Underdog Dynasty - Week 13 Underdog RecapsAn unofficial The American, Conference USA, Sun Belt, and Independent football bloghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52546/ud_favicon.png2015-11-29T00:46:22-05:00http://www.underdogdynasty.com/rss/stream/95736312015-11-29T00:46:22-05:002015-11-29T00:46:22-05:00Temple Headed To The AAC Title Game After 27-3 Win
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<p>Needing a win in the season finale to secure a division title and spot in the AAC title game, Temple relied upon their talented defense in a 27-3 domination of Connecticut. </p> <p>Taking advantage of a dominant performance from one of the most fearsome defenses in all of college football, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/temple-owls">Temple Owls</a> earned a spot in the American Athletic Conference title game with a 27-3 win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.theuconnblog.com/">Connecticut Huskies</a>.</p>
<p><span>Defending a Huskies attack that was without starting quarterback Bryant Sherriffs, the Owls front seven was a force of nature in allowing only nine rushing yards and 138 total yards on the day.</span></p>
<p><span>The Owls got on the board first on a drive that started at the UConn 49-yard line due to a poor punt by Huskies punter Justin Wain. The four play drive was virtually all <span>Jahad Thomas</span> as the junior ran the ball three times for 33 yards. Thomas capped it off with a nine-yard scamper to the end zone that gave the home team a 7-0 lead. </span></p>
<p><span>UConn responded with an eight-play drive that started at their own 15-yard line. Facing a third and six on the Temple 48-yard line, the Huskies were stuffed on an <span>Arkeel Newsome</span> rush and forced to punt. </span>A quick three and out from Temple gave UConn new life at midfield, but a fumble on a fourth down conversion attempt returned the ball to the Owls with no harm done.</p>
<p><span>Temple finally extended their lead to double digits late in the first half on an 11-play, 56-yard drive that petered out at the UConn three-yard line. <span>Austin Jones</span> stepped in and drilled the 20-yard chip shot field goal to make the score 10-0 in favor of Temple.</span></p>
<p><span>Looking to put the game away early in the second half, Temple came out and double the lead to 20-0 in the third quarter. The first score, a 37-yard field goal from Jones, was the culmination of a battle of a drive that took 13 plays to move only 51 yards. With the successful kick, the Temple lead was extended to 13-0.</span></p>
<p><span>The second score, finally saw <span>P.J. Walker</span> and the passing game get involved in the game as the junior hit 4-6 passes for 33 yards. The final completion, a six-yard touchdown pass to seldom targeted <span>Romond Deloatch</span>, was a dagger of a score that put the Owls firmly in control at 20-0.</span></p>
<p><span>The Owls added a late insurance score on a 60-yard sprint to the end zone from Thomas that sent him over the 1,000 yards rushing plateau for the season. The successful PAT gave Temple a 27-0 lead.</span></p>
<p><span>Desperate to score at least once, the Huskies mounted a 47-yard drive that saw <span>Bobby Puyol</span> connect on a 45-yard field goal to cap the scoring at 27-3 in favor of Temple.</span></p>
<p>As the clock hit zero, the Temple Owls were east division champions with a 27-3 win over Connecticut.</p>
<p><span>With the loss, Connecticut will await their postseason destination after becoming bowl eligible with an upset win over Houston last week.</span></p>
<p><span>With the win, Temple wins the AAC East Division and will head to Houston to take on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/houston-cougars">Houston Cougars</a> in the inaugural AAC Championship game.</span></p>
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/american-athletic-conference/2015/11/29/9813156/temple-27-uconn-3-the-owls-are-headed-to-the-aac-title-gameJeremy Adcock2015-11-29T00:38:27-05:002015-11-29T00:38:27-05:00Cajuns Extinguished By Mountaineers 28-7
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<p>While holding the Cajuns to 42 net rushing yards, the Mountaineers did just enough to ensure Louisiana stays home during bowl season with a 28-7 victory.</p> <p>In an ugly defensive game despite mild temperatures and nice weather, the Appalachian State Mountaineers controlled the game and stifled Louisiana's offense en route to a 28-7 victory.</p>
