College Title Day:
No. 2 Saint Francis vs No. 1 Carroll (Mont.)
From: The Journal Gazette
Time : 1 p.m.
Site: Jim Carroll Stadium, Savannah, Tenn. (5,500)
Radio: 1450 AM
TV: Comcast basic cable Channel 95; digital cable Channel 274
Records: Saint Francis (13-0); Carroll (13-0)
NAIA offensive ranking: Saint Francis – 4th, 462.8 ypg; Carroll – 2nd, 471.5 ypg
NAIA defensive ranking: Saint Francis – 2nd, 255.7 ypg; Carroll – 1st, 246.3 ypg
Key matchup
The offensive and defensive lines
Saint Francis has been praised for being a physical team all season. The Cougars boast a veteran offensive line that includes three 2004 NAIA All-Americans (senior tackles Nick Krinn and Jarod Leasure and guard Adam Jacobowitz), who have helped the team average 278.9 rushing yards per game, third in the nation. Carroll is again one of the strongest defensive teams in the country, yielding just 93.5 rushing yards per game, third in the NAIA. The Saints also have an experienced offensive line, including 2004 All-American center Kyle Baker. As far as its defensive line, Saint Francis’ two starting freshmen and two sophomores have grown up a lot and are helping the Cougars to allow 115.6 rushing yards per game. “A lot of it is going to have to do with us winning the battle up front on the line where we struggled a little last year,” Saint Francis fullback Michael Ledo said. “But (offensive line) coach (James) Bettcher has those guys prepared.”
Keep an eye on ...
The two quarterbacks
Both Carroll quarterback Tyler Emmert and Saint Francis quarterback Chris Bramell were top candidates for the NAIA player of the year award, which Emmert won Friday nigh. Emmert also won the award in 2003 as a sophomore, and Bramell was named the top player in the Mid-States Football Association Mideast League in 2005. They’ve flourished with different styles – the 6-foot-2, 204-pound Emmert, known for his precise passing and cool demeanor, has completed 67 percent of his passes for 233.8 yards per game and 32 touchdowns. The 6-5, 240-pound Bramell is both a threat passing (167.7 ypg) and rushing (41.3 ypg). Both quarterbacks led their teams to score on each team’s final drive in last year’s title game, which Carroll won 15-13.
Saint Francis wins if ...
The Cougars control the clock
Saint Francis opponents that have played close games with the Cougars did so by chewing up clock. Walsh (Ohio) had the ball for 33:52 to Saint Francis’ 26:08, allowing the Cavaliers to trail the Cougars 14-7 until 1:58 remained in their game Nov. 12. Saint Francis cornerback Paul Carter’s 100-yard interception return for a touchdown sealed a 21-7 victory. Carroll won the time of possession battle against the Cougars last season in the national title game, 36 minutes to the Cougars’ 24. Saint Francis coach Kevin Donley also felt his team scored with too much time remaining; the Cougars took a 13-12 lead with 1:13 left to cap an 89-yard, 17-play drive. Carroll drove 59 yards on eight plays in 1:03 and kicked a 32-yard field goal with 10.8 seconds left to win the game.
Things you should know
Carroll ended Cougars’ last 2 seasons
The Saints quashed Saint Francis’ hopes in its first national title game appearance when Marcus Miller hit a 32-yard field goal with 10.8 seconds left last year. In 2003, the Saints also beat Saint Francis 38-14 in Helena, Mont., in the Cougars’ first semifinal appearance. Saint Francis is 0-2 all time against Carroll, which has been the top-ranked team in the NAIA all season. The Cougars have been No. 2 since the preseason.
Saints have 3 titles in a row
Carroll became the first school to win three national championships since the NAIA moved to one division after the 1996 season when the Saints won the title game last season. Texas A&I won three straight titles 1974-76 in NAIA Division I. Carroll last lost a game on Oct. 16, 2004, to Montana-Western 26-17 in Helena. The Saints’ senior class is 52-4 record in its career and 15-0 in the playoffs.
USF senior class has 49-3 career mark
The Cougars’ seniors will win their 50th career game if they capture the national title today. Two of their career losses have come against Carroll. The other loss was to Georgetown (Ky.) 24-0 in the NAIA quarterfinals in 2002. The seniors have also produced a 40-0 regular-season record. The only thing left is a national championship.
Both teams cruise through playoffs
Saint Francis and Carroll have each won their three playoff games by an average of nearly 30 points per game. The Saints are coming off a 55-0 thrashing of No. 4 Sioux Falls (S.D.) in the semifinals in Helena, while the Cougars beat No. 3 Morningside (Iowa) 42-14 at Bishop D’Arcy Stadium. Carroll also knocked off No. 15 Dickinson State (N.D.) 23-13 and No. 11 Montana Tech 24-0, both in Helena. Saint Francis routed No. 13 Pikeville (Ky.) 41-7 and No. 5 Georgetown 44-14, both in Fort
My bet: USF win in the last 3 mins. this will be a slug-match, of two great teams
JQP esq.
