Extra Point - First Round Recap: Contenders hold serve

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11/26/2006 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A few of the underdogs took their best shot, while others were blown off the field before the start of the fourth quarter. In the end, the teams that have their sights set on the ultimate goal got past the playoff upstarts to set up a strong quarterfinal field filled with programs holding legitimate title aspirations.

Appalachian State, Montana, Massachusetts and Youngstown State kept the playoff seeds intact by marching on to the quarterfinals, while Montana State, Southern Illinois, New Hampshire and Illinois State will join them after a day where the top conferences and top teams lived up to their billing.

There was one contender to fall, but we all knew that a top team would go down in the first round of the NCAA Division I Football Championship as soon as the committee sent James Madison to fourth-seeded Youngstown State in a first round battle of the titans. The showdown game of the first round played out like it, as the Penguins rallied from a 31-20 fourth-quarter deficit with a pair of late touchdowns for a 35-31 victory over the Dukes. The game was back-and-forth throughout the first half, with the Penguins going into the half with a 20-17 edge. James Madison came out strong in the third quarter to take the lead, and grabbed a 31-20 advantage with 14:52 to play in the game on a 27-yard run by Justin Rascati. The Penguins fought back, and finished a six-play, 52-yard drive with a six-yard scoring strike and two-point conversion from Tom Zetts to T.J. Peterson with 8:06 to play to cut the deficit to three.

James Madison marched right back down the field, and appeared to be on the verge of putting the game away in the final minutes. But the Youngstown State defense stepped up, and the Penguins got the ball back when they stopped Rascati on a fourth-and-1 play from the 12-yard line with 4:41 to play. Zetts completed a third-and-15 pass to Peterson for 30 yards to get the drive started, and moved the ball to the James Madison 23 with three more completions to go along with a pass interference penalty. Running back Marcus Mason took over from there, as he ran four times and put the Penguins ahead with a one- yard touchdown with 1:12 to play. The Dukes moved into Youngstown State territory on the final possession, but Rascati was stopped short of a first down on fourth down play at the Penguin 38 with just a few seconds remaining.

Mason tallied 72 yards and two touchdowns, but Zetts really came through with the big day with 24-of-40 passing for 314 yards and a touchdown. Youngstown State extends its home playoff winning streak to 13 games, and gets its first playoff win since advancing to the national championship game in 1999.

The Penguins will next host an Illinois State team that they physically handled in a 27-13 victory on Oct. 28. The Redbirds have been considered a contender all season because of an explosive offense that can run and pass effectively. While they have the firepower to move on further, the Redbirds will need to produce much more than they did in an ugly 24-13 first round victory at Eastern Illinois that featured a combined seven interceptions and no touchdown passes. Quarterback Luke Drone completed 16-of-33 passes for 177 yards and four interceptions, one of which was returned 87 yards for a touchdown by Terrance Sanders to put Eastern Illinois ahead, 13-10, with 10:48 to play. But Drone and the offense had their chance for redemption, and Pierre Rembert capped off a 122-yard day with an 18-yard touchdown run to put the Redbirds up, 17-13, with 2:07 to play. Jesse Caesar sealed the 24-13 victory with a 45-yard interception return for a score with one minute to play. It was also the second interception return for a score on the day for the Redbirds, and finished off a dominating defensive effort with three interceptions and only 138 yards allowed.

A stout defensive effort wasnt the only part of the resounding wins for No. 1 seed Appalachian State and Montana State, who will meet in the quarterfinals in Boone. The Mountaineers defensive numbers from a 45-28 victory over Coastal Carolina dont look all that spectacular, but a complete first-half effort on both sides of the ball gave Appalachian State a 31-0 halftime lead and made the second half yardage and points a formality. Quarterback Armanti Edwards ran for 172 yards and two scores and threw for 226 yards and three touchdowns, while Kevin Richardson ran for 156 yards and a score. The Mountaineers rolled for 179 rushing yards and 356 yards of total offense in the first half alone on their way to a school-record 560 yards of total offense. The Mountaineer defense held Coastal Carolina to 115 yards of total offense in the first half, and the home field dominance continued with their 25th victory in a row at Kidd-Brewer Stadium.

