The FCS soccer season hardly ever fails to thrill. It was at it once more in Week 3 as a part of a schedule that included 4 video games matching nationally ranked groups.
To underscore the continued aggressive nature of the 2024 FCS soccer season, look no additional than the highest 5 of the nationwide rankings on Saturday.
It’s even dicey there.
North Dakota State, No. 2 within the Stats Carry out FCS Prime 25 Ballot, coulda, shoulda, woulda misplaced at ETSU solely to rally within the closing minutes for a 38-35 escape.
Fifth-ranked Villanova survived a scare as nicely, edging Towson 14-13 in a CAA Soccer opener solely after the visiting Tigers misfired on two field-goal makes an attempt within the closing 1:13.
No, don’t be getting forward of your self this FCS season.
FCS Soccer Week 3 Assessment
Miller Fuels North Dakota State’s Rally; Sanchez Keys Villanova
North Dakota State’s solely nonconference loss through the common season since its first FCS nationwide championship season in 2011 was the 38-35 defeat to Montana to open the 2015 Division I season.
To sidestep an upset loss at ETSU, the Bison received by the identical rating.
Escape was an understatement. North Dakota State overcame a 35-23 deficit with two touchdowns and the restoration of an onside kick within the closing two minutes. Quarterback Cam Miller accounted for 297 yards of whole offense and three touchdowns within the win, with an 11-yard scoring scramble up the center with 50 seconds remaining the distinction.
ETSU seems revitalized below first-year coach Tre Lamb. Within the loss, Bryson Irby rushed for 147 yards and three touchdowns.
The Villanova win noticed vast receiver Jaylan Sanchez catch a pair of touchdowns. The Wildcats are 3-0.
(Right here’s the total Prime 25 Scoreboard)
Totally different Season, Totally different End result
Idaho and Duquesne every exacted some revenge in opposition to an opponent it misplaced to within the 2023 FCS playoffs.
The Stats Carry out FCS Sport of the Week didn’t reside as much as the billing as No. 4 Idaho dealt with No. 17 UAlbany 41-13. Jack Wagner threw a pair of touchdowns to Jordan Dwyer and Nate Thomas scored on two quick runs because the Huge Sky squad cruised regardless of possessing the ball for less than 24 minutes, 30 seconds.
Duquesne was overmatched at Youngstown State within the playoffs, however this time the defending Northeast Convention champ held on for a 28-25 street triumph. Darius Perrantes threw two touchdowns to Tedy Afful, JaMario Clements wanted solely 12 carries to hurry for 204 yards and a TD, and linebacker Luke Miller had 14 tackles.
Ranked vs. Ranked Video games
Along with Idaho beating UAlbany, there have been three different video games that matched nationally ranked groups.
Southern Illinois quarterback DJ Williams racked up 380 yards of whole offense and three touchdowns to energy the No. 9 Salukis previous No. 12 UIW 35-28.
In an enormous Southern Convention opener, No. 23 Mercer received a 10-3 defensive slugfest over No. 14 Chattanooga, which fell to 0-3. Brayden Smith scored the sport’s solely landing on a 9-yard run within the second quarter.
Similar to Chattanooga, No. 24 Central Arkansas fell to 0-3 as No. 11 Sacramento State topped the Colonels 34-7. Carson Conklin handed for 264 yards and a pair of TDs within the win.
MVFC Wins Sequence Over Huge Sky Once more
North Dakota’s back-to-back wins over Montana (27-24) and Idaho State (52-28) supplied the Missouri Valley Soccer Convention with a 2-1 triumph on this yr’s abbreviated Huge Sky-MVFC Problem. Bo Belquist had eight receptions for 165 yards and a landing within the No. 10 Combating Hawks’ sequence clincher over Idaho State.
The MVFC has captured 5 of the six regular-season sequence, with the exception a 3-3 tie in 2022. North Dakota is 4-1 all-time within the sequence, together with a break up of two video games as a Huge Sky member within the inaugural season of 2017.
This yr’s sequence misplaced a recreation when Portland State canceled a matchup with No. 6 South Dakota resulting from members of the Vikings crew being uncovered to pertussis (whooping cough).
Inventory Up, Inventory Down
Inventory Up: The three groups that fell out of the Prime 25 final Monday after falling to 0-2 rebounded with spectacular victories. Furman routed Stetson 48-7 behind true freshman QB Trey Hedden; Richmond shut out Charleston Southern 38-0 only one week after the Bucs had shocked Furman; and Western Carolina received at Elon 24-17.
Inventory Down: Fordham was anticipated to contend for the Patriot League title, however there’s been little signal the Rams are headed that means throughout an 0-3 begin. Standout linebacker James Conway hasn’t performed this season and quarterback CJ Montes was misplaced to damage through the Rams’ 27-21, Homecoming loss to Stony Brook. They’ve scored just one offensive landing of their final two video games.
Round FCS Nation
Prime-ranked South Dakota State (2-1) beat Division II Augustana 24-3 as Amar Johnson rushed for 126 yards and a landing. … FCS groups have been winless in 11 video games in opposition to FBS competitors. Gardner-Webb narrowly fell at Charlotte 27-26 – the one outcome below double digits. … One week after Saint Francis beat Kent State for its first-ever win over an FBS program, Central Connecticut State toppled the Crimson Flash 27-20 within the NEC. The sport included a 94-yard kickoff return for a landing (SFU’s DeMario Crawford), a 97-yard TD run (SFU’s DeMarcus McElroy), an 84-yard punt (CCSU’s Aidan Clark) and a fumble return TD for every crew (CCSU’s Kimal Clark broke a 20-20 tie on a 10-yard rating with 1:45 left).
The No. 25 Abilene Christian Wildcats walked off a 24-22 win at Northern Colorado when Ritse Vaes drilled a 54-yard area purpose. … Monmouth quarterback Derek Robertson handed for 390 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 51-22 at Maine, the place he had performed the final 4 seasons within the CAA. He linked with Josh Derry for a program-record 94-yard landing move. … New Hampshire’s Seth Morgan tied the college report with six TD passes, together with three to Riley Corcoran, in a 45-6 victory over Stonehill. … FCS independents Sacred Coronary heart and Merrimack beat Patriot League opponents. Myles Talley had an interception and a fumble restoration in Sacred Coronary heart’s 40-14 takedown of Georgetown. Jermaine Corbett rushed for 166 yards and a TD in Merrimack’s 31-21 win over Bucknell.
Eighth-ranked Montana (2-1) hammered Morehead State 59-2 with an eye-popping 576-45 benefit in yards. In his first school recreation, true freshman Malae Fonoti rushed for 176 yards and a TD on 24 carries. Moreover, All-America vast receiver/returner Junior Bergen made his season debut after lacking the primary two video games. … Operating backs Irv Mulligan and J.D. Martin each scored a landing whereas making their season debut in Jackson State’s 33-15 win over Southern. The rivalry recreation drew 32,027 to Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. … Tennessee State beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff 41-28 within the Southern Heritage Traditional in Memphis. Draylen Ellis had three TD passes. … Northwestern State’s 87-10 loss at South Alabama Thursday evening marked probably the most factors allowed in Demons program historical past and probably the most by an FCS crew since Arkansas-Pine Bluff fell 90-6 at South Dakota State on Sept. 15, 2018.
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