Normally the Pioneer League does not make a ton of waves in the FCS landscape, especially this early on in the season. Their non-scholarship teams don’t typically do a whole lot against non-conference opponents that warrant any sort of real attention on the national scale. This year, however, folks have been all but forced to at least take a second glance at some of those normally-overlooked programs. Between a couple of gutsy upset wins over ranked teams from other leagues and a handful of other strong
showings in losses, the PFL has… or at least should have… fans talking. What exactly has been going on with these teams?
Presbyterian Is Slaying the SoCon
No Pioneer team has been making waves quite like the Blue Hose. Over the first two weeks, Presbyterian has taken out not one, but two SoCon opponents on the road and turned a lot of heads while doing so. In Week 1 they rolled into Macon and outlasted then-#11 Mercer behind a stellar performance from quarterback Collin Hurst. Hurst threw for 303 yards and a score against the Bears and 114 of those yards went to receiver Dominic Kibby. On the other side, the defense played lights out and held Mercer to under 100 rushing yards while only allowing one TD. All of that was enough to give Presbyterian a 15-10 lead late and one final defensive stand sealed it. It was one of the signature upsets of the first full weekend of action.
The Blue Hose did not stop there, though, and against the odds did it all over again to Mercer’s league mates Furman just one week later. In this one, however, Presbyterian had to do it in a much different manner. The Paladins jumped out to a 28-7 second quarter lead before Hurst and company turned it on. Terry Mikell picked of Furman QB Trey Hedden and it started the comeback. Hurst hit receiver Nathan Levicki for a 17-yard score and the snowball began.
When all was said and done, Hurst ended up throwing five touchdowns and aired it out for another 275 yards. His strike to Levicki in overtime was the one that did it and, after making 38-37 in the extra frame, head coach Steve Englehart decided to roll the dice on the ultimate gamble and went for two. The gutsy decision paid off as Levicki got over the goal line and sealed the miraculous 39-38 win for Presbyterian.
Now with two non-DI games coming up, there’s a very good chance this squad enters conference play 4-0 and, as of right now, they have to be considered a favorite to win the league. Hurst is playing at an incredible clip and the confidence in that locker room is as high as anyone’s midway through September. It was easy to call it all a fluke after the first one but two? The Blue Hose may really have something special brewing.
San Diego Delivered a Stunner
While Presbyterian was doing all that last weekend, their conference foes over on the West coast were doing something similar. After an ugly season opening loss to Cal Poly, San Diego went into their Week 2 matchup against then-#24 Southern Utah as heavy underdogs despite being at home. The Thunderbirds were fresh off a beatdown of Idaho State the week prior and looked every bit the part of a playoff contender… that was until they met the Toreros.
Much like the Blue Hose, San Diego got in done in overtime but unlike their PFL rivals, the Toreros did it by way of the rushing attack. Running back Matt Colombo went off for 202 yards on 34 carries and a touchdown and the defense kept SUU off the board until the second half. That in and of itself was a feat seeing as the Thunderbirds had just dropped 46 points and 563 yards the week before. A big missed field goal by Southern Utah kicker Jayden Rogers kept it 7-0 at the break.
In the second half, both teams opened it up offensively but, for all that the visitors did right, San Diego was able to stay with them blow for blow. SUU quarterback Bronson Barron threw three touchdowns but Dom Nankil helped keep the Toreros hanging around. When regulation ended, it was 24 all.
Southern Utah converted on a field goal try in their one and only OT possession and it wasn’t enough. It only took USD two plays to win it. Colombo took the handoff and pushed his way in, giving the Toreros the improbably victory; the program’s first ever over a ranked opponent.
With a win like that on their resume, it’s not at all a stretch to think San Diego will also have something to say in the Pioneer race this year. This weekend will present a much, much tougher test as USD travels to face #4 Montana State on the road. While it is very unlikely that they can stay with the Bobcats in that one, it would be one heck of a statement if San Diego could keep it respectable this week.
St. Thomas Has Been a Thorn
Then there’s a St. Thomas team that is very interesting right now. This is the first year the Tommies are eligible for the postseason since moving up from the DIII ranks and after their gallant effort against Idaho last week, they also can’t be discounted. Yes, they still lost that contest but they never flinched against a Vandals team that, on paper, is supposed to be a lot better.
Quarterback Andy Peters did it all in the Kibbie Dome, rushing for a team-high 79 yards and throwing for another 264 and three touchdowns. Despite trailing by ten at halftime, St. Thomas rallied back to keep it close and even had the game tied well into the fourth quarter. A late touchdown, however, lifted Idaho to the hard-fought 37-30 win but the Tommies’ effort was admirable to say the least.
All that happened after a solid season-opening win against Lindenwood in which they got a 154-yard rushing performance from running back Joseph Koch. The offense has shown explosiveness in both the ground and air games and if it can all come together at the same time, St. Thomas could be the most dangerous team of this group. Also, for what it’s worth, that same Lindenwood team only lost to Appalachian State by a touchdown in Boone last week.
This Saturday the Tommies hit the road for what should be a winnable game against non-DI Northern Michigan. After that is a very intriguing PFL opener with San Diego.