Montana State will make the journey to the mountains of North Carolina next week, though the cold weather and raucous environment is not likely to faze a team that has been rolling since the middle of October. The Bobcats were one of the last teams in the field, but they left no doubt that they belong by jumping out to a 31-0 lead in the third quarter and cruising to a 31-13 victory at home against Furman. Montana State limited Furman to one net rushing yard in the first half and only 123 yards of total offense through three quarters, and used big plays from the offense and special teams to get on the scoreboard. Jack Rolovich connected on a 51-yard touchdown strike to Donnell Wheaton early in the first quarter, and a blocked punt for a touchdown followed by a 25-yard scoring pass from Rolovich to Michael Jefferson within a 30-second span in the second quarter gave the Bobcats a 24-0 edge with 8:53 to play until halftime. Rolovich threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns to help lead the Bobcats to their first playoff victory since the national championship season of 1984.

Winning playoff games is more common in the Western part of Montana, and the Montana Grizzlies would not be upstaged by their in-state rival with a 31-6 thrashing of McNeese State for their fifth trip to the quarterfinals in the past seven seasons. The Grizzlies trailed, 3-0, early, but took the lead in the middle of the first quarter on a 50-yard touchdown pass from Josh Swogger to Dan Beaudin. Montana never looked back from there, as a dominating all-around effort and a big day from Swogger propelled them to a victory. Swogger hit a 14-yard scoring strike to Eric Allen with 13 seconds remaining in the first half to give Montana a 17-6 halftime edge, and threw a pair of touchdown passes to Craig Chambers in the third quarter to provide the final margin. Swogger had one of his best days as a Grizzly with 18-of-26 passing for 259 yards and four touchdowns with only one interception. That effort was just part of a Grizzly offense that tallied 514 yards of total yardage, including a productive day on the ground with 230 yards. Montanas defense was just as stellar with just 224 yards of total offense and no touchdowns allowed, and the No. 2 seed Grizzlies move on to the quarterfinals and maintain homefield advantage in the bottom half of the bracket.

Southern Illinois will be the next visitor to Missoula after using a furious rally to come back from a 27-7 deficit and knock off playoff newcomer Tennessee-Martin, 36-30. The Salukis won it with a 45-yard scoring strike from Nick Hill to Alan Turner with 57 seconds remaining in the game, but they had to get a huge game from superstar running back Arkee Whitlock to get to that point. Whitlock ran for 207 yards and four touchdowns, and took over when the Skyhawks opened up a 27-7 lead on a 13-yard touchdown run by Donald Chapman early in the third quarter. Whitlock scored from 11 yards out on the Salukis next possession, and reeled off a 47-yard touchdown run to cut it to 27-21 with 3:41 to play. Whitlock scored his third touchdown in a row to give the Salukis a 28-27 lead, though UT Martin took a 30-28 lead before Hill led an eight-play, 80-yard drive to set up the final heroics. The Salukis advance to the quarterfinals for the second year in a row.

Whitlocks exploits were matched by a fellow offensive star that lifted his team to victory on Saturday. New Hampshire quarterback Ricky Santos completed 27-of-40 passes for 315 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Wildcats back late for a 41-38 victory at Hampton. On a fourth-and-16 play, Santos connected with Chad Kackert for a 25-yard touchdown with 4:40 to play to put the Wildcats back on top, and the defense held on the rest of the way for a win. It looked like the game could become even more of a shootout early on, with the Pirates taking a 21-13 lead at the end of the first quarter and New Hampshire battling back with three second-quarter touchdowns for a 34-21 lead at halftime. The Pirates came back to take a 35-34 lead in the third quarter, and grabbed a 38-34 advantage before Santos heroics. New Hampshire wide receiver David Ball improved his NCAA Division I touchdown receptions record to 58 with a pair of TD catches, and Hamptons Alonzo Coleman became the 10th player in Division I history, and third in I-AA/FCS this year, to go over 1,000 yards rushing for the fourth year in a row.

