0 in League play for three-straight seasons. Walter Payton Award candidate Tyler Thigpen broke the League's total offense record last week and stands at 2,781. Thigpen's 21 TD passes this year ties the Big South season record ... Thigpen is 281 yards shy of breaking the League's single-season passing record of 2,594. He also needs 33 yards to become the first QB in Big South history to rush for 500 yards in a season. WR Jerome Simpson's 11 TD receptions are a career-high and two shy of the League record. Gardner-Webb is coming off a 28-14 loss to Charleston Southern and will play its Big South season finale. The Bulldogs are looking to win three Big South games for the first time since 2003. In his last three games, Devin Campbell is averaging 22.7 completions and 284.7 passing yards. The Bulldogs' three losses have come against teams with a combined record of 26-2 (Appalachian State, UT-Martin, Charleston Southern) ... Brian Johnston has a career-best 60 tackles this season, and leads the Big South with 22 quarterback hurries.

17. Harvard (7-1) at Penn (4-4)

Where: Franklin Field, Philadelphia, Pa.

When: 1 p.m.

Series: Harvard leads 43-31-2.

Notes: Last year, Crimson linebacker Adam Miller had two interceptions to lead the Crimson defense that held Penn to just 59 rushing yards and 239 total yards in a 29-3 win. If Harvard running back Clifton Dawson rushes for 100 yards, Penn will be the first Ivy team he manages 100 against four times. He did so against Lafayette. Penn looked to be finished several times before becoming the first team in NCAA history to play three straight overtime games. Unfortunately for the Quakers, it was also their third straight overtime loss, this time 31-30 at Princeton. Senior running back Joe Sandberg ran for a career-high 174 yards on 23 carries, while senior receiver Matt Carre caught five passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns.

Sophomore quarterback Robert Irvin threw for a career-high 365 yards. The 24-7 victory over Columbia last week was the Crimson's 400th win in 103-year old Harvard Stadium, where Harvard is now 400-213- 34. It was also Harvard's 1,200th varsity football game. The Crimson limited Columbia to exactly minus-14 rushing yards for the second consecutive year. Four Crimson are ranked among the nation's top 20 in sacks -- junior end Desmond Bryant, senior tackle Michael Berg, sophomore end Sonny McCracken and junior end Brad Bagdis.

18. Montana State (7-3) IDLE

19. Maine (6-3) at No. 3 Massachusetts (8-1) (see No. 3)

20. Eastern Illinois (6-4) at Tennessee Tech (3-6)

Where: Tucker Stadium, Cookeville, Tenn.

When: 1:30 p.m.

Series: EIU leads 8-4.

Notes: EIU has won eight of the last ten for the series lead but Tennessee Tech won the last meeting in Cookeville with a 40-37 overtime victory. After starting the year with an 0-3 mark in non-conference play, Tennessee Tech knocked off Eastern Kentucky and Murray State in back-to-back weeks. The Golden Eagles win at Samford last week moved them to 3-3 in OVC play. Young quarterback Lee Sweeney has been impressive for TTU with 1,666 yards passing and 13 touchdowns this season. Larry Shipp has been Sweeney's top target with 41 catches for 644 yards and 6 touchdowns. Aaron Williams and Geoffrey Woods each have more than 11 tackles for loss this season on the defense.  Eastern Illinois lost its first homecoming contest of the season last week at Tennessee Martin with a 15-9 setback. The Panthers are taking part in four different homecoming games this season and now have a 2-1 record in those contests. Eastern Illinois had one of its most balanced attacks of the season on against Tennessee State. EIU rushed for 171 yards with Ademola Adeniji and Vincent Webb each picking up over 80 yards. The Panthers also completed 22 passes with eight different receivers catching at least one pass and five receivers catching multiple passes. Webb and Micah Rucker were to two top targets with 11 catches combined.

21. Princeton (7-1) at Yale (7-1)

Where: Yale Bowl, New Haven, Conn.

When: 12:30 p.m.

Series: Yale leads 70-48-10.

Notes: Yale, Princeton and Harvard are all 7-1 overall this season. The last time three Ivy League teams simultaneously had overall winning percentages of .875 or better after at least eight games was on Nov. 30, 1923. The last time Harvard, Princeton and Yale were all had a winning percentage of .875 or better at the same time was on Nov. 9, 1907. Last week Yale needed a late 71-yard catch from senior receiver Ashley Wright to beat Brown, 27-24.  Sophomore LB Bobby Abare intercepted three passes and returned one for a touchdown to help Yale stay undefeated in the Ivy League. Princeton scored a 31-30 double-overtime victory over Penn last week. Senior quarterback Jeff Terrell played a role in all four touchdowns for Princeton, throwing three scores along with a run. Junior wide receiver Brendan Circle caught nine passes for 96 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Tigers have been 14-4 in the last two seasons and all four losses have been by seven points or fewer.