<p>With the loss, Louisiana's four-year bowl streak ends as the Cajuns move to 4-7 on the season. App State goes to 9-2.</p>
<p>The story of the day was defense, with App State sacking <span>Brooks Haack</span> six times on the day. The Cajuns' lone touchdown came with just under a minute left in the game.</p>
<p>The App State scoring was evenly spread out among all four quarters. Marcux Cox score both first-half touchdowns from nine and one yards, respectively. The second scoring drive came at the end of a 15-play, 80-yard drive.</p>
<p>Louisiana was never in the game and was fortunate that App State had two giveaways in the second quarter in Cajuns' territory. The best chance to get some momentum came right before halftime, but the 36-yard field goal attempt was blocked.</p>
<p>After punting the ball back and forth in the third quarter, Jalin Moore found a gap and sprinted 54 yards for a touchdown, going up 21-0.</p>
<p>Louisiana' next drive looked promising, but an oversnap took the Cajuns out of field goal range and led to a punt. Then deep in the fourth quarter, App State took advantage of a tired Louisiana defense and the dagger came with 6:34 left as Taylor Lamb found walk-on senior tight end Michael Moll for his first-ever touchdown to make it 28-0.</p>
<p>With third-string quarterback <span>Jordan Davis</span> in, the Cajuns got a drive together and finished with a 20-yard touchdown run with 57 seconds left.</p>
<p>Lamb went 14 of 21 for 172 yards and a touchdown. Haack was 13 of 22 for 128 yards and Davis went 7 off 7, all on the final Cajuns' drive, for 60 yards.</p>
<p>Freshman Jalin Moore led all rushers with 104 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown. Cox had 81 yards on 22 carries and two touchdowns. For Louisiana, Elijan McGuire was held to 43 yards on 16 carries. <span>Jamal Robinson</span> led all receivers with 66 yards on 7 catches.</p>
<p>Defensively, Eric Boggs picked up three of the six sacks on Haack.</p>
<p>Next week brings the final week of the Sun Belt regular season. The Cajuns return home for their final game of the season versus Troy. Appalachian State looks to cement their bowl resume as they'll face another bowl-hopeful in South Alabama in Mobile.</p>
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2015/11/29/9813060/app-state-shuts-down-louisiana-moves-to-9-2TK Maxwell2015-11-29T00:23:34-05:002015-11-29T00:23:34-05:007 Up, 7 Down! Red Wolves Destroy The Aggies
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<figcaption>Coach Blake Anderson just guaranteed A-State a championship season. Is it his last? | Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Seven Sun Belt games, seven Sun Belt wins. Arkansas State took care of business against New Mexico State, 52-28. And they looked good doing it. </p> <p>The game began the way many A-State games have started: with the opposition scoring on its first drive. <span>Andrew Allen</span> hurled a 45-yard dart into the end zone to give the Red Wolves the briefest of doubts. And then <span>Fredi Knighten</span> immediately answered with a 75-yard strike to <span>Dijon Paschal</span>, and from there the outcome was never in question.</p>
<p>Verily, the Red Wolves defeated The Aggies in a potpourri of ways.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Defensive TD to go along with a special teams TD, and the regular old rushing & passing TDs. Hope you bet on the superfecta today.</p>
— Kara Richey (@Kara_Richey) <a href="https://twitter.com/Kara_Richey/status/670755862240100352">November 29, 2015</a>
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<p><span>Defensively, DC Joe Cauthen's monster squad limited the talented Larry Rose III to 106 yards and no scores. When New Mexico State did its damage, it was through the air – Andrew Allen and <span>Nick Jeanty</span> combined for four TDS. But the risk-taking Red Wolves also added three more INTs to its collection, including a 66-yard Pick Six from </span><span>Quanterio </span><span>Heath. </span></p>
<p>Offensively, Fredi Knighten combined his fleet feet with strong-armed bombs, tossing two TDs and running one in. But it seemed like everyone got a piece of the Aggies. Johnston White and <span>Michael Gordon</span> collected touchdowns, and so did Blaise Taylor, who returned an Aggie punt for a spectacular score. <span>Tres Houston</span> (155/1) and Dijon Paschal (115/1) were brilliant, while hard-nosed <span>J.D. McKissic</span> added fifty-three of the toughest yards you'll ever see.</p>