New Hampshire moves on to the quarterfinals for the third year in a row, but the Wildcats will need a different result in a rematch against Massachusetts to make it any further. The No. 3 seed Minutemen, who beat the Wildcats, 28-20, in Durham on Nov. 4, will host the rematch after knocking off Lafayette, 35-14. Massachusetts looked like it was going to blow the game open right from the start, with a pair of Steve Baylark touchdown runs for a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and a 33-yard scoring strike from Liam Coen to Mike Omar making it 21-0 early in the second quarter. But a pair of Massachusetts turnovers followed by a quick strike passing game allowed Lafayette to cut the deficit to 21-14 by the half, and it stayed that way until late in the third quarter. Coen threw his second TD pass of the day to make it 28-14, and the Minutemen added a fourth-quarter score to pull away. Massachusetts limited Lafayette to 61 yards on the ground, and got 152 yards and two scores from Baylark to move to the quarterfinals for the first time since 1999.

The general perception of the strength of the Gateway, Atlantic 10, Big Sky and Southern Conferences was validated on Saturday, as those leagues combined for an 8-2 record and did not lose to any of the other leagues. The Gateway Conference certainly validated my preseason and midseason designation as the best conference in I-AA/FCS, as Youngstown State, Illinois State and Southern Illinois completed a perfect 3-0 day for the league and even locked up at least one spot in the semifinals with the Penguins and Redbirds facing off next week. The Big Sky is right there as well, as both Montana and Montana State not only advance but do so in impressive fashion. The Atlantic 10 got two of its three playoff teams through to the second round, and will have a semifinalist with New Hampshire and Massachusetts facing off next week. The Southern Conference took a split with Appalachian State and Furman, but the league can still boast the No. 1 seed Mountaineers.

Where there are conference winners, there are losers as well. Two leagues that have not experienced any postseason success recently had their losing streaks extended in heartbreaking fashion. The Ohio Valley Conference saw its playoff losing streak balloon to nine and remained winless in the postseason since 2000 as both Eastern Illinois and UT Martin saw fourth-quarter leads slip away. The same thing happened to Hampton, and the MEAC now has a nine-game postseason losing streak without a win since 1999. The Patriot League saw its playoff skid go to six games after Lafayettes loss to Massachusetts, while the Southland Conference did not advance a team out of the first round for the first time since 2003. Coastal Carolina, the first playoff representative from the Big South, dropped its first-ever playoff contest.

Below is a capsule summary of each team remaining in the field, with historical information, personnel evaluations, and a formula for defeating each team included.

#1 APPALACHIAN STATE (11-1, 7-0 Southern)

How They Got Here: automatic bid, Southern Conference. Quarterfinals: Montana State. First Round: Defeated Coastal Carolina, 45-28. Playoff Appearances: 14th (86, 87, 89, 91, 92, 94, 95, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 05, 06). Playoff Record: 13-12 (one national championship). Head Coach: Jerry Moore, 151-68, 18th year at Appalachian State.

Appalachian State summary: The Mountaineers havent missed a step since winning the national title last season, and they sure didnt miss much in the first round, either. Appalachian State jumped out to a 31-0 halftime lead and ran for 334 yards for the game in a 45-28 victory over Coastal Carolina that was not as close as the final score indicates. That victory gives the Mountaineers a 19- game overall winning streak against I-AA/FCS teams, and they extended the home winning streak to 25 in a row. The offense can spread out and produces 224.8 yards per game on the ground, and got huge games in the first round from running back Kevin Richardson (1221 yards, 20 TD) and freshman quarterback Armanti Edwards (1862 passing yards, 14 TD/8 INT). Richardson ran for 156 yards and a score against Coastal Carolina, while Edwards threw for 226 yards and three touchdowns without an interception against the Chants. Edwards also provides a dual-threat with 857 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, and had a career day in that area with 172 yards and two scores in the first round. When the Mountaineers pass, wide receiver William Mayfield (962 yards, 5 TD) is a big-play threat. The defense is among the best in I-AA/FCS, with very good numbers against the run and pass. Defensive end Marques Murrell (69 TT, 16 TFL) leads a team that gets good pressure, while the linebacking corps are solid overall. Safeties Jeremy Wiggins (64 TT, 5 INT) and Corey Lynch (56 TT, 2 INT) form the sub-classifications best duo, though Lynch has been out with an injury in the past few weeks. Dexter Jackson is an explosive player that took two punt returns back for scores.