22. South Dakota State (6-3) at Southern Utah (3-6)

Where: Eccles Coliseum, Cedar City, Utah

When: 1 p.m.

Series: Series is tied, 1-1.

Notes: The series began with a 23-17 Thunderbird win in double-overtime in Cedar City in 2004. SDSU evened the series last year, taking the opening kickoff back for a touchdown to set the tone in a 55-7 Jackrabbit win in Brookings. In last year's game, SDSU held SUU to minus 16 yards of offense on the first quarter on the way to a 28-0 lead. SDSU set a school record with 156 yards of interception return yardage. SUU avoided the shutout by scoring with 2:06 remaining in the game. Southern Utah has a 3-1 record at home this season, with the lone loss coming to co-Great West leader North Dakota State.

23. Portland State (6-4) at Sacramento State (4-5)

Where: Hornet Stadium, Sacramento, Calif.

When: 4:05 p.m.

Series: PSU leads 19-6.

Notes: Tim Walsh is 10-1 against the Hornets. The teams first met in 1965.  Since both teams joined the Sky in 1996, PSU is 9-1. Sacramento State's victory came in 1999, and was a 41-14 win. This is Portland State's final regular season game. PSU has scored 34 points in its last three league games, all victories. The Hornets are gunning for their third straight victory. The Hornets have not won three in a row since moving to I-AA in 1993. PSU radio play-by-play man Tom Hewitt will call his 100th career PSU game this Saturday. Sac State threw for a season-high 396 yards last week against Idaho State. It was a Hornet school record for passing yards on the road. PSU is allowing just 13.1 points in conference play. PSU is second in total defense (266.4 ypg) in conference games. Sacramento is averaging just 67 rushing yards per game in seven conference games. The Hornets can finish 5-3 in league for the first time since 2000 with a victory. The Vikings can finish 6-2 in league for the first time since 1999. PSU was 5-2 in Big Sky play in 2001. Hornet safety Brent Webber, who leads I-AA in interceptions per game, did not play last week because of an injury.

24. Charleston Southern (9-0) at Liberty (4-5)

Where: Williams Stadium, Lynchburg, Va.

When: 1:00 p.m.

Series: Liberty leads 11-2.

Notes: The Bucs won last year's meeting 31-30. As part of Veteran's Day Saturday, Liberty has invited civil servants and military personnel to attend at a discounted rate, and will ask military personnel to stand and be recognized at halftime. Charleston Southern has won 14 consecutive ballgames, the second-longest winning streak in I-AA. The Bucs have also won five-straight Big South games. CSU is 2-0 in the Big South for the first time. Collin Drafts has been named a I-AA.org weekly All-Star and National Offensive Player of the Week by Football Gazette. Drafts has thrown a touchdown pass in his last 18 contests, dating back to last year. His 21 TD passes this year ties the Big South season record. Maurice Price's 84 receptions are a Big South season record. Liberty is coming off a 21-0 win over Western Carolina last week, its Big South-record third shutout of the season. Liberty is first in the League and 10th nationally in scoring defense at 13.33 points, and first in the Conference in total defense (302.22). Both averages are pacing ahead of the Big South's single-season records. Liberty is looking to snap a six-game Conference losing streak, dropping all six by a combined 22 points for an average of 3.7 points per game. RB Zach Terrell has scored a TD in four-straight games (seven total) and has rushed for 388 yards in his last three outings (129.3 per game).

Rashad Jennings remains the Big South's leading rusher with 866 yards, and needs 134 to record just the fifth 1,000-yard rushing season in League history.

25. Richmond (5-4) vs. Towson (6-3)

Where: UR Stadium, Richmond, Va.

When: 1:00 p.m.

Series: Richmond leads, 2-0.

Notes: Richmond registered eight sacks and converted three turnovers into touchdowns in last year's meeting. The Spiders dropped their third straight game on Sat. at Villanova, 31-21, despite a season-high 124 receiving yards and two touchdowns from junior WR Arman Shields. UR senior LB Lance Gray has recorded double-digit tackles in four of his last five games. Towson is 4-0 on the road for the first time since 1986 and seeks its first seven-win season since 2000. Junior DB Kenny Scott collected a career-high 15 tackles and intercepted a pass in the Tigers' 29-28 loss to William & Mary on Sat. TU sophomore QB Sean Schaefer has thrown at least one touchdown pass in each of his 19 career starts.