By ,
Published January 13, 2015
Will someone slow this season down, please? We're already through Week 3 of the FCS season, and halfway through September. Does it feel like it's moving a little too fast to anyone else?
There was no shortage of action in Week 3, as we saw some breakout performances individually from players across the nation, and also teams put wins up in the least likely of places.
It's still a little early to start thinking about playoffs and conference championships, but it's hard to ignore the fast start Fordham has had to the season. The Rams are 3-0 for the first time as a member of the FCS after defeating Temple, 30-29, in a thriller. Though they're not eligible for a Patriot League title, an at-large bid could be in the Rams' future if they keep up the winning ways.
Montana State, playing its first game without senior quarterback DeNarius McGhee, shut out Colorado Mesa, 26-0. Sophomore Jake Bleskin, who got the start in McGhee's absence, tossed 305 yards and two touchdowns to help his Bobcats.
Those were some of the headliners this weekend. Let's get to the meat of the week that was in FCS football. Here are some important figures from Week 3 of the FCS season which stood out:
By now you've heard Lehigh took down Monmouth, 28-25, Saturday. But did you know that the two team accumulated 1,107 yards of total offense? In a game that featured five total turnovers, it's a stat that goes a little overlooked.
It was hard to overlook the 1,395 total yards in Southern's 62-59, double- overtime thriller over Prairie View A&M. In a game of big offensive performances, Southern quarterback Dray Joseph was 30-of-48 for 480 yards and six touchdowns, including a game-winner Lee Doss in the second OT.
In its game against Quincy, a Division II school, Indiana State strung together 70 consecutive points before its shutout was spoiled by Quincy, but the Sycamores still turned in a 70-7 triumph.
Maine quarterback Marcus Wasilewski accounted for five touchdowns in the Black Bears' 35-22 win over Bryant. The senior threw four touchdown passes, all to different targets, and ran in a 3-yard touchdown to open the game's scoring in the first quarter.
With the win, Maine is now one of just two unbeaten teams in the Colonial Athletic Association (Towson being the other). The Black Bears take on FBS Northwestern next weekend.
Bryant wide receiver Jordan Harris notched his first touchdown reception of the 2013 season in the matchup with Maine. In the 2012 season, Harris only had one game in which he played and didn't record a touchdown catch. He missed last year's contest with Maine due to injury.
Wagner, last year's Northeast Conference champion, was routed by Syracuse, 54-0. The Orange held the Seahawks to under 100 yards of total offense on the day (87 yards to be exact), while Syracuse racked up 595 yards offensively.
The Seahawks were held to a mere 2-for-14 on third-down attempts, and failed on their only fourth-down try.
Grambling State lost its first game without Doug Williams at the helm of the program. What made it worse was that the loss came to Division II opponent Lincoln University (Mo.), 47-34.
Maybe one of the most unlikely of heroes took center stage in Gardner-Webb's surprising 12-10 defeat of Richmond Saturday. Place-kicker Jordan Day converted on all four of his field goal attempts (from 39, 37, 29 and 30 yards, respectively) to lift the Runnin' Bulldogs to victory.
Is a reliable receiver a quarterback's best friend? Go ahead and ask Murray State QB Maikhail Miller or Sacramento State's Garrett Safron. After Saturday, they'll probably give you a definitive "yes."
Murray State senior Walter Powell hauled in four touchdown receptions to go along with 155 yards in the Racers' 41-38 win over Missouri State. Miller tossed five total touchdowns in the contest.
Sacramento State's DeAndre Carter one-upped Powell in his matchup with Southern Oregon. Carter caught 12 passes for five touchdowns and had 122 yards receiving in the Hornets 63-56 win.
Previously, Sacramento State was shut out in two matchups to open the season. The Hornets lost to San Jose State in Week 1, and Arizona State last weekend. Carter had just four receptions for 34 yards in those two contests combined.
Old Dominion quarterback Taylor Heinicke, last season's Walter Payton Award winner, dominated Howard on Saturday, throwing for 406 yards and four touchdowns. He completed 20-of-27 pass attempts, and had a total QBR rating of 99.5 before he was relieved by backup David Washington. The Monarchs had 733 total yards of offense.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/numbers-never-lie-individual-performances-highlight-week-3