Kats eager for rematch with defending champs
12/16/2014 9:17:00 AM | Football
With three wins over top 10 teams, unseeded Sam Houston State has fought its way to the semifinals of the FCS playoffs. To get back to Frisco and the national title game, the Bearkats must face three-time defending champion North Dakota State in the Fargodome Friday night at 7 p.m.
“The team is excited,” SHSU head coach K. C.Keeler said. “There's no better way to get to the championship game than to go to the guys have the crown and beat them at their place. Our players are really fired up to have a chance to do that. It's going to be a big test and we'll have to play our best.”
The challenge is daunting. North Dakota State is 16-1 in the FCS playoffs, a record that includes a quarterfinal appearance in 2010 and three straight national titles.
North Dakota State is only the fourth team to advance to the FCS semifinal round four straight seasons since 1981. Marshall appeared in six semifinals from 1991 to 1996. Georgia Southern was in five from 1998 to 2002. Youngstown State made four consecutive semifinal appearances in 1991 to 1994.
“There's no doubt that North Dakota State is the premier FCS team in the country,” Keeler said. “But it's tough to argue that the Bearkats aren't the second best FCS program.
“Sam Houston has done everything but win the national championship. We haven't gotten the ultimate prize but this game matches the top two programs in the country battling it out for the right to go to Frisco again.”
The Bearkats defeated No. 9 Southeastern Louisiana in Huntsville, then went on the road to knock off No. 3 Jacksonville State and No. 5 Villanova.
“We've been down in all three playoff games,” Keeler said. “We didn't panic. We came back and won all three games. That shows the kids have a lot of character. They believe in each other.”
North Dakota State is the No. 2 overall seed for the FCS playoffs and has home field advantage through the semifinals for the fourth straight season. NDSU is 12-0 at home during the FCS playoffs and has won 13 straight home playoff games including a 1992 Division II first round game against Northeast Missouri State at Dacotah Field. Minnesota State Mankato was the last team to beat NDSU at home in the playoffs, a 27-7 defeat in the 1991 Division II first round.
Keeler definitely is impressed with the talent North Dakota State will have on the field Friday.
“You look at their offensive line, which is almost entirely brand new, and they're all big and well-coached,” Keeler said. “They have a big quarterback with a strong arm. There's been no drop-off after losing their quarterback who led them to three national titles. They have a great tailback. And, their defense – wow. They have some guys that can play.”
The Bison defense is led by All-America defensive end Kyle Emanuel who has been voted as this year's winner of the Buck Buchanan Award as the top defensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision.
Emanuel leads FCS in tackles for loss and is second in sacks. In eight games against Top 25 opponents, he has 47 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, 10.0 sacks and nine quarterback hurries.
Friday's contest will be telecast live on ESPN2.
“It's going to be a great game,” Keeler said. “The kids are excited. There's been a lot of energy in practice this week.”
