Written by
The Sports Network
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - So much changes during the course of the
FCS season that it's dangerous for people to look too far down any team's
schedule and say, "Win here, loss here...," and believe they have everything
figured out.
For instance, did anybody have Bethune-Cookman winning 10 straight games to
start last season? Did anybody foresee Georgia Southern reaching the FCS
semifinals? Did anybody leave Montana out of the playoffs?
Of course, there are staples on the schedule that everybody can feel
comfortable in saying will shape the regular season.
Following are 10 such games for the 2011 FCS season:
South Carolina State at Bethune-Cookman (Sept. 10) - Last season, these two
teams provided the MEAC with two FCS playoff participants for the first time
since 2003. Neither one can afford to give the other the upper hand in its
first conference game of the season, but the loser will.
Montana State at Eastern Washington (Sept. 24) - The defending FCS champion
Eagles have not lost since they were routed at Montana State last September.
MSU's DeNarius McGhee versus EWU's Bo Levi Mitchell is one of the quarterback
duels of the season.
Appalachian State at Wofford (Oct. 1) - Wofford earned a share of the Southern
Conference title last season with App State, which has won the crown six years
in a row. With a home game, Terriers fullback Eric Breitenstein, defensive
back Ameet Pall and a veteran team believe they can topple quarterback DeAndre
Presley and the Mountaineers.
Stephen F. Austin at Central Arkansas (Oct. 1) - A lot of Southland Conference
teams are claiming title contention now that SFA has to reload without
quarterback Jeremy Moses, the 2010 Walter Payton Award (sponsored by
Fathead.com) winner. The Lumberjacks hope to make a statement on Central
Arkansas' new purple and gray turf.
William & Mary at Delaware (Oct. 8) - Last year's meeting of the eventual CAA
Football co-champs was decided by one point (Delaware won, 17-16). William &
Mary has designs on going where the Blue Hens went last season - the FCS
championship game.
Georgia Southern at Appalachian State (Oct. 29) - It would be surprising if
GSU isn't unbeaten heading into this SoCon showdown. The Mountaineers love
their home-field advantage at The Rock and want to avenge last years overtime
loss at GSU.
Northern Iowa at North Dakota State (Oct. 29) - The intensity of this Missouri
Valley Football Conference collision might make the Fargodome roof come off.
Is Northern Iowa's two rushing threats (Tirrell Rennie and Carlos Anderson)
better than the Bison's one (D.J. McNorton)?
Eastern Kentucky at Jacksonville State (Nov. 5) - JSU's poor ending to last
season (8-0 start, 1-3 finish) started with EKU's 49-37 upset last November.
Don't think head coach Jack Crowe will let the Gamecocks forget about it.
Liberty at Stony Brook (Nov. 19) - It's now or never for Liberty's senior
class that desperately wants to make the FCS playoffs. Stony Brook beat the
Flames on Long Island two years ago and has the talent to deny them the Big
South's automatic bid.
Montana at Montana State (Nov. 19) - That the Brawl in the Wild decides
bragging rights in Montana carries as much weight as the Big Sky title and FCS
playoff implications. But make no mistake, the visiting Grizzlies don't want
to miss the playoffs again.
The Sports Network