Welcome to the FCS Football Talk podcast.
On this episode, Sam Herder and Zach McKinnell discuss:
-3 Game Balls and a Flag from Week 0
-Montana State’s FBS win over New Mexico
-North Dakota State’s massive Week 1 game against Colorado
-If South Dakota State can pull off the upset against Oklahoma State
-Week 1 Preview: No. 25 Youngstown State at No. 6 Villanova
-FCS vs. FBS matchups to watch in Week 1
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3 Game Balls and a Flag
Each week of the 2024 FCS football season, the FCS Football Talk podcast will award three game balls and a flag from the previous weekend’s action.
The game balls are awarded to three standout teams or individual players, while the flag is thrown after a disappointing performance or questionable coaching decision.
Below are the three game balls and a flag from Week 0.
Zach’s 3 Game Balls And A Flag
- Game Ball: Payton Brown (SEMO, RB)
- 19 carries, 97 rushing yards, 3 rushing TDs, 29 receiving yards
- Named FCS Kickoff Most Valuable Player
- Tied FCS Kickoff Single-Game Record With 3 TDs
- Game Ball: Montana State’s Rushing Attack
- The Bobcats recorded 362 rushing yards on 47 carries (7.7 YPC) and 3 rushing TDs
- Montana State was missing starting RB Julius Davis and All-American center Justus Perkins
- Redshirt freshman Adam Jones led the Bobcats with 167 rushing yards and 1 TD, averaging 9.8 YPC
- Scottre Humphrey also finished the game with 140 rushing yards and 1 TD
- Game Ball: Daniel Richardson (Florida A&M, QB)
- Richardson completed 22-of-30 passes for 286 passing yards and 3 TDs
- Named MEAC/SWAC Challenge MVP
- Earned BOXTOROW HBCU National Player of the Week honors
- Helped lead Florida A&M to a comeback win after trailing Norfolk State 14-0 in the first half
- Flag: Dawson Odums (Norfolk State, HC)
- Norfolk State outscored 17-9 in the final three quarters after taking a 14-0 lead in the first quarter
- The Spartans have lost six games by 10 points or less, including four consecutive games last season
- Questionable decision to kick a field on 4th & 1 inside the red zone
- Florida A&M blocked the field goal
- Norfolk State was averaging over 10 yards per carry at this point of the game
- Another questionable play call on a 2-point conversion in the second half
- Florida A&M blocked the initial PAT attempt, which put the ball at the 1-yard line
- Attempted to run a read option instead, which was stopped for a loss and secured the Florida A&M win
- Norfolk State only attempted 9 passes in the entire game
- Jalon Daniels: 7-for-9, 142 passing yards
Sam’s 3 Game Balls And A Flag
- Game Ball: Montana State OL
- Rushed for 362 yards (7.7 yards per carry) in FBS win over New Mexico
- All-American center Justus Perkins was out, and starting guard Cole Sain bumped over. Starting tackles Marcus Wehr and Conner Moore moved to guard
- Best RB Julius Davis was also sidelined
- Redshirt freshman Adam Jones had 167 yards rushing, and true sophomore Scottre Humphrey had 140 yards
- Game Ball: Tarleton State RB Kayvon Britten
- 164 yards rushing and 6.6 YPC
- Came up big as starting QB Victor Gabalis missed the 2nd half with a thumb injury
- Game Ball: SEMO
- Beat North Alabama 37-15 despite losing QB Paxton DeLaurent early to a shoulder injury
- Freshman Payton Brown — 97 yards rushing and 3 TDs
- Flag: North Alabama
- Not a terrible loss, but was a sleeper pick to get a win. Did not compete as well as many expected
- Golden opportunity to get a win when DeLaurent was sidelined
- Ari Patu — 12/24 for 104 yards and 2 INT
