FCS Quarterfinals Playoff Match-up Preview

Justin Berendzen (@jrberendzen on Twitter) with my playoff matchup preview of the FCS quarterfinals.

Montana State University at Sam Houston State University 

The Bobcats are coming to Texas to meet the Bearkats. Sam Houston State’s offense includes redshirt junior running back Ramon Jefferson who has 1,138 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns and grad wide receiver Cody Chrest who has 640 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. Defensively for the Bobcats they have senior linebacker Troy Andersen who has 116 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, and 7 PBUs and junior defensive back Ty Okada who holds 69 tackles, 6 PBUs and 5 TFLs in 2021. Montana State’s offense has junior running back Isaiah Ifanse who has 1,434 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns and senior wide receiver Lance McCutcheon who has 917 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns. Tristin McCollum senior defensive back has 52 tackles and 5 PBUs and Zyon McCollum senior defensive back has 43 tackles, 5 PBUs and 3 interceptions for Sam Houston State’s defense.

University of Montana at James Madison University 

The Griz travel to Harrisonburg, Virginia to face the Dukes in a friday night showdown. The Dukes are led offensively by redshirt freshman wide receiver Antwane Wells Jr who possesses 1,117 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns and redshirt junior wide receiver Kris Thornton who has 968 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. The Montana defense has redshirt junior linebacker Marcus Welnel who has 87 tackles, 12.5 TFLs, 8 sacks and 3 interceptions and redshirt junior linebacker Patrick O’Connell who holds 99 tackles, 20.5 TFLs, 13 sacks and 4 forced fumbles in 2021. For the Griz offense they have redshirt senior wide receiver Samuel Akem who has 654 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns and redshirt freshman tight end Cole Grossman who has 447 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. James Madison’s defense has redshirt junior linebacker Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey who has 94 tackles, 7 TFLs, and 4 interceptions and redshirt senior defensive back Wayne Davis who has 45 tackles and 4 PBUs.

South Dakota State University at Villanova University 

Should be a very interesting matchup. Grad running back Justin Covington has 717 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns and junior wide receiver Rayjoun Pringle has 724 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns for Villanova’s offense. Defensively for the Jackrabbits they have sophomore linebacker Adam Bock who holds 112 tackles, 9 TFLs and 6 PBUs and senior defensive back Malik Lofton who has 31 tackles and 5 PBUs. South Dakota State’s offense possesses senior running back Pierre Strong Jr who has 1,575 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns and junior wide receiver Jaxon Janke who has 960 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns. Defensively for the Wildcats they have senior defensive back Christian Benford who has 38 tackles, 18 PBUs and 7 interceptions and grad defensive lineman Malik Fisher who has 32 tackles, 9 TFLs, and 4 sacks.

East Tennessee State University at North Dakota State University 

The Buccaneers travel to Fargo, North Dakota to play the Bison. The North Dakota State offense includes senior wide receiver Christian Watson who has 740 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns and junior running back TaMerik Williams who has 605 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in 2021.For the Buccaneers defense they have redshirt freshman defensive back Alijah Huzzie holds 72 tackles, 9 PBUs and 3 interceptions and senior defensive back Tyree Robinson who has 48 tackles, 6 PBUs and 5 interceptions. East Tennessee State’s offense has a running back tandem of redshirt junior Quay Holmes who has 1,518 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns and junior running back Jacob Saylors who has 985 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Defensively for the Bison they have senior defensive lineman Brayden Thomas who has 23 tackles, 12.5 TFLs and 8 sacks and sophomore defensive lineman Eli Mostaert who holds 35 tackles, 9 TFLs and 7.5 sacks.