North Dakota State is FCS national champion for the seventh time in eight seasons after defeating Eastern Washington 38-24 Saturday afternoon at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
With the win, the Bison move out of a tie with Georgia Southern (six) for most all-time FCS titles. NDSU won five straight titles from 2011-15, along with the past two championships.
RELATED: Full box score | Final interactive bracket | Championship history
Senior wide receiver Darrius Shepherd was named Most Outstanding Player of the game after tallying five catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns. He scored on a game-long 78-yard catch and run in the third quarter to give NDSU a 31-17 lead.
In his final collegiate game, NDSU quarterback Easton Stick finished with five touchdowns (three rushing, two passing) and 319 combined yards. Stick's final dagger came on a 46-yard keeper into the end zone with 1:16 remaining in regulation.
In the third quarter, Stick surpassed Brock Jensen for most passing yards in school history.
NDSU took control from the outset, building a 17-3 lead deep into the second quarter. EWU came alive in the final 30 seconds of the first half, however, scoring its first touchdown on a fake field goal pass to make it 17-10 at the break.
From there, the Bison outscored the Eagles 21-14 and continued to control the clock. NDSU had the ball for 40 minutes Saturday, twice as long as EWU held possession.
North Dakota State-Eastern Washington: Score, final stats and ultimate recap of 2018 FCS championship
FCS playoffs: Bracket, schedule, scores and how to watch the 2018 championship
By Wayne Staats | krikya18.com
The season has come down to the last two teams in the 2018 FCS playoffs.
No. 1 North Dakota State will play No. 3 Eastern Washington for the national title. The national championship football game will be played at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019. You can watch it on ESPN2.
2018 FCS Playoffs: Bracket
Click here for a printable bracket | Interactive bracket
MORE: Buy tickets | Championship Info
2018 FCS Playoffs: Scores, schedule
FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES TITLE GAME (Jan. 5)
SEMIFINALS (December 14 and 15)
- No. 1 North Dakota State 44, No. 5 South Dakota State 21
- No. 3 Eastern Washington 50, No. 7 Maine 19
QUARTERFINALS (December 7 and 8)
- No. 7 Maine 23, No. 2 Weber State 18
- No. 1 North Dakota State 35, No. 8 Colgate 0
- No. 5 South Dakota State 27, No. 4 Kennesaw State 17
- No. 3 Eastern Washington 34, No. 6 UC Davis 29
SECOND ROUND (December 1)
- No. 7 Maine 55, Jacksonville State 27
- No. 8 Colgate 23, James Madison 20
- No. 4 Kennesaw State 13, Wofford 10
- No. 1 North Dakota State 52, Montana State 10
- No. 5 South Dakota State 51, Duquesne 6
- No. 2 Weber State 48, Southeast Missouri State 23
- No. 3 Eastern Washington 42, Nicholls State 21
- No. 6 UC Davis 23, Northern Iowa 16
FIRST ROUND (November 24)
- Duquesne 31, Towson 10
- Wofford 19, Elon 7
- Southeast Missouri State 28, Stony Brook 14
- Montana State 35, Incarnate Word 14
