Top-25 Previews
By Brett Kahn, FCS Assistant
Easton, PA (Sports Network) - Here are the top 25 games and other selected matchups for week 12. All times are EST.
http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfoot2/misc/around_the_fcs_kahn.htm
Northern Arizona (5-4, 4-2) at No. 19 Weber State (5-4, 5-2), 2:05 p.m.
Both of these Big Sky teams are unlikely candidates for the FCS playoffs, but still can finish off the 2009 campaign strong.
Weber State is looking at its second consecutive winning season (10-4 last season) after two straight losing campaigns in 2006 and 2007, while Northern Arizona is looking to finish 7-4 for the first time since 2003, when the went 9-4 and upset then-No. 1 McNeese State in the playoffs.
The Wildcats dropped a tough game, 31-10 to Montana two weeks ago. The offense struggled all day, with Payton Award nominated quarterback Dominic Randolph (2,644 yards passing, 25 TDs) tossing four interceptions. The 12th-ranked offense picked up just 299 yards against the Grizzlies. All-American wide receiver Tim Toone (58 catches, 13.6 average, seven TDs) is Higgins' top target. Toone also ranks third nationally in punt returns, averaging 18.3 yards.
Payton Award nominee Trevyn Smith (788 yards rushing, five TDs) leads WSU's rushing attack and is 122 yards away from his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season. Bo Bolen (1,263 all-purpose yards, five TDs) is also another threat on the offense.
Defensively, the Wildcats rank 100th in FCS and surrendered 506 yards to Montana. All-American free safety Beau Hadley (57 tackles, three forced fumbles and defensive end Kevin Linehan (43 tackles, eight tackles for loss) are among the key players on the unit.
Northern Arizona has dropped two in a row to fall out of the playoff race, including a 38-14 loss to Mississippi where the Lumberjacks were more competitive than the score showed.
Quarterback Michael Herrick (2,716 yards passing, 18 TDs, six interceptions) played very well in the game, throwing for 233 yards against a tough FBS opponent.
The rest of the unit accounted for just 134 yards, with wide receivers Ed Berry (62 catches, 14.1 average, five TDs) and Conrad Meadows (60 catches, 12.1 average, four TDs) both having big games hauling in a combined 16 catches.
Running back Alex Henderson (872 yards rushing, 11 TDs) also game up big for NAU, rushing for 102 yards and two scores against Mississippi.
The Lumberjacks' defense ranks 99th in FCS and has surrendered an average of 393 yards, including 425 last weekend. Defensive end Isaac Bond (34 tackles, eight tackles for loss) and strong safety Matt Estrada (72 tackles) pace this unit.
Weber State took last season's meeting 42-14 and plays much better at home than on the road.
WEBER STATE 41, NORTHERN ARIZONA 34
By Brett Kahn, FCS Assistant
Easton, PA (Sports Network) - Here are the top 25 games and other selected matchups for week 12. All times are EST.
http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfoot2/misc/around_the_fcs_kahn.htm
Northern Arizona (5-4, 4-2) at No. 19 Weber State (5-4, 5-2), 2:05 p.m.
Both of these Big Sky teams are unlikely candidates for the FCS playoffs, but still can finish off the 2009 campaign strong.
Weber State is looking at its second consecutive winning season (10-4 last season) after two straight losing campaigns in 2006 and 2007, while Northern Arizona is looking to finish 7-4 for the first time since 2003, when the went 9-4 and upset then-No. 1 McNeese State in the playoffs.
The Wildcats dropped a tough game, 31-10 to Montana two weeks ago. The offense struggled all day, with Payton Award nominated quarterback Dominic Randolph (2,644 yards passing, 25 TDs) tossing four interceptions. The 12th-ranked offense picked up just 299 yards against the Grizzlies. All-American wide receiver Tim Toone (58 catches, 13.6 average, seven TDs) is Higgins' top target. Toone also ranks third nationally in punt returns, averaging 18.3 yards.
Payton Award nominee Trevyn Smith (788 yards rushing, five TDs) leads WSU's rushing attack and is 122 yards away from his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season. Bo Bolen (1,263 all-purpose yards, five TDs) is also another threat on the offense.
Defensively, the Wildcats rank 100th in FCS and surrendered 506 yards to Montana. All-American free safety Beau Hadley (57 tackles, three forced fumbles and defensive end Kevin Linehan (43 tackles, eight tackles for loss) are among the key players on the unit.
Northern Arizona has dropped two in a row to fall out of the playoff race, including a 38-14 loss to Mississippi where the Lumberjacks were more competitive than the score showed.
Quarterback Michael Herrick (2,716 yards passing, 18 TDs, six interceptions) played very well in the game, throwing for 233 yards against a tough FBS opponent.
The rest of the unit accounted for just 134 yards, with wide receivers Ed Berry (62 catches, 14.1 average, five TDs) and Conrad Meadows (60 catches, 12.1 average, four TDs) both having big games hauling in a combined 16 catches.
Running back Alex Henderson (872 yards rushing, 11 TDs) also game up big for NAU, rushing for 102 yards and two scores against Mississippi.
The Lumberjacks' defense ranks 99th in FCS and has surrendered an average of 393 yards, including 425 last weekend. Defensive end Isaac Bond (34 tackles, eight tackles for loss) and strong safety Matt Estrada (72 tackles) pace this unit.
Weber State took last season's meeting 42-14 and plays much better at home than on the road.
WEBER STATE 41, NORTHERN ARIZONA 34