How to Beat Appalachian State: The only I-AA/FCS team to beat the Mountaineers over the past two seasons was Furman, and the Paladins only did it at home by a field goal last year. The formula for beating the Mountaineers obviously still has to be devised, but forcing Edwards to make mistakes is a good place to start. The freshman has great athletic ability and has completed more than 60 percent of his passes, but also has eight interceptions to contribute to a high total of 24 turnovers for the team. Shutting down the Mountaineer running game will be difficult for most defenses, so forcing a few turnovers will be key. On the other side, opponents need to control the ball against a defense that forced 24 miscues. Its going to be hard for anyone to move the ball consistently for 60 minutes against the defense, so hitting a few big plays, especially in the passing game, would be integral in beating the Mountaineers. Coastal Carolina was able to rack up 351 yards and three touchdowns through the air in the first round loss, though almost all of that did come when the outcome was no longer in doubt.

#2 MONTANA (11-1, 8-0 Big Sky)

How They Got Here: automatic bid, Big Sky Conference. Quarterfinals: Southern Illinois. First Round: Defeated McNeese State, 31-6. Playoff Appearances: 17th (82, 88, 89, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06). Playoff Record: 23-14 (two national championships). Head Coach: Bobby Hauck, 40-12, 4th year at Montana.

Montana summary: For the fifth time in the last seven years, Montana is through to the quarterfinals. The Grizzlies used a balanced offense to rack up 514 yards and outgain McNeese State by 290 yards in a 31-6 rout of the Cowboys in the first round. That victory gives the Grizzlies an 11-game winning streak to go with a Big Sky title and No. 2 seed that will keep them at home until the national championship game. The Grizzlies score a healthy 29.0 ppg, with Josh Swogger (2262 yards, 15 TD/10 INT) distributing the ball to a quality group of wide receivers. Swogger played probably his best game with 18-of-26 passing for 259 yards and four touchdowns in the first round victory. The running game has featured a few different players without the services of Lex Hilliard, and Montana produces 144.2 yards per game on the ground. Redshirt freshman Thomas Brooks-Fletcher is becoming a player to watch after seeing increased playing time at the end of the season and tallying 113 yards on 13 carries in the first round win. Defense and special teams have played a large role in the scoring total as well, as both units are capable of turning in big plays and scoring on their own. Kroy Biermann (69 TT, 10.5 sacks), Dustin Dlouhy (59 TT, 5.5 sacks) and Mike Murphy (5 sacks) form a very strong defensive line. The defense has 30 sacks, and has limited four of the last five opponents to less than 100 yards on the ground. The Grizzlies have returned two of their 17 interceptions for touchdowns. Tuff Harris has one of those, and also has two punt returns for a score. Dan Carpenter (21-27 FG) leads the nation in field goals made.