<p>When the desert dust had settled, the Aggies found their three-game win streak unceremoniously brought to a bruising end. The Red Wolves, guaranteed at least a share of the Sun Belt title, are now a perfect 7 for 7 in conference play, with only the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/texas-st-bobcats">Texas State Bobcats</a> standing in the way of perfection.</p>
<h4>Play of the Game</h4>
<p><span>Blaise Taylor's</span> 73-yard TD punt return was certainly impressive, but Fredi Knighten rolling out of the pocket to escape the Aggie pass rush and connect with Tres Houston on a 57-yard TD strike was (we'll just say it) <i>breathtakingly beautiful</i> – like listening to Adele's <i>Hello</i> for the first one thousand times.</p>
<h4>The Predictable Aftermath</h4>
<p>Another successful Red Wolves' season, another year on the coaching Tilt-O-Whirl of Hell.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Been told Blake Anderson would like to get in the mix at Memphis. But not sure if there’s reciprocal interest. <a href="https://t.co/xxxCL0GIHB">https://t.co/xxxCL0GIHB</a></p>
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanWolken/status/670762356356464641">November 29, 2015</a>
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<p>A-State fans are accustomed to end-of-season hijinx, but the thought of Blake Anderson bolting to Memphis is especially difficult to digest. Anderson may very well parlay a championship Sun Belt season into a shinier new gig, but let us hope that <i>this</i> rumor is without substance.</p>
<h4>What's Ahead</h4>
<p>Let's check in on A-State's remaining opponent, the Texas State Bobcats:</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I'll just say this: Losing to NMSU, GAST, and Idaho in the same season (no matter how improved) should be a fireable offense. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TXST?src=hash">#TXST</a></p>
— <span>Will Butler</span> (@THETXSTUniv) <a href="https://twitter.com/THETXSTUniv/status/670774994868281345">November 29, 2015</a>
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<p>Yep. See y'all December 5th at The Cent, where only the hapless Bobcats stand between the Red Wolves and an outright Sun Belt Championship – its 4th trophy in five years.</p>
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https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2015/11/29/9812942/7-up-7-down-red-wolves-throttle-the-aggiesAStateFanRules2015-11-28T21:11:43-05:002015-11-28T21:11:43-05:00Idaho rips out Texas State's heart late
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<p>Idaho plunged the dagger into the Bobcats with a minute left to secure a win on Senior Day. </p> <p>Well, this game certainly didn't lack for action.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/idaho-vandals" class="sbn-auto-link">Idaho Vandals</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/texas-st-bobcats" class="sbn-auto-link">Texas State Bobcats</a> combined for 69 (nice) points, four turnovers, and over 1000 yards of offense as the home team ultimately prevailed in a wild 38-31 affair. Idaho's <span>Matt Linehan</span> found TE/WR <span>Deon Watson</span> early and often as the 6'4" junior torched Bobcat cornerback <span>Brandon McDowell</span> and the rest of the secondary for 124 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns, including a wild one-handed catch that would set up the winning touchdown.</p>
<p>Fellow receiver Callen Hightower also torched David Mims and the Bobcat back 5 for 128 receiving yards, and workhorse running back <span>Elijhaa Penny</span> poured on 149 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries (good for 6 YPC) on a Bobcat defense that made a few stops but couldn't hold when it needed to.</p>
<p>Tyler Siudzinski and <span>Tyler Jones</span> did their damndest to help the Bobcats keep up. The freshman running back tallied 174 yards on 22 carries after <span>Robert Lowe</span> exited the game in the 1st quarter and Jones combined for four total touchdowns--2 in the air, 2 on the ground--and looked more in rhythm when the coaches allowed him to throw deep routes down the field to targets such as CJ Best and <span>Brandon Smith</span>, who woke up for 198 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns combined.</p>