- James Madison 20, Delaware 6
- Nicholls State 49, San Diego 30
- Northern Iowa 16, Lamar 13
- Jacksonville State 34, East Tennessee State 27
Here is the complete schedule by round of every playoff game this season:
NOTE: All times ET
| ROUND | DAY | DATE | TIME | NETWORK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIRST ROUND (8 games/8 sites) | ||||
| Duquesne 31, Towson 10 | Saturday | Nov. 24 | 2 p.m. | ESPN3 |
| Wofford 19, Elon 7 | Saturday | Nov. 24 | 2 p.m. | ESPN3 |
| Southeast Missouri State 28, Stony Brook 14 | Saturday | Nov. 24 | 2 p.m. | ESPN3 |
| Montana State 35, Incarnate Word 14 | Saturday | Nov. 24 | 3 p.m. | ESPN3 |
| James Madison 20, Delaware 6 | Saturday | Nov. 24 | 3 p.m. | ESPN3 |
| Nicholls State 49, San Diego 30 | Saturday | Nov. 24 | 4 p.m. | ESPN3 |
| Northern Iowa 16, Lamar 13 | Saturday | Nov. 24 | 5 p.m. | ESPN3 |
| Jacksonville State 34, East Tennessee State 27 | Saturday | Nov. 24 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN3 |
| SECOND ROUND (8 games/8 sites) | ||||
| No. 7 Maine 55, Jacksonville State 27 | Saturday | Dec. 1 | 12 p.m. | ESPN3 |
| No. 8 Colgate 23, James Madison 20 | Saturday | Dec. 1 | 1 p.m. | ESPN3 |
| No. 4 Kennesaw State 13, Wofford 10 | Saturday | Dec. 1 | 2 p.m. | ESPN3 |
| No. 1 North Dakota State 52, Montana State 10 | Saturday | Dec. 1 | 3 p.m. | ESPN3 |
| No. 5 South Dakota State 51, Duquesne 6 | Saturday | Dec. 1 | 3 p.m. | ESPN3 |
| No. 2 Weber State 48, Southeast Missouri State 23 | Saturday | Dec. 1 | 4 p.m. | ESPN3 |
| No. 3 Eastern Washington 42, Nicholls State 21 | Saturday | Dec. 1 | 5 p.m. | ESPN3 |
| No. 6 UC Davis 23, UNI 16 | Saturday | Dec. 1 | 7 p.m. | ESPN3 |
| Quarterfinals (4 sites) | ||||
| No. 7 Maine 23, No. 2 Weber State 18 | Friday | Dec. 7 | 8 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| No. 1 North Dakota State 35, No. 8 Colgate 0 | Saturday | Dec. 8 | 12 p.m. | ESPN |
| No. 5 South Dakota State 27, No. 4 Kennesaw St. 17 | Saturday | Dec. 8 | 2 p.m. | ESPN3 |
| No. 3 Eastern Washington 34, No. 6 UC Davis 29 | Saturday | Dec. 8 | 4 p.m. | ESPN3 |
| Semifinals (2 sites) | ||||
| No. 1 NDSU 44, No. 5 SDSU 21 | Friday | Dec. 14 | 8 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| No. 3 Eastern Washington 50, No. 7 Maine 19 | Saturday | Dec. 15 | 2 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| National Championship (Frisco, Texas) | ||||
| No. 1 North Dakota State vs. No. 3 Eastern Washington | Saturday | Jan. 5, 2019 | 12 p.m. | ESPN2 |
MORE: Interactive 2018 FCS Playoffs bracket
2018 FCS Playoffs: How to watch
The first and second round football games can be watched on ESPN3. The quarterfinals will be shown on ESPN/ESPN2/ESPN3. For the semifinals, both games will be on ESPN2, as will the title game.
The national championship will be played at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019. The game will be on ESPN2.
2018 FCS Playoffs: Teams
FCS CHAMPIONSHIP: Championship info | Road to Frisco | Buy 2019 tickets
Of the 24 teams to make the FCS Playoffs, 10 qualify automatically.
