All or Nothing
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Right or Wrong
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"I will again bring a conqueror to you..."
Two weeks ago was the low-point of the season. Then, not surprisingly, last Saturday they boat-raced Youngstown. Which brought about the regular season finale as the all-important showcase for whether the lessons in Brookings would stick.
They have.
With six rushing touchdowns and over 300 yards on the ground Cam Miller just had to manage the game and boy did he ever! Completing 83% of his passes for 219 yards & another score is exactly what the jigsaw puzzle needs for the pieces to come together in exemplary fashion. As the team advances in the postseason another touchdown or two may be needed, as well as 50/60/70 more yards. But when the Rams are plowing the way as they have been over the last two games he just has to be be efficient and let the athletes all around him do what they can do.
Inconsistent though he still can be, Christian Watson had a pedestrian day compared to his usual. As if on cue though, Phoenix Sproles finally broke loose as another playmaking option. If he can be a game-breaker a time or two more over the next month then there's little chance of a loss before the semi-finals if not the championship. They were the most productive two of the nine different players to catch a pass, that's absurd balance!
It's a number equaled by the total players to tote the rock, lead by Kobe Johnson (13) & TaMerik Williams (12). Each one of them finished with at least 10 yards. Just incredible effectiveness.
24 points & nearly 300 yards don't scream dominance by the defense but South Dakota only had two drives of more than six plays with one other one covering 75 yards in four plays. If an opponent only gets three legitimate chances to put up points then the team will be in a good position. With all of USD's touchdowns coming in the second half it was too little, too late for them to catch up. So it may not have been their best effort of the season, the defense was still championship caliber today.
He was among the many ball carriers today but specific mention needs to be made of Kaedin Steindorf with the converted fake punt. That play sparked them to get back ahead by four scores and with the playoffs looming is just one more thing that opponents will have to prepare for.
The opening minutes of the third quarter were as bad it got for NDSU. Obviously they aren't going to score every time but to got three & out and then give up a punt return touchdown is the sort of sequence that can revive a team's spirit.
That's the one and only that didn't seem like nit picking though
Which brings up tomorrow's bracket reveal
NDSU has the best resume in the country but riding a 21 game winning streak will propel Sam Houston to the number one seed. They won't repeat but they've earned the spot. After them here is the prediction for the other seeds:
2. NDSU
3. JMU
4. Montana
5. Villanova
6. Sacramento St.
7. Montana St.
8. Eastern Washington
A lot of consideration was given to slipping SDSU in as the 8th. Considering their win two weeks ago they should get the same by the committee but the loss to South Dakota is legitimate reasoning for not giving them the bye week. Bias against them aside, it's pretty close to a coin flip for them. As for the rest, it may lead to more undesirable regionalization but the Valley should get five teams in the field again this year.
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