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Lefty’s Corner: Playoff tidbits to ponder

By Wordpress Admin User Jan 8, 2015 | 7:00 PM

By  Bryan Bloodworth

Illinois State’s football team is making its fifth appearance in the FCS playoffs this year and meets Missouri Valley Conference foe North Dakota State in the national championship game Saturday at noon in Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.

Coverage begins at 10 a.m. on the Country Financial Illinois State Radio Network on WJBC 1230 AM and NASH.icon 93.7 FM with the pregame show.

Here are some interesting facts and tidbits heading into the game.

  • ISU has a 7-4 record in the playoffs, qualifying for the quarterfinals three times, the semifinals once and the finals once.
  • North Dakota State is making its fifth straight playoff appearance. The Bison are 17-1 in the playoffs, including three straight national titles and a quarterfinal appearance in 2010.
  • The Bison are looking to become only the second team in NCAA history to win four straight national titles. Augustana College of the CCIW won four Division III titles.
  • This game makes the eighth meeting between ISU and North Dakota State. The Bison has won the last three and leads the series, 5-2.
  • Both teams have one loss this year and it came at the hands of Northern Iowa. ISU lost UNI, 42-28, while the Bison loss at UNI, 23-3.
  • Illinois State junior running back Marshaun Coprich has rushed for 100 or more yards in 13 of 14 games, including a school-record 13 straight to eclipse the record set by Pierre Rembert in 2006.
  • Coprich has rushed for a school-record 2,162 yards this year to break the previous mark of 1,743 set by Rembert in 2006. Coprich has rushed for 27 touchdowns, which breaks the school record of 20 set by Toby Davis in 1992. He also leads the FCS in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.
  • Nick Aussieker became the school’s all-time scoring leader earlier this season. The senior has 307 points, eclipsing the record of 271 set by  Stephen Carroll from 2001-2004.
  • Aussieker kicked two game-winning field goals as time expired this year. He has converted 59 of 61 extra point kicks and 14 of 19 field goals. His longest is 45 yards and he is 2 for 4 from beyond 40 yards and missed his only attempt beyond the 50 yard line.
  • Illinois State junior quarterback Tre Roberson is the team leader in total offense with 3932 yards – 868 rushing and 3064 passing. He has completed 197 of 331 pass attempts with 27 touchdowns and only nine interceptions.
  • His favorite receiver has been Cameron Meredith, who has 65 receptions for 1047 yards and nine touchdowns. Lechein Neblett is second in receiving with 52 catches for 995 yards and a team-high eight touchdowns.
  • Defensively, Illinois State is led by junior linebacker Pat Meehan with 44 solo tackles and 59 assists for 103 total tackles. Junior defensive end Teddy Corwin is second with 93 tackles, including 47 solos and 46 assists. Corwin has a team-high 7 and a half quarterback sacks and three pass interceptions. The Redbirds have intercepted 18 passes, the most since the 2012 team picked off 17.
  • North Dakota State All-America defensive tackle Kyle Emanuel earned the Buck Buchanan Award as the top defensive player in FCS.
  • North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz has completed 213 of 336 passes for 2,874 yards.
  • North Dakota State kicker Adam Keller has made 26 of 31 field goals and hasn’t missed in 56 extra point kicks. He has made 115 straight attempts over the past 27 games and has made 26 field goals, which is one short of the FCS record.

Bryan Bloodworth can be reached at lefty@wjbc.com

 

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