<p>However, despite the offense's heroic effort, the Bobcats stalled when it counted. A somewhat questionable call to try and run Siudzinski to the outside instead of running Jones on 4th and inches at the goal line was stuffed, but the worst call came at the most crucial juncture of the game.</p>
<p>Texas State stalled in Idaho territory with 3 minutes left. Dennis Franchione had a choice: go for it on 4th and short, or punt from the Idaho 45 and trust a defense that had already given up 31 points and were running out of gas.</p>
<p>He chose the latter. Idaho drove into Bobcat territory. Then this happened.</p>
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<p>Then Idaho scored on a 4 yard touchdown plunge by Penny, and Texas State's final drive would end in <span>Tyler Jones's</span> first interception of the day.</p>
<p>Idaho quadrupled their win total from a season ago and showed that 2015 was a clear step forward under Paul Petrino. With Matt Linehan, Callen Hightower, and Deon Watson returning next season, the Vandals should be set in their passing attack and can focus on developing a more consistent defense.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The sound of victory <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoVandals?src=hash">#GoVandals</a> <a href="https://t.co/khz8oiT6OB">pic.twitter.com/khz8oiT6OB</a></p>
— Idaho Football (@VandalFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/VandalFootball/status/670778223429484545">November 29, 2015</a>
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<p>Texas State, meanwhile, completes the trifecta of losing to three programs in NMSU, Georgia State, and Idaho that they had previously been above on the Sun Belt totem pole. Now they (and ULM) are the doormat. Arkansas State will more than likely put the last helping of dirt on Texas State's grave next week, and a 3-9 season is a highly likely possibility.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TXST?src=hash">#TXST</a>'s 3-8 record ties the most losses Franchione has had in his career. 2012 and before that, his first season at Texas A&M in '03.</p>— Ishmael Johnson (@Ish_46) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ish_46/status/670778056672485376">November 29, 2015</a>
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<p>Athletic Director Larry Teis and President Denise Trauth now have to decide whether being mentioned in the same breath as UCF and Kansas are acceptable standards for Texas State football. If so, they risk losing a fanbase that's already on the edge of quitting.</p>
<p>And if that happens, it's worth asking whether the Drive to FBS was worth it in the first place.</p>
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2015/11/28/9812494/idaho-wins-seesaw-battle-over-texas-state-38-31THETexasStateUniversity2015-11-28T19:36:08-05:002015-11-28T19:36:08-05:00Second Half Corrections Lead Miners to 20-17 Win
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<p>North Texas and UTEP finished their season in Apogee today in what turned out to be a very unusual game. After big defensive plays and a second half push, the Miners handed North Texas their 11th and final loss of the season.</p> <p>Well. North Texas ended their season today against a UTEP team that had just as little to lose or gain. The two teams combined for just 3 points in the first half, coming from a North Texas field goal. However, special teams and defense took over in the second half, leading to the 20-17 victory by UTEP.</p>
<p>This game was weird to say the least. The passing leaders from each team, <span>Andrew McNulty</span> from UNT and Kavika Johnson from UTEP, combined for 91 total yards throughout the game. On the ground, UTEP fumbled the ball five times. However, despite the horrible passing game and inability to hold on to the ball, North Texas still managed to fall to UTEP on senior night in Denton.</p>
<p>After a rather uneventful first half, the second half opened with 3-0 North Texas lead. The Miners struck first with a 75-yard drive to open the half, capped off by a Kavika Johnson touchdown run. After a couple of drives, North Texas answered with a 53-yard punt return by Tre Johnson that put the Mean Green back on top with a score of 10-6. An interception by UTEP and fumble return by North Texas gave the teams 7 points each to give the Mean Green a lead of 17-13 late in the third quarter. After a few failed drives, UTEP completed another impressive 72-yard drive late in the fourth quarter which finished with a Warren Redix touchdown catch and run. The score gave the game a final score of 20-17</p>
