Posted on 11/28/2004 6:59:05 AM PST by piperpilot
STATESBORO, Ga. — Movin’ to Montana.
The University of New Hampshire football team ruled the road once more last night. And while they were at it, the Wildcats ruled six-time national champion Georgia Southern in a 27-23 win at Allen H. Paulson Stadium.
“Who’s House? Our House” chanted Georgia Southern fans in the closing minutes with the Eagles threatening to drive the field for the win.
Not last night.
UNH quarterback Ricky Santos, left, scrambles away from Georgia Southern's Rico Zackery (9) in the Division I-AA first-round playoff game Saturday night in Statesboro, Ga. Wildcats' running back John McCoy is at right. (AP) The Wildcats ran their record to 10-2 with their first NCAA Divison 1-AA playoff win ever and are a remarkable 8-0 on the road. Next week, they will meet Montana in the quarterfinals, most likely in Missoula. The official announcement of the time and place comes today.
Georgia Southern, Division 1-AA’s premier program, had never, ever lost a first-round game.
Until last night.
The Wildcats, after a rare rough start, did it with a rock-solid defense in the second half. And an opportunistic offense operating without one of its top weapons.
After giving up all kinds of yardage in the first half, the Wildcats shut Georgia Southern down in the second. The Eagles came in leading the nation at 49.5 points a game and led 21-13 at the half.
And could never score again.
The Wildcats pulled within a two-point conversion late in the third quarter. The defense held on downs and the offense marched 76 yards to score.
From midfield, a Santos to Shaun Diner covered 25 yards. And on the next play Santos hit Aaron Brown for the last 24 yards. A conversion pass was incomplete and it was 21-19 Georgia Southern.
The defense held again.
David Bailey lost 19 yards on a punt return. The offense took care of that. First, Santos picked up eight yards on a scramble on 3rd and 5. R. J. took a handoff and went to the right sideline, broke through and raced 52 yardsfor a score and UNH had its first lead. McCoy ran in the conversion and it was 27-21 New Hampshire with 13:15 to go.
The defense came up big once again.
Georgia Southern went for it on 4th and 1 from the New Hampshire 47 and Saadah met Jermaine Austin in the middle and stopped him cold.
The Wildcats drove back the other way. But a Santos pass was deflected by Victor Cabral and intercepted by James Young at the Georgia Southern 23.
Quarterback Chaz Williams picked up a couple of first downs and the Wildcats held.
The Eagles drove one last time, with the crowd chanting, and got to the New Hampshire. And no farther.
Etienne Boulay broke up a pass in the end zone. George Peterson knocked down a pass. And Williams threw incomplete one last time.
“Our House.”
Naah. UNH’s “Road House.”
Georgia Southern rolled up 270 yards rushing — balanced nicely between Williams and Jermaine Austin with 108 and 104 yards respectively — in the firsthalf alone.
The Eagles controlled the ball for 18 minutes and 11 seconds of the period.
A big equalizer was turnovers. Georgia Southern lost only seven fumbles in the regular season and lost three in the first half alone.
The Wildcats suffered a big blow late in the first quarter. Santos hit David Ball for a 14-yard pass play. But Ball sprained his right ankle and was done for the night.
Montana, the 2001 national champion, crushed Northwestern State 56-7 yesterday.
The other three Atlantic 10 teams in the tournament are all in the other half of the draw from UNH, and all won yesterday. William & Mary beat Hampton 42-35 and plays Delaware, which beat Lafayette, 28-14, next Saturday in a quarterfinal. James Madison beat Lehigh 14-13 and plays Furman in the quarters. The Wildcats, who have thrived on fast starts all year, had the tables turned on them last night.
The UNH defense ended Georgia Southern’s first possession when Jared Perkoski recovered a bad Williams pitch.
But the Eagles took the ball right back on the next play when Jason Earwood picked off a Santos pass at midfield.
Five plays later, Williams scored from 15 yards out and with Jonathan Dudley’s kick it was 7-0 with the game four minutes old.
The UNH offense went nowhere and when the center snap went over the head of Matt Henry, the Eagles had the ball on the UNH 14. Three plays later Austin scored an 8-yard TD for 14-0.
UNH’s Corey Graham took off down the right side and cut back to the left to answer with a 99-yard kickoff return to the Georgia Southern 1. John McCoy scored on the next play to make it 14-6.
I'm all a-twitter over this news...
Even the Eagles have the occasional outlier.
Now I really feel OLD. I graduated from there before they got University status. All these kids playing now were pre-school. WAAAAAA
If they play in Missoula, they go down. You very rarely beat the griz in their own stadium.
The griz manhandled a very good Northwest Louisiana team yesterday, holding their highly rated running offense to -7 yards in the first half and running and passing with ease against their NW La's vaunted defense to the tune of a 42-0 lead just into the 3rd quarter.
New Hampshire will definitely have its hands full with Craig Ochs (Griz's great QB) and their huge running back, Lex Hilliard.
Oh, it aint gonna be pretty when the griz rip up New Hampshire!
I, also, am a UNH grad and thrilled by the win. The first half was painful since Georgia Southern has an incredible running game, but in the second half, the UNH defense basically shut them down and scored 21 unanswered point. GO Wilcats. Next, on to Montana for another tough game.
Montomike, that is why they play the games. Do not underestimate UNH either. It will be a tough game and fun to watch.
GO WILDCATS !!!
Shoulda been there for the 'Hugo Bowl'...
Me Too.
Madison College became James Madison University the year after I graduated.
They ALSO WON in the 1AA 1st round against Lehigh!
Go Dukes!
It sure is nice the National Champion is decided on the field instead of polls and a computer. Also eliminates a lot of meaningless bowl games.
It WAS an exciting game. I enjoyed watching.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1235991/posts?page=904 post 904
Beating Georgia Southern in Statesboro was a big accomplishment.
The eagles played UGA very tough early in the year.
Let me clarify..I graduated Georgia Southern College! lol
Go Unnngh!!!
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