Teaching staffs pushing the best buttons? Sure, that describes South Dakota State and UAlbany heading into their first-ever assembly in an FCS playoff semifinal on Saturday.
South Dakota State first-year coach Jimmy Rogers has stored the defending nationwide champion Jackrabbits (13-0 with eight Prime 25 wins) because the final unbeaten FCS staff for almost two months, and he was chosen because the thirty seventh annual Eddie Robinson Award recipient.
UAlbany’s Greg Gattuso was a detailed runner-up within the voting, having turned across the Nice Danes from a 3-8 report final yr to 11-3 this season, together with 11-1 towards FCS competitors.
Two completely different storylines, however an analogous stage of elite play.
Following is a capsule preview of the UAlbany at South Dakota State semifinal:
No. 5 Seed UAlbany (11-3) at No. 1 Seed South Dakota State (13-0)
Kickoff – 7 p.m. ET Friday at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings, South Dakota (ESPN2)
Sequence – First assembly
Coaches – UAlbany: Greg Gattuso (50-60, tenth season; 147-92 general); South Dakota State: Jimmy Rogers (13-0, first season)
3 Gamers to Watch – UAlbany: QB Reese Poffenbarger (247 of 428, 3,371 yards, 36 TDs, 10 INTs), RB Griffin Woodell (177 carries, 888 yards, 8 TDs; 31 receptions, 4 TDs), LB Dylan Kelly (155 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 2 INTs, 2 fumble recoveries); South Dakota State: QB Mark Gronowski (181 of 267, 2,618 yards, 25 TDs, 4 INTs; 299 rush yards, 7 TDs), RB Isaiah Davis (205 carries, 1,384 yards, 15 TDs; 22 receptions, 1 TD), LB Adam Bock (47 tackles, 2 sacks)
Notable – SDSU, a repeat Missouri Valley Soccer Convention champion, is on a 27-game successful streak and is the one FCS staff (out of 128 general) to rank within the high 10 of scoring offense (36.8 factors per recreation, No. 7), whole offense (448.4 yards per recreation, No. 6), scoring protection (10.5, No. 1) and whole protection (253.9, No. 1). No staff additionally has been higher in changing third downs into first downs (54.4 p.c success fee), with Gronowski’s offensive weapons together with Davis (100+ dashing yards in 11 of 14 profession playoff video games) and twin extensive receivers Jadon and Jaxon Janke (a mixed 497 receptions, 57 TD catches of their careers). UAlbany, which earned a share of its first CAA Soccer title, enters on a seven-game successful streak after successful at Idaho in a quarterfinal. The Nice Danes have an FCS-high 50 sacks, led by DEs Anton Juncaj (15) and A.J. Simon (12.5), though the Jackrabbits have surrendered solely 10 in 13 video games. Poffenbarger has accounted for 3 or extra TDs by way of go and rush in 10 completely different video games, with WRs Brevin Easton (13) and Julian Hicks (11) becoming a member of Woodell (12) to type a trio of gamers with 10+ TDs. Each groups are accustomed to leaping forward of opponents, as SDSU’s plus-87 scoring differential within the first quarter and +210 within the first half are the most effective within the FCS, whereas UAlbany is high 10 at +60 and +138, respectively. If a discipline purpose is required, SDSU’s Hunter Dustman is 16 of 21 (lengthy of 49 yards) and UAlbany’s John Opalko 13 of 18 (46).
Up Subsequent – The winner will play both No. 2 seed Montana (12-1) or North Dakota State (11-3) within the FCS championship recreation on Jan. 7 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas (2 p.m. ET).
Prediction – South Dakota State 31, UAlbany 17 (2023 predictions: 4-0 final week; 130-56 general)