<p>UTEP outgained North Texas 256 yards to 205 yards in the slow offensive battle. The Mean Green added another two turnovers of their own to bring the team's combined turnover total to seven. Aside from offensive struggles, North Texas also suffered from an usually high amount of penalty yards. The team racked up 120 yards on 10 penalties. Arguably the most controversially of the penalties was a targeting call on WR Carlos Harris that resulted in Harris being ejected from his final game at UNT.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Boom. <a href="https://t.co/DYoDaFDZbK">pic.twitter.com/DYoDaFDZbK</a></p>
— Pat Doney (@PatDoneyNBC5) <a href="https://twitter.com/PatDoneyNBC5/status/670748183149064192">November 28, 2015</a>
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<p>The Miners finish their season 5-7 with a conference record of 3-5. The Mean Green finally end the frustrating season with a 1-11 record and their only win coming against UTSA. With the season over, news on the new North Texas <a href="http://www.underdogdynasty.com/2015/11/28/9808748/why-doug-meacham-should-be-the-next-north-texas-head-coach">head coach</a> may be right around the corner.</p>
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2015/11/28/9812360/utep-finishes-the-season-with-underwhelming-20-17-win-over-north-texasa.brown942015-11-28T17:53:48-05:002015-11-28T17:53:48-05:00MTSU Crushes UTSA 42-7
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<p>The Roadrunners weren't able to put up much of a fight against MTSU </p> <p>Despite MTSU returning the opening kickoff to midfield, UTSA was able to force a Blue Raider three and out to start the game. UTSA then marched the ball back to midfield following the punt but a crucial sack on second down put the Roadrunners in poor position, forcing a punt. <br> <br> The two teams would then exchange fumbles, setting up a nice drive for MTSU. A face mask penalty called on <span>Marcus Davenport</span> put MTSU into the red zone and an option play would put them into the end zone for the first score of the game. <br> <br> The second quarter was a bit of a grind. UTSA failed to convert a fourth and one in fourth down territory despite burning a time out to discuss the play. The Blue Raiders slowly drove down the field for their second score following the turnover on downs. <br> <br> UTSA's offense showed a bit of life after Brett Winnegan and <span>David Morgan</span> created big plays for UTSA but consecutive QB runs cut the drive short for UTSA. <br> <br> MTSU's offense continued to click en route to a 21-0 lead after the Blue Raiders methodically marched the ball down the field. <br> <br> That score would hold for the second half as UTSA essentially run the clock out in their last possession of the half. <br> <br> Marred by a three and out, UTSA gave MTSU great field position to start the second half after a Roadrunner gunner hit the return man before he caught the punt. The Blue Raiders would make quick work of the UTSA defense to build a 28-0 lead as the boos in the Alamodome intensified. <br> <br> UTSA slowly inched their way down the field to start the second half. First down completions to David Morgan and <span>JaBryce Taylor</span> put UTSA into field goal range but the Roadrunners were yet again stopped on fourth and short. <br> <br> The Roadrunners' season was really summed up at the end of the third quarter. After a former player and recruit sent out tweets ridiculing the coaching staff, UTSA called a bubble screen on third and nine. Despite the bad play call, MTSU still saw it coming and picked off the lame attempt for a touchdown to give the Blue Raiders a 35-0 lead. <br> <br> A short drive for UTSA gave false hope after a dropped pass turned into a MTSU interception. A personal foul would add 15 yards to put the Blue Raiders back in great field position. <br> <br> After MTSU punched it in to build a 42-0 lead, the Roadrunners responded with a slick one handed catch from JaBryce Taylor to put the Roadrunners on the board.</p>
