Football Continues Playoff Run at North Dakota State
12/17/2011 9:47:00 AM | Football
STATESBORO, Ga. - For the first time since a four-year stretch between 1998-2002, the Georgia Southern Eagles reached the NCAA FCS Playoff Semifinals for a second-consecutive year, and will travel to North Dakota State for a 2:30 p.m. ET kick on ESPNU.
For fans interested in traveling to the game, the Georgia Southern Athletic Foundation along with Burns World Travel in Statesboro is obtaining flights to Fargo from Savannah. The cost likely will be in the $850 to $1200 range. To make flight arrangements please call Patty Burns at 912-489-4040.
Also be aware that tickets are going fast and the game is expected to be a sell out. The Georgia Southern Athletic Ticket Office has a limited number of tickets available at $27.50 each. To purchase tickets please call 1-800-GSU-WINS.
Georgia Southern (11-2) defeated Maine 35-23 on Saturday behind 360 yards rushing on offense and three interceptions on defense to win their second game of the FCS Playoffs. The Eagles have tallied 300 yards rushing in their last three games including their second-highest tally of the season, 477 yards, in the playoff opener against Old Dominion. A pair of backs with over 900 yards each power GSU's triple-option offense.
Robert Brown (Macon, Ga.) and Dominique Swope (Buford, Ga.) are seeking to become the first pair of rushers to reach 1,000 yards in a season since Jermaine Austin and Jayson Foster in 2005, and the ninth pair in Georgia Southern history. Brown leads the team with 937 yards, while Swope is just 10 yards behind him.
North Dakota State (12-1), who allows just 115.4 rushing yards a contest, will host their third-straight game at the Fargodome. The Bison enter the FCS Semifinals after wins over James Madison and Lehigh. The Missouri Valley Conference foe features a balanced attack and averages 346.4 yards per game behind a 2,000 yard passer and their own pair of near 1,000 yard rushers.
Brock Jensen is a highly efficient quarterback in their West Coast styled offense and boasts a 68.4 completion percentage along with a 145.37 passer efficiency rating. Behind him is starting tailback D.J. McNorton's 887 rushing yards and backup Sam Ojuri's 978 yards.
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