From: The Journal Gazette
Time : 1 p.m.
Site: Jim Carroll Stadium, Savannah, Tenn. (5,500)
Radio: 1450 AM
TV: Comcast basic cable Channel 95; digital cable Channel 274
Records: Saint Francis (13-0); Carroll (13-0)
NAIA offensive ranking: Saint Francis – 4th, 462.8 ypg; Carroll – 2nd, 471.5 ypg
NAIA defensive ranking: Saint Francis – 2nd, 255.7 ypg; Carroll – 1st, 246.3 ypg
Key matchup
The offensive and defensive lines
Saint Francis has been praised for being a physical team all season. The Cougars boast a veteran offensive line that includes three 2004 NAIA All-Americans (senior tackles Nick Krinn and Jarod Leasure and guard Adam Jacobowitz), who have helped the team average 278.9 rushing yards per game, third in the nation. Carroll is again one of the strongest defensive teams in the country, yielding just 93.5 rushing yards per game, third in the NAIA. The Saints also have an experienced offensive line, including 2004 All-American center Kyle Baker. As far as its defensive line, Saint Francis’ two starting freshmen and two sophomores have grown up a lot and are helping the Cougars to allow 115.6 rushing yards per game. “A lot of it is going to have to do with us winning the battle up front on the line where we struggled a little last year,” Saint Francis fullback Michael Ledo said. “But (offensive line) coach (James) Bettcher has those guys prepared.”
Keep an eye on ...
The two quarterbacks
Both Carroll quarterback Tyler Emmert and Saint Francis quarterback Chris Bramell were top candidates for the NAIA player of the year award, which Emmert won Friday nigh. Emmert also won the award in 2003 as a sophomore, and Bramell was named the top player in the Mid-States Football Association Mideast League in 2005. They’ve flourished with different styles – the 6-foot-2, 204-pound Emmert, known for his precise passing and cool demeanor, has completed 67 percent of his passes for 233.8 yards per game and 32 touchdowns. The 6-5, 240-pound Bramell is both a threat passing (167.7 ypg) and rushing (41.3 ypg). Both quarterbacks led their teams to score on each team’s final drive in last year’s title game, which Carroll won 15-13.
Saint Francis wins if ...
The Cougars control the clock
Saint Francis opponents that have played close games with the Cougars did so by chewing up clock. Walsh (Ohio) had the ball for 33:52 to Saint Francis’ 26:08, allowing the Cavaliers to trail the Cougars 14-7 until 1:58 remained in their game Nov. 12. Saint Francis cornerback Paul Carter’s 100-yard interception return for a touchdown sealed a 21-7 victory. Carroll won the time of possession battle against the Cougars last season in the national title game, 36 minutes to the Cougars’ 24. Saint Francis coach Kevin Donley also felt his team scored with too much time remaining; the Cougars took a 13-12 lead with 1:13 left to cap an 89-yard, 17-play drive. Carroll drove 59 yards on eight plays in 1:03 and kicked a 32-yard field goal with 10.8 seconds left to win the game.
Things you should know
Carroll ended Cougars’ last 2 seasons
The Saints quashed Saint Francis’ hopes in its first national title game appearance when Marcus Miller hit a 32-yard field goal with 10.8 seconds left last year. In 2003, the Saints also beat Saint Francis 38-14 in Helena, Mont., in the Cougars’ first semifinal appearance. Saint Francis is 0-2 all time against Carroll, which has been the top-ranked team in the NAIA all season. The Cougars have been No. 2 since the preseason.
Saints have 3 titles in a row
Carroll became the first school to win three national championships since the NAIA moved to one division after the 1996 season when the Saints won the title game last season. Texas A&I won three straight titles 1974-76 in NAIA Division I. Carroll last lost a game on Oct. 16, 2004, to Montana-Western 26-17 in Helena. The Saints’ senior class is 52-4 record in its career and 15-0 in the playoffs.
USF senior class has 49-3 career mark
The Cougars’ seniors will win their 50th career game if they capture the national title today. Two of their career losses have come against Carroll. The other loss was to Georgetown (Ky.) 24-0 in the NAIA quarterfinals in 2002. The seniors have also produced a 40-0 regular-season record. The only thing left is a national championship.
Both teams cruise through playoffs
Saint Francis and Carroll have each won their three playoff games by an average of nearly 30 points per game. The Saints are coming off a 55-0 thrashing of No. 4 Sioux Falls (S.D.) in the semifinals in Helena, while the Cougars beat No. 3 Morningside (Iowa) 42-14 at Bishop D’Arcy Stadium. Carroll also knocked off No. 15 Dickinson State (N.D.) 23-13 and No. 11 Montana Tech 24-0, both in Helena. Saint Francis routed No. 13 Pikeville (Ky.) 41-7 and No. 5 Georgetown 44-14, both in Fort
My bet: USF win in the last 3 mins. this will be a slug-match, of two great teams
JQP esq.
posted by John Q. Public esq. at 6:04 AM
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