FCS Roundup, Week Six

A couple of interesting matchups and dominant performances were overshadowed by Portland State's manhandling of North Texas.

• That game was in no way a fluke. The score wasn't inflated due to a bunch of turnovers or some trick plays working out. Portland State outgained the mean Green 670-198 and got 27 first downs to UNT's 13. Vikings QB Alex Kuresa tossed for 269 yards and two touchdowns, but the real damage came on the ground. Portland State's top four rushers combined for 347 yards and six touchdowns on just 33 carries. The win vaulted Portland State from #25 to #17 in this week's FCS Coaches' Poll.
• #2 North Dakota State squeaked by #14 Northern Iowa in come-from-behind fashion, 31-28. UNI RB Aaron Bailey ran for 157 yards, including an 83-yard run with about seven minutes left in the fourth quarter to go ahead 28-24. UNI went on to miss a field goal that allowed the Bison to take over with 2:30 left. NDSU QB Carson Wentz took over and marched down the field on a 10-play, 79-yard drive that culminated with a go-ahead 18-yard TD pass with :35 left. NDSU has now gotten past the most difficult part of its schedule, save for a matchup with #12 Youngstown State in mid-November.
• Dartmouth destroyed Yale 35-3  in a battle of undefeated Ivy Leaguers, while #18 Harvard beat down Cronell 40-3. The two seem to be on a collision course for a huge matchup on Halloween Eve that will probably end up deciding the Ivy League.
• #1 Coastal Carolina got a scare from 1-5 Presbyterian but put them away late after a failed fourth down attempt by the Blue Hose with :30 left in the game, preserving the 24-17 win. Chanticleers RB De'Angelo Henderson continued his dominant season with a 124 yard effort to go along with what proved to be the game-winning touchdown.
• In the craziest game of the week, #8 Eastern Washington beat Cal Poly 42-41 in overtime. EWU WR Kendrick Bourne made an outstanding effort to score on the first play of overtime to go up 42-35. Cal Poly took over, and eventually scored a 1-yard TD. The Mustangs decided to go for two, but fumbled an option pitch during the try.