How to Beat Montana: If Montanas offense plays like it did against McNeese State, the Grizzlies will be tough to beat. They grinded out 230 yards on the ground, and Swogger got all his receivers involved and played his best game of the season. Despite that effort on the ground, the Grizzlies still dont feature a running back that opponents have to fear. Shut down the running game, and force Swogger and the receivers to make plays. They obviously showed that is possible in the first round, but Swogger has also played erratically at times and works behind an offensive line that has contributed greatly to ranking dead last in the nation with 43 sacks allowed. A strong defensive team can match up well against the run, which can lead to pressure on Swogger to keep the offense from having a big day. Scoring on the defense will be tougher, as that unit is solid against the run and the pass and has limited Cal Poly, Montana State and McNeese State to less than 10 points in the past four weeks. Still, they havent faced a top-notch running game this season, and a team with a big offensive line could get a push against the defensive line. Keeping the Grizzly defense and special teams from making big plays will be key as well. With the No. 2 seed and home games throughout at a venue where the Grizzlies are 21-4 all-time in the postseason, any opponent would get an advantage by playing well early to minimize the effect of the Washington-Grizzly Stadium crowd.

#3 MASSACHUSETTS (11-1, 8-0 Atlantic 10)

How They Got Here: automatic bid, Atlantic 10 Conference. Quarterfinals: New Hampshire. First Round: Defeated Lafayette, 35-14. Playoff Appearances: 7th (78, 88, 90, 98, 99, 03, 06). Playoff Record: 7-5 (one national championship). Head Coach: Don Brown, 24-10, 3rd year at Massachusetts.

Massachusetts summary: The Minutemen notched a banner season to make the playoffs for the first time since 2003, and advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time since 1999 with a 35-14 victory over Lafayette in the first round. The offensive effort was balanced in that victory, with Steve Baylark tallying 152 yards and two touchdowns on the ground and Liam Coen throwing for 151 yards and three touchdowns. That performance was typical of the entire season for the Minutemen, with Baylark (1460 yards, 12 TD) notching his fourth 1,000-yard season and seeming to get stronger as the game goes on and Coen (2330 yards, 23 TD/5 INT) putting up efficient and effective numbers through the air. With a quality group of wide receivers as well, the Minutemen score 29.4 points per game with as much balance as anyone in the country. The defense has displayed the same trait by performing well against the run and pass, and is No. 1 in the nation with 11.5 ppg allowed. They have talent and depth across the board, with Jason Hatchell (115 TT) leading the way at linebacker and James Ihedigbo (57 TT, 5 sacks) often blitzing and making plays all over the field at safety. If it becomes a field position game, punter Christian Koegel (40.4 avg) is one of the best around.

How to Beat Massachusetts: A defense that ranks No. 1 in the nation in points allowed is obviously going to be very tough to beat, and the Minutemen gave up less than 10 points in six games this season. They are physical up front and feature a solid secondary, so a team with speed that can spread out the offense would have a better shot. Maine moved the ball late in the game with quarterback draws out of the shotgun, and teams with a dual-threat quarterback that can keep the defense honest provide a tougher matchup. Causing and producing off of turnovers will be key as well. In the first round, Lafayette closed to within 21-14 at halftime after a pair of scoring strikes in the final two minutes that both came off short fields created by turnovers. Scoring early and holding a lead will be critical, because Baylark is a physical running back that gets better as the game progresses and runs behind a quality offensive line. He doesnt have great big-play potential, so keeping him down early on will be integral. Coen hasnt made many mistakes, but he hasnt faced a ton of pressure, either. Getting him out of rhythm with blitzes and different looks will be important, though the receivers are all capable of burning one-on-one coverage.

#4 YOUNGSTOWN STATE (10-2, 6-1 Gateway)

How They Got Here: automatic bid, Gateway Conference. Quarterfinals: Illinois State. First Round: Defeated James Madison, 35-31. Playoff Appearances: 11th (87, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 97, 99, 00, 06). Playoff Record: 24-6 (four national championships). Head Coach: Jon Heacock, 42-26, 6th year at Youngstown State.