Here are the automatic qualifiers:
- Ohio Valley: Jacksonville State
- Patriot: Colgate
- Missouri Valley: North Dakota State
- Pioneer: San Diego
- Big South: Kennesaw State
- Big Sky: Weber State
- CAA: Maine
- Northeast: Duquesne
- Southern: Wofford
- Southland: Nicholls
Here are the Top 8 seeds:
- North Dakota State: 11-0
- Weber State: 9-2
- Eastern Washington: 9-2
- Kennesaw State: 10-1
- South Dakota State: 8-2
- UC Davis: 9-2
- Maine: 8-3
- Colgate: 9-1
2018 FCS Playoffs: History, champions
| YEAR | CHAMPION | SCORE | RUNNER-UP | SITE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | North Dakota State | 17-13 | James Madison | Frisco, Texas |
| 2016 | James Madison | 28-14 | Youngstown State | Frisco, Texas |
| 2015 | North Dakota State | 37-10 | Jacksonville State | Frisco, Texas |
| 2014 | North Dakota State | 29-27 | Illinois State | Frisco, Texas |
| 2013 | North Dakota State | 35-7 | Towson | Frisco, Texas |
| 2012 | North Dakota State | 39-13 | Sam Houston State | Frisco, Texas |
| 2011 | North Dakota State | 17-6 | Sam Houston State | Frisco, Texas |
| 2010 | Eastern Washington | 20-19 | Delaware | Frisco, Texas |
| 2009 | Villanova | 23-21 | Montana | Chattanooga, Tenn. |
| 2008 | Richmond | 24-7 | Montana | Chattanooga, Tenn. |
| 2007 | Appalachian State | 49-21 | Delaware | Chattanooga, Tenn. |
| 2006 | Appalachian State | 28-17 | Massachusetts | Chattanooga, Tenn. |
| 2005 | Appalachian State | 21-16 | UNI | Chattanooga, Tenn. |
| 2004 | James Madison | 31-21 | Montana | Chattanooga, Tenn. |
| 2003 | Delaware | 40-0 | Colgate | Chattanooga, Tenn. |
| 2002 | Western Kentucky | 34-14 | McNeese State | Chattanooga, Tenn. |
| 2001 | Montana | 13-6 | Furman | Chattanooga, Tenn. |
| 2000 | Georgia Southern | 27-25 | Montana | Chattanooga, Tenn. |
| 1999 | Georgia Southern | 59-24 | Youngstown State | Chattanooga, Tenn. |
| 1998 | Massachusetts | 55-43 | Georgia Southern | Chattanooga, Tenn. |
| 1997 | Youngstown State | 10-9 | McNeese State | Chattanooga, Tenn. |
| 1996 | Marshall | 49-29 | Montana | Huntington, W. Va. |
| 1995 | Montana | 22-20 | Marshall | Huntington, W. Va. |
| 1994 | Youngstown State | 28-14 | Boise State | Huntington, W. Va. |
| 1993 | Youngstown State | 17-5 | Marshall | Huntington, W. Va. |
| 1992 | Marshall | 31-28 | Youngstown State | Huntington, W. Va. |
| 1991 | Youngstown State | 25-17 | Marshall | Statesboro, Ga. |
| 1990 | Georgia Southern | 36-13 | Nevada | Statesboro, Ga. |
| 1989 | Georgia Southern | 37-34 | Stephen F. Austin* | Statesboro, Ga. |
| 1988 | Furman | 17-12 | Georgia Southern | Pocatello, Idaho |
| 1987 | Louisiana-Monroe | 43-42 | Marshall | Pocatello, Idaho |
| 1986 | Georgia Southern | 48-21 | Arkansas State | Tacoma, Wa. |
| 1985 | Georgia Southern | 44-42 | Furman | Tacoma, Wa. |
| 1984 | Montana State | 19-6 | Louisiana Tech | Charleston, S.C. |
| 1983 | Southern Illinois | 43-7 | Western Carolina | Charleston, S.C. |
| 1982 | Eastern Kentucky | 17-14 | Delaware | Wichita Falls, Texas |
| 1981 | Idaho State | 34-23 | Eastern Kentucky | Wichita Falls, Texas |
| 1980 | Boise State | 31-29 | Eastern Kentucky | Sacramento, Calif. |
| 1979 | Eastern Kentucky | 30-7 | Lehigh | Orlando, Fla. |
| 1978 | Florida A&M | 35-28 | Massachusetts | Wichita Falls, Texas |
*-Stephen F. Austin's 1989 appearance is vacated
RELATED: Schools with the most all-time FCS national championships
