CI Week 14 Football Highlights
12/2/2019
Six more CI coaches earned bowl eligibility with wins on Saturday. Congratulations to Mississippi State DL Coach Deke Adams (@CoachDekeAdams), Michigan State OL Coach Jim Bollman (@CoachJimBollman), North Carolina Special Teams Coor./OLB Scott Boone (@CoachScottBoone), Boston College DB Coach Eric Lewis (@CoachEricLewis), Michigan State Asst. DB Coach Terrence Samuel (@MSUTSamuel), and Kent State Safeties Coach Will Windham (@CoachWindham)! Four was the magic number at the FCS level as Monmouth Passing Game Coor./QB T.J. DiMuzio (@CoachTJD), Monmouth Special Teams Coor./RB Sam Dorsett (@CoachSamDorsett), Kennesaw State Defensive Coor./LB Blake Harrell (@Coach_B_Harrell), and Northern Iowa Defensive Coor./Safeties Jeremiah Johnson (@Coach_J_Johnson) all won their first round playoff games. Keep reading for more highlights from Week 14.
It was a record setting day on both sides of ball in Cincinnati as QB Andy Daton and DE Carlos Dunlap each had career games in leading the Bengals to their first win of the year. Dalton completed 22-of-37 passes for 243 yards and one touchdown to become the franchise's new leader in touchdown passes and completions. On the defensive side, Dunlap tied a career-high with three of the team's four sacks to shut down a Jet offense that entered the game having averaged 365 yards of offense and scoring 34 points in each of its three most recent contests, all wins. Sparked by Dunlap, Cincinnati's defense limited New York to just 271 yards as the hosts pulled away in the second quarter en route to a 22-6 win. Congratulations to Bengals Senior Defensive Assistant Mark Duffner on the win! Duffner is in the first season of his second stint in Cincinnati after serving as the Bengals' linebackers coach from 1997-00 and defensive coordinator from 2001-02. A 40-year coaching veteran, Duffner spent last season as the defensive coordinator for the Buccaneers and has also coached with the Dolphins, Jaguars, and Packers. At the college level, he has served as the head coach for Maryland and Holy Cross.
For the second consecutive season, Utah is headed to the PAC-12 Championship Game. With their 45-15 win over Colorado, the Utes also stayed in contention for a spot in the College Football Playoff. Brant Kuithe caught three passes for 63 yards and two touchdowns to pace Utah’s passing attack. Kuithe also rushed for a touchdown as the Utes outgained the Buffaloes, 372-217. Utah finishes the regular season with an 11-1 record and will face Oregon Special Teams Analyst Chris Norris (@coachnorris38) and the North Division Champion Ducks on Friday night in Santa Clara. Congratulations to Utah WR Coach Guy Holliday (@eagle88me) on the win and fantastic regular season! Holiday is in his fourth season with the Utes, where he has helped the team reach a bowl game during each of his first three seasons. Personally, Holiday has participated in the postseason for six consecutive seasons, going back to his three-year tenure as the wide receivers coach at BYU from 2013-15. Overall, he boasts 27 years of coaching experience including stints at UTEP, Cornell, Mississippi State and Western Michigan.
After earning a #1 seed and a first round bye, Ferris State showed a few signs of rust at the outset of their second round game versus Central Missouri. UCM scored a touchdown on its first drive of the game and held a 7-6 lead after the first quarter. But Ferris State QB Travis Russell connected with WR CJ Jefferson for a 58-yard touchdown pass with 6:36 left in the second quarter and from there the Bulldogs cruised the rest of the way. RB Marvin Campbell added three rushing touchdowns in the second half to single-handedly outscore the Mules in the second half, 18-3. In total, Campbell carried the ball 19 times for 151 yards to lead the ground attack as Ferris State racked up a total of 372 rushing yards. With the win, the Bulldogs advance to the Division II Quarterfinals for the fourth consecutive year. They will meet another MIAA member, Northwest Missouri State, next Saturday in Big Rapids, Michigan. Congratulations and good luck to Ferris State Asst. Head Coach/RB Brian Rock (@Coach_Rock)! Rock is in his first season at Ferris State after serving as an offensive analyst at Oklahoma State in 2018. He previously spent three seasons as the offensive coordinator at Holy Cross, including serving as the interim head coach for the final four games of 2017. Rock has also coordinated offenses at Kent State and Western Michigan and from 2006-10 he served as the wide receivers coach at Purdue.
Quick Hits
- Louisiana defeated Louisiana-Monroe, 31-30, to set a new program record for wins in a season with 10. The Cajuns also set a new program record for conference wins with seven and have now won the Sun Belt West Division two consecutive seasons. Congratulations to Louisiana Defensive Coordinator Ron Roberts (@CoachRonRoberts) and Asst. OL Coach Bryant Ross (@CoachBryantRoss)!
- In the Sun Belt Championship Game, the Cajuns will match up against Appalachian State Special Teams Coor. Erik Link (@CoachErikLink) and the Mountaineers. Appalachian State rolled to a 48-13 win over Troy on Friday night to finish the regular season at 11-1 (7-1).
- In the American Athletic Conference, Memphis also set a new program record for wins in a season with 11 by beating Cincinnati, 34-24. The Tigers clinched the AAC West Division title for the third consecutive year and will host Cincinnati again on Saturday with the conference championship on the line. Congratulations to Memphis Passing Game Coor./WR Coach John Simon (@johnsimon31)!
- In Conference USA, UAB defeated North Texas, 26-21, to secure its place in the conference championship game and a chance to defend its 2018 title. Congratulations to Blazers Defensive Coordinator David Reaves (@CoachReeves_UAB)!
- Mississippi State's defense forced three turnovers, recorded four sacks and nine tackles-for-loss to win one of the wildest Egg Bowls ever, 21-20, over Ole Miss. Congratulations to Mississippi State DL Coach Deke Adams (@CoachDekeAdams)!
- Air Force WR Benjamin Waters caught three passes for 100 yards and a touchdown to lead the Falcons to a 20-6 win over Wyoming. With the win, Air Force finishes the regular season with a 10-2 record and AP Top 25 ranking for the first time since 2010. Congratulations to WR Coach Ari Confesor (@CoachAC3)!
- Coastal Carolina RB C.J. Marable became just the fourth running back in program history to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards in a season as the junior rushed for 121 yards and a touchdown in the Chanticleers' 24-21 win over Texas State. Congratulations to Coastal Carolina Co-Offensive Coordinator/RB Newland Isaac (@coachisaacFB) and Offensive Analyst Everette Sands (@EveretteSands)!
- Southern is heading back to the SWAC Championship after rallying from a 21-3 deficit to defeat Grambling, 30-28, and win the SWAC West title. Congratulations to Southern Asst. Head Coach/OffCoor/OL Chennis Berry (@coachberry77)!