<p>The Blue Raiders sealed the game with a slow but effective march down the field on the ground. MTSU would mercifully take a knee in UTSA's red zone to end the game 42-7.</p>
<p>The Blue Raiders will face a MAC opponent in the Bahamas Bowl while UTSA will be left at home to ruminate on the direction of their program</p>
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2015/11/28/9812092/middle-tennessee-cruises-past-utsa-42-7Jared Kalmus2015-11-28T16:23:19-05:002015-11-28T16:23:19-05:00East Carolina Comes Up Short In Loss To Cincinnati
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<p>Hoping to earn a season ending win over Cincinnati to become bowl eligible, the East Carolina Pirates fell to 5-7 on the season in a 19-16 loss to Cincinnati.</p> <p><span>Unable to generate enough offense yet again, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/east-carolina-pirates">East Carolina Pirates</a> saw their bowl hopes fall to the wayside in falling 19-16 to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.downthedrive.com/">Cincinnati Bearcats</a>.</span></p>
<p><span>The Pirates, playing for their bowl lives in this game, got started quickly versus the Bearcats defense with a 58-yard opening drive that got as close as the Cincinnati two-yard line. Getting stuffed on three straight plays, the Pirates brought on kicker <span>Davis Plowman</span> for a 20-yard field goal. His kick was good, giving ECU a 3-0 early lead. </span></p>
<p><span>After getting a quicky three and out from the defense, <span>Blake Kemp</span> led the Pirates 94 yards in 11 plays and a score. The scoring play was a 10-yard pass from Kemp to <span>Davon Grayson</span> in the end zone. The PAT was good, giving ECU a 10-0 lead and early momentum. </span></p>
<p><span>ECU was unable to seize the momentum as both teams traded punts before the Cincinnati offense finally got rolling on a drive starting on their own 10-yard line. <span>Gunner Kiel</span> was 7-9 for 59 yards on the drive, connecting with leading receiver <span>Shaq Washington</span> for an eight-yard touchdown pass to pull within 10-6. The PAT attempt by <span>Andrew Gantz</span> was no good, leaving the score at 10-6 in favor of East Carolina.</span></p>
<p><span>The Bearcats had one last chance to score in moving 71 yards to the ECU 27-yard line late in the first half. Kiel went for it all, throwing to the end zone, but <span>DaShawn Benton</span> ripped the ball away for a touchdown saving interception. </span></p>
<p><span>At the half, ECU led 10-6.</span></p>
<p><span>Cincinnati quickly found success in the third quarter with the run game. Carries by <span>Hosey Williams</span>, <span>Mike Boone</span>, and <span>Tion Green</span> found room versus the ECU defense into the redzone. Boone capped off the scoring drive five plays later with a one-yard touchdown run that gave Cincinnati their first lead of the game at 13-10. </span></p>
<p><span>The Bearcats extended their lead to 16-10 minutes later with Gantz connecting on a 50-yard kick. </span></p>
<p><span>Needing to respond with their bowl hopes on the line and a quarter left to play, ECU again did just enough to get back in the game. The Pirates sailed downfield the the Cincinnati two-yard line, facing a fourth and goal with just over 10 minutes left in the game. </span></p>
<p><span>Rather than take the field goal attempt, the Pirates went with <span>James Summers</span> who found <span>Bryce Williams</span> for a touchdown pass to pull ECU even at 16, PAT pending. Before the PAT attempt, the Pirates were penalized 15 yards for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, moving the kick back to the Cincinnati 17-yard line. </span></p>
<p><span>That 15 yards was everything as Plowman missed the attempt, leaving the game tied at 16 with 10:36 left in the game.</span></p>
<p><span>Cincinnati quickly moved downfield on 12 plays and attempted a 44-yard field goal with 4:27 left in the game. The kick went wide right, givng the Pirates hope for one big offensive drive to win the game. Instead, ECU went three and out, giving the ball to the Bearcats on the Cincinnati 19-yard line. </span></p>
<p><span>Helped in part by a 15-yard personal foul penalty by the Pirates, Kiel moved the Bearcats to the East Carolina 25-yard line with four seconds left on the clock. Gantz, having already missed a PAT and a 44-yard kick earlier, came on and drilled the 42-yard game winning field goal as time expired to give Cincinnati a 19-16 win over East Carolina.</span></p>