Youngstown State summary: The Penguins got the major test that was expected in the first round, and rallied for two fourth-quarter touchdowns to overcome an 11-point deficit and knock off James Madison, 35-31, and post their first playoff victory since 1999. The scoring production mirrored the yearly totals on offense, as the Penguins notch 32.3 points per game for the year. They only ran for 94 yards against the Dukes tough run defense, but Youngstown State is still running for 228.4 yards per contest largely because of running back Marcus Mason (1,568 yards, 21 TD) and a strong offensive line. Mason did miss two games with injury this year, and finished with 72 yards and two scores against the Dukes despite playing hobbled. Monquantae Gibson (527 yards, 8 TD) is capable of carrying the load as well and finished the year with 236 yards against Western Kentucky in Masons absence. The Penguins dont go the air as much, but quarterback Tom Zetts (1790 yards, 11 TD/10 INT) has plenty of experience under center and played one of the best games of his career with 314 yards in the first round against the Dukes. The defense gives up more than 340 yards per game, but that unit played very well at the end of the regular season and forced 21 turnovers. Marty Hutchinson (90 TT, 9 TFL) and James Terry (61 TT, 10 TFL) are the leading tacklers, with Codera Jackson (54 TT, 3 INT) and Jason Perry (53 TT, 4 INT) forming a quality pair at cornerback.

How to Beat Youngstown State: To stop the offense, opponents will have to at least slow Mason. The senior running back has five efforts of 170 yards or more, including a 265-yard game and a 249-yard game, and has seven games in a row with at least two touchdowns. However, he was clearly hobbled against James Madison and who knows if he will be 100 percent anytime soon. Still, the combination of Mason or Gibson with a strong offensive line will make it hard to slow the running game all day, but defenses at least need a few key plays on first and second down to make the Penguins pass. Zetts showed how capable he can be in the win over the Dukes, but he also threw four interceptions in a loss against UNI. The Penguins gave up 153.2 yards per game against the run and 192.9 against the pass. Southern Illinois running back Arkee Whitlock had 218 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-24 Youngstown State win on Nov. 4, and James Madison racked up 249 rushing yards in the first round. A team with a strong running game and good offense can move the ball, especially if they avoid turnovers.

ILLINOIS STATE (9-3, 5-2 Gateway)

How They Got Here: at-large bid. Quarterfinals: at Youngstown State. First Round: Defeated Eastern Illinois, 24-13. Playoff Appearances: 3rd (98, 99, 06). Playoff Record: 3-2. Head Coach: Denver Johnson, 41-38, 7th year at Illinois State.

Illinois State summary: Illinois State returns to the postseason for the first time since 1999 with a team that features a handful of standout players and the ability to score in bunches and play solid defense. That ability to score and move the ball consistently was not evident in the first round win against Eastern Illinois, but a pair of interception returns for a touchdown, including one in the final minute, lifted the Redbirds past the Panthers, 24-13. Running back Pierre Rembert (1629 yards, 16 TD) had 122 yards and a touchdown in that game, and has received a heavy workload to lead a rushing attack that garners 168.5 yards per game. The passing game is explosive with Luke Drone (2772 yards, 19 TD/9 INT) throwing to a quality group of wide receivers that features Laurent Robinson, but Drone has to shake off a four-interception game last week and has thrown six interceptions in the past two games. Still, the offense is averaging 29.7 ppg, and has tallied more than 30 points five times. The numbers arent as sparkling overall for a defense that gives up 19.5 ppg, but the Redbirds feature the best linebacking corps in the nation with Cameron Siskowic (140 TT), Kye Stewart (123 TT) and Niall Campbell (100 TT). The Redbirds are near the top of the country in turnover margin, with 22 turnovers forced and only 14 giveaways, and obviously showed playmaking ability in the win over the Panthers.

How to Beat Illinois State: When Youngstown State beat the Redbirds, 27-13, in Normal, the game statistics opened some eyes. The Penguins ran for 345 yards and four touchdowns, while limiting the Redbirds to 155 yards of total offense. Holding an explosive offense to that low of a number would be asking a lot, but opponents have been able to move the ball against the defense. Five running backs have 100-yard efforts this season, and the Redbirds are allowing 190.7 yards per game through the air. They stiffened up last week and limited Eastern Illinois to 79 yards through the air with three interceptions, but dont have very many sacks or tackles for a loss. An opponent with a quality offense could have a good day if they dont turn it over. Stopping the Redbirds will be more difficult, especially with Robinson coming on late in the season. They have thrived with balance all year and give Rembert a heavy workload, so limiting his effectiveness and making the attack one-dimensional will be key. The ability to make the Redbirds win with the passing game is looking increasingly important with Drone struggling of late. If you can stop the run early, he might have lost a bit of confidence over the last two games. Winning the turnover battle will be a must for teams that cant match scores with the Redbirds.

