South Dakota State defeated their rivals, North Dakota State, for the second year in a row.
A statement rivalry win, a streak extended, a double-overtime thriller — just another week in FCS football.
Here's everything you need to know to get caught up on all the action from Week 10.
1. South Dakota State defended the south side of the border
The battle of the Dakota border featured No. 8 South Dakota State and No. 2 North Dakota State. Both teams entered coming off big wins over Western Illinois and Northern Iowa. The Jackrabbits set the tone for their home crowd as they churned out a 75-yard drive that was capped by a Taryn Christion touchdown pass to Jacob Brown. The Bison answered and churned out a 12 play, 88-yard drive of their own where Easton Stick found Connor Wentz for a touchdown.
An interception by Jordan Brown put the Bison offense on hold and led to Christion’s second touchdown with 12 seconds left in the half. 17-7 SDSU. North Dakota State opened the second half with a second Stick passing touchdown to cut the deficit to three. However, their next two possessions ended in turnovers which resulted in 10 more Jackrabbit points. After a fumbled punt, Stick ran it in from 11-yards to make it a one possession game, but Christion and the Jackrabbit offense controlled the next seven minutes. They marched 86 yards and Christion tossed his second touchdown. Down 12 with seven minutes to play, the turnover bug bit the Bison twice again and sent the Jackrabbits home with the Dakota Marker for the second consecutive year.
South Dakota State 33, North Dakota State 21
2. James Madison won its 21st straight game
Dukes put on a show in the second half to defeat Rhode Island 38-3. #GoDukes pic.twitter.com/5qdttuWoFf
— JMU Football (@JMUFootball) November 4, 2017
Yes, you read that right. 21. Efficiency was the answer for the No. 1 Dukes of James Madison as they battled Rhode Island Saturday. After a scoreless first quarter, James Madison tallied first on a 19-yard pass from Bryan Schor to David Eldridge. Rams kicker C.J. Carrick nailed a 40-yarder to send the game into halftime 7-3. The second half told a different story for the Dukes as they scored two touchdowns within a minute, one from Schor to Ishmael Hyman and the other a Trai Sharp run. Kicker Ethan Ratke kicked a field goal to end the third quarter. More of the same came for James Madison in the fourth quarter as Schor fired two more touchdowns to Terrence Alls and Jonathan Kloosterman. Schor ended the day 14-17 with four touchdowns, but the real star was the James Madison defense which held Rhode Island to 143 yards and just two first downs in the second half.
James Madison 38, Rhode Island 3
3. South Dakota could not overcome the Dome
Coming off a tough road loss, unranked Northern Iowa headed home to host No. 6 South Dakota. South Dakota scored on the game’s first possession with a Chris Streveler 16-yard pass to Josh Hale. The first South Dakota turnover sparked six straight possessions that ended in points, South Dakota led at the break 16-13. Brett Samson ran in a touchdown to put the Coyotes up 23-13 early in the third. The Panthers trimmed the lead back to three after Eli Dunne completed his pass to Isaiah Weston for a touchdown. Northern Iowa’s defense forced turnovers on back-to back possessions and were able to convert as Marcus Weymiller scored with three minutes left. On the ensuing possession, Streveler’s pass was picked off by Keelon Brookins and returned for a touchdown, locking up the Panther upset in front of their home fans.
Northern Iowa 34, South Dakota 29
4. Another pair of top-15 teams fell
No. 13 Illinois State jumped out to an early lead over in-state rival No. 18 Western Illinois. Quarterback Jake Kolbe connected with Christian Gibbs from 65-yards and Tylor Petkovich from 4-yards to lead 14-0 at half. The second half opened with a Leatherneck touchdown pass from Sean McGuire to Brandon Gaston. It was McGuire’s first of two scores on the day. Steve McShane and Clint Ratkovich ran in touchdowns as Western Illinois scored 31 unanswered second half points.
That feeling when you beat your rival for the first time since 2010!
— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) November 4, 2017
(via @WIUfootball)pic.twitter.com/t2XRoBAwcQ
Western Illinois 31, Illinois State 14
No. 11 Eastern Washington squared off with No. 14 Weber State Saturday. The Eagles marched quickly down the field to open the game with an Antoine Custer Jr. touchdown run. Weber State’s Stefan Cantwell threw two first half touchdowns to Treshawn Garrett and Drew Batchelor. Eastern Washington’s Gage Gubrud added a touchdown pass and the game was knotted at half. Cantwell found Garrett to put the Wildcats ahead 21-14. Back-to back field goals by the Eagles cut the lead to 1, but running back David Jones marched in from 24-yards to seal the deal.
Weber State 28, Eastern Washington 20
5. Doubled-up on double-overtime
No. 10 Elon and Towson battled 60 minutes through challenging weather, but 60 minutes proved not long enough. Towson conquered the conditions early and jumped out to a 10-0 lead after Ryan Stover connected with Joe Green for the score. The Phoenix answered their call, however, and scored 27 straight points on a touchdown pass from Davis Cheek and rushing touchdowns from Brelynd Cyphers and De’Sean McNair. With 10 to play in the fourth quarter, Stover caught and threw for a pair of touchdowns within three minutes. Towson kicker Aidan O’Neill nailed at field goal with a minute left that knotted the game at 27 and sent it into overtime. The first overtime saw matching field goals, but a missed field goal gave Elon a shot to win. Freshman kicker Owen Johnson split the uprights for the Phoenix to walk-off winners.
Walk off winner!
— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) November 4, 2017
No. 10 Elon survives a scare from Towson and downs the Tigers in 2OT #FCS
(via @ElonFB)pic.twitter.com/S6S4Q7caCr
Elon 33, Towson 30
No. 9 Wofford needed every last drop in the tank against Chattanooga. The Mocs, coming off a Top 10 victory over Samford, kept their momentum in stride verse the Terriers. Wofford led at the half 7-6 in a back-and-forth game where neither team scored consecutively. Andre Stoddard scored midway through the fourth quarter to put the Terriers up eight, but with 16 seconds to play Cole Copeland found Derek Mahaffey for the score. The duo connected again (this time Mahaffey to Copeland) on the 2-point conversion and sent the game to overtime. A pair of touchdowns sent the game into a second overtime, where Copeland’s first pass was intercepted. A Luke Carter 34-yard field goal iced the win for Wofford.
Wofford 24, Chattanooga 21
Other Notable Games:
- No. 3 Jacksonville State rolled over Murray State 59-23.
- No. 17 Nicholls broke the tie as time ran out to beat Houston Baptist 23-17.
- No. 5 Sam Houston State dominated Incarnate Word 57-20.
- Richmond blanked No. 20 Villanova 22-0.
- No. 25 Kennesaw State survived against Montana State 16-14.
- Montana upset No. 16 Northern Arizona 17-15.
