Nov. 26, 2008
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The 2008 NAIA Football Championship Series (FCS) Quarterfinal round is set for Saturday, Nov. 29. Two undefeated teams will host while Morningside (Iowa) College welcomes Lindenwood (Mo.) University in the third game. Defending national champion Carroll (Mont.) advances to the Semifinals due to a forfeit by Northwestern Oklahoma State University (see related story). The winners on Saturday advance to the Semifinals to be played on campus sites Saturday, Dec. 6. The Semifinal pairings will be officially announced by 11 a.m. CST on Sunday (Nov. 30).
Winners of the Great Plains Athletic Conference, the University of Sioux Falls (S.D.) hosts Langston (Okla.) University from Sioux Falls, S.D. with kick-off set for 12 p.m. CST. The Cougars are riding a 33-game home winning streak and stand 11-0 on the year. They take on Langston (10-2), a team that is in its first FCS since 1994 and won its second ever FCS game last weekend at MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.). A team noted for its defense, USF ranks No. 1 in the country in all major defensive statistical categories including total defense (97.1 ypg), scoring defense (5.2 ppg), rushing defense (11.5 ypg) and pass defense (85.6 ypg). Sioux Falls has shut-out seven of its 11 opponents this year – one blanking shy of the all-time national record. The Lions also boast a strong defense, especially up front. They average a nation-best 4.3 sacks per game and allow just 214 total yards a contest. USF got past St. Ambrose (Iowa) 28-0 in the FCS First Round. Langston was a 20-14 winner on the road at MidAmerica Nazarene.
On a 51-game home winning streak, the University of Saint Francis (Ind.) looks to extend that mark by hosting the University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) with a 12 p.m. EST kick-off. Finishing the regular season with an undefeated record for the fourth time in the last five seasons, USF (11-0) is searching for its sixth straight trip to the Semifinals. The Cougars own the No. 1 scoring offense in the land at nearly 50 points per game. That scoring prowess was on display in the FCS First Round and 58-3 win over Union (Ky.). The Patriots of U of C (10-1) notched its first ever FCS victory last Saturday (Nov. 22) over Shorter (Ga.) 31-7. The 10 season wins ties the best overall season record, which was first accomplished in 1988. Cumberlands gets it done by running the ball averaging 283.6 yards/game, second best in the NAIA. As a team, it has rushed for 39 touchdowns and four rushers have amassed 400 yards.
From Sioux City, Iowa, Morningside and Lindenwood square off in a battle of 10-1 teams at 1 p.m. CST. Making their fifth straight FCS appearance, the Mustangs of Morningside have won nine straight home games dating back to last season. MC puts up nearly 50 points (49.5) per game and has notched 60-plus points in four games. Looking for its second ever Semifinal appearance, the Mustangs are also +2.1 in turnover margin. Lindenwood enters the game averaging 40.9 points and 461.0 yards a game. The Lions are appearing in their fourth FCS and notched their first win last Saturday. In that game, Lindenwood and Lambuth (Tenn.) tied the national FCS record for combined points in the 65-48 win. LU boasts a strong offensive line in allowing a mere 5 sacks on the year.
The 53rd Annual Russell Athletic-NAIA Football National Championship is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 20 at Rome, Ga. Rome-Floyd County and Shorter (Ga.) College will host the event at Barron Stadium. The event will be televised live on CBS College Sports Network with kick-off slated for 12 p.m. EST. For ticket information, call (706) 233-7288 or click here to download the order form.
• Quarterfinal Pairings | Saturday, Nov. 29 | CLICK HERE
For complete Championship history and records, click here.
For more information on the 2008 National Championship, click here.
For scores and stats from the Football Championship Series Opening Round, click here.
Football Championship Series Records Set or Tied in the First Round: Lindenwood (65) and Lambuth (48) combined to tie the most combined points (113) joining Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Western Montana for the all-time high… Lambuth set the most first downs (41) ever breaking the 38 by Hardin-Simmons (Texas) in 1994… The 108 total plays by Lambuth set the record breaking the 106 by Hardin-Simmons in 1994… Morningside QB Ian Gilworth threw a FCS record seven touchdowns breaking the 6 done six times with the last occurrence coming in 2000.
Football Championship Series Notes: St. Francis leads the active group in consecutive FCS appearances with 10… Carroll holds the most current wins in the FCS with a 29-11 record after the First Round win over Dickinson State… St. Francis (Ind.) kept alive its home game winning streak at 51 in-a-row after a 58-3 win over Union (Ky.) in the First Round… Sioux Falls extended its home winning streak to 33 straight… Carroll has not lost (a span of 27 games) since the 2006 FCS Quarterfinals… Sioux Falls is one shut-out shy of equaling the national season record of eight shut-outs… Since 2000, the home teams in the FCS Quarterfinals are 22-10 overall… Three teams will enter the FCS Quarterfinals with an undefeated record -- Carroll, Sioux Falls, St. Francis… Two programs in this FCS hold at least one National Championship ring – Carroll (Mont.) has five followed by Sioux Falls (S.D.) with two.