MONTANA STATE (8-4, 6-2 Big Sky)

How They Got Here: at-large bid. Quarterfinals: at Appalachian State. First Round: Defeated Furman, 31-13. Playoff Appearances: 4th (84, 02, 03, 06). Playoff Record: 4-2 (one national championship). Head Coach: Mike Kramer, 40-42, 7th year at Montana State.

Montana State summary: The Bobcats used a couple of huge wins and momentum late to become one of two four-loss teams to make the playoff field, and then made the committee look good by jumping out to a 31-0 lead and pounding Furman, 31-13. The Bobcats have won seven of their last eight games overall, with only a 13-7 loss at rival Montana in the regular season finale. The offense has displayed an up-and-down effort throughout the year, and scored 20.3 ppg for the season. They have used a pair of quarterbacks to throw for 229.2 yards per game, though Jack Rolovich (1484 yards, 10 TD/10 INT) has received most of the workload lately and did well with 272 yards and two touchdowns through the air in the win against Furman. Aaron Mason (573 yards, 7 TD) has the best numbers on the ground, but he did not play in the first round and the Bobcats only manage 97.2 rushing yards per game. Wide receiver Michael Jefferson (924 yards, 9 TD) has mixed big games with average efforts, but has the potential to turn in a big play or two. The defense is the strength of the team, with 20.7 ppg surrendered and six efforts of 18 points or less allowed in the past seven games. Linebacker Bobby Daly (111 TT, 11.5 TFL) leads the way, and a talented secondary has helped record 13 interceptions.

How to Beat Montana State: In the regular season, if you shut down Jefferson, the Montana State offense was usually contained. He had huge games when the Bobcats scored 39 points against Northern Arizona and 42 against Idaho State, but the offense struggled down the stretch when he was contained by Weber State, Northern Colorado and Montana. However, Donnell Wheaton has to be accounted for as well. Wheaton and Jefferson combined for 11 receptions, 170 yards and two touchdowns in the first round, and can make both make big plays for Rolovich in the passing game. Montana State quarterbacks have thrown 18 interceptions and the running game is suspect, so a defense that shuts down the top receivers could be in good shape to force a miscue from a team with 25 turnovers. Scoring on the Bobcat defense might be more difficult, but the Bobcats have given up a few big days through the air. Teams that try to win by throwing the ball will have to avoid turnovers and contain a defense that has 30 sacks and 22 turnovers forced, but the Bobcats could be susceptible to a powerful passing game. They are physical and very tough on the run, but a fast team that can spread the field might do better.

NEW HAMPSHIRE (9-3, 5-3 Atlantic 10)

How They Got Here: at-large bid. Quarterfinals: at Massachusetts. First Round: Defeated Hampton, 41-38. Playoff Appearances: 5th (91, 94, 04, 05, 06). Playoff Record: 3-4. Head Coach: Sean McDonnell, 53-40, 8th year at New Hampshire.

New Hampshire summary: The Wildcats have been a play or two away from elimination in the past two weeks, but they continue to survive and are through to the quarterfinals for the third year in a row. After beating Maine in overtime, 19-13, to make the postseason, New Hampshire needed a 25-yard touchdown pass from Ricky Santos to Chad Kackert on fourth-and-16 with 4:40 to play to beat Hampton, 41-38. The win over the Pirates was an offensive explosion for a unit that has been slowed somewhat late in the season by tough Atlantic 10 defenses, but no opponent can sleep on a Wildcat attack that features two of the games top players and averages 36.5 ppg. Santos (2996 yards, 28 TD/6 INT) had 315 yards and five touchdowns in the first round victory, and has six games with at least five total touchdowns this year. Wide receiver David Ball (87 receptions, 1060 yards, 13 TD) also helps pace a passing game that tallies more than 250 yards per contest. Santos has run for 349 yards and 12 touchdowns to help the Wildcats grind out nearly 155 yards per game on the ground, though that number has slipped late in the season. The defense allows nearly 24 points per contest, and has struggled at times against the run. The unit has forced 21 turnovers, and gets production from Husain Karim and Jeff Pammer.