<p><span>This win ends the regular season for both teams. Cincinnati ends with a 7-5 record and postseason berth secured. East Carolina falls to 5-7 with their season coming to a disappointing close. </span></p>
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/american-athletic-conference/2015/11/28/9811824/cincinnati-19-east-carolina-16-game-recapJeremy Adcock2015-11-28T15:55:20-05:002015-11-28T15:55:20-05:00FAU prevents ODU from bowling
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<figcaption>Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>After losing on senior day last year to Old Dominion in heartbreaking fashion, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/florida-atlantic-owls">Florida Atlantic</a> was able to return the favor and defeat the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/old-dominion-monarchs">Old Dominion Monarchs</a> 33-31 behind a <span>Greg Joseph</span> 29-yard field goal. The win keeps the Monarchs from reaching their first bowl game ever.</p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">With nothing to play for FAU played aggressive all day as they went for in on fourth-down and converted three times, which included a 4th & 1 rush by <span>Jason Driskel</span> from their own 41-yard line to milk more time off the clock.</span></p>
<p class="p1">If not for Trey Hendrickson, Old Dominion would be going to a bowl game this year. Hendrickson was a force today as he finished with four sacks and setup the go-ahead Joseph field goal with a trifecta strip-sack and fumble recovery.</p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">After giving SEC East Champion Florida all it can handle last week, FAU walked onto Foreman Field and were absolutely dominating ODU in the first half.</span></p>
<p class="p1">If Owl fans were left wondering whether FAU would start slow following the narrow defeat to Florida those answers were put to rest on FAU's first drive as <span>Jay Warren</span> would score from two yards out to cap a nine-play, 54-yard drive to give FAU a 7-0 lead.</p>
<p class="p1">The Owls would lean on the rushing attack once again as <span>Marcus Clark</span> would score from 15 yards out for his first ever touchdown in an Owl uniform to give FAU a 14-3 to close the first quarter.</p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">With less than a minute before halftime <span>Jaquez Johnson</span> rushed for a one yard touchdown to give FAU a 24-3 lead. The game, it appeared, was over. ODU had yet to surpass 150 total yards of offense and the Owls were dominating the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">What happened next was all too familiar for Owl fans. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">After having no success through the air <span>Shuler Bentley</span> would find Zach Pascal for a 45-yard touchdown pass to trim the deficit to 14 before the half. The score would spark a 28-3 scoring for the Monarchs. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">After Bentley hooked-up with Pascal for their third touchdown of the day ODU was up 31-27 at the conclusion of the third quarter.</span></p>
<p class="p1">In a blink of an eye a 21-point lead became a four-point deficit entering the fourth quarter.</p>
<p class="p1">Second half adjustments has been an issue for Charlie Partridge and the coaching staff all season and for it to rear its head in the season-finale is kind of a let down despite the win.</p>
<p class="p1">With a ton of momentum from the near-upset last week and to win in this fashion against an Old Dominion team FAU clearly had more talent than leaves me feeling lukewarm.</p>
<p class="p1">Alas, a win is a win and its nice to see our seniors go out with a victory especially after they had to witness ODU celebrate at FAU Stadium in last year's season finale.</p>
<p class="p1">However, I can't help but wonder a lot more wins were left on the table this season through no fault of the players.</p>
<p class="p1">With another 3-9 season in the books its time for Partridge to hit the recruiting trail hard once again in preparation for what will be a pivotal third season for the head coach.</p>
<p class="p2"><span class="s1"></span></p>
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2015/11/28/9811246/fau-spoils-an-odu-bowl-bid-wins-33-31Cyrus Smith