How to Beat New Hampshire: After three years, there is finally a defensive blueprint to slow down Santos and the high-powered Wildcat offense. Richmond and James Madison were the first teams to limit New Hampshires offense by shutting down the running game and keeping Santos, Ball and the passing game from making any big plays. Santos threw 46, 66 and 55 passes in New Hampshires three losses, but the defenses were able to keep plays in front of them. As they proved in the first round, the Wildcats explosiveness through the air can still help them win games in that fashion. However, a good defense can slow the running game and create long third down plays. Limiting Santos scrambling ability will also be key to keeping New Hampshires offense in check. The Wildcats still figure to put points on the board, but opponents have been able to move on the defense, especially on the ground. James Madison had 259 yards and four touchdowns, and Hampton had its way with 168 rushing yards and a pair of touchdown runs. A quality offense can move the ball, score some points and keep Santos and company off the field.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS (9-3, 4-3 Gateway)

How They Got Here: at-large bid. Quarterfinals: at Montana. First Round: Defeated UT Martin, 36-30. Playoff Appearances: 5th (83, 03, 04, 05, 06). Playoff Record: 5-3 (one national championship). Head Coach: Jerry Kill, 43-29, 6th year at Southern Illinois.

Southern Illinois summary: The Salukis survived to make the playoffs by beating Northern Iowa and Southern Utah to end the season, but they really had to pull a rabbit out of the hat by coming back from a 27-7 second-half deficit to knock of UT Martin, 36-30, in the first round. First-year starting quarterback Nick Hill (1684 yards, 15 TD/4 INT) threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to Alan Turner with 57 seconds remaining for the winning score in that one, though he did have an interception returned for a touchdown early in the game. Of course, Hill doesnt have to carry the offense because running back Arkee Whitlock (1748 yards, 25 TD) continues to show he is one of the best in nation. Whitlock leads the explosive Saluki ground game to 245.2 yards per game and the offense to 37.1 points per outing. He has tallied at least 170 yards and three touchdowns in each of his last four outings, and had 207 yards and four scores in the first round win. The defensive numbers suffer in the offense-heavy Gateway Conference, but the Salukis notched 29 sacks and 78 tackles for a loss. Lornezo Wims, Micah King and Chauncey Mixon all have at least four sacks, while Brandin Jordan leads the team with 96 tackles. Craig Coffin has made 14-15 field goals, and has a very good track record over his career.

How to Beat Southern Illinois: The phrase "you cant stop him, you can only hope to contain him" was coined for players like Whitlock. The senior running back averages 5.9 yards per carry and was only kept below 100 yards on two occasions. Worse yet for Saluki opponents, he is picking up even more steam at the end of the season. Shutting down Whitlock and the Saluki running game will be asking a lot, but opponents would be wise to get an extra player or two in the box to try to limit Whitlock and dare the Salukis to pass. Hill has proven capable of making key plays and tight end Braden Jones is tough to stop, but no wide receiver has more than 20 catches and Hill has not thrown more than 23 passes in any game. He only had four interceptions all season, but threw a key one in the first round and is definitely in a new spot in the playoff environment. The Salukis havent committed many turnovers, but they havent forced many, either. If that continues, good offenses can score on the Southern Illinois defense. Seven teams scored 23 points or more, and UNI and Youngstown State both had more than 200 rushing yards in November games. UT Martin had 162 yards on the ground in the first round, so look for teams to attack a Saluki run defense that has been somewhat shaky down the stretch.