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(STATS) -- The most successful new coaches in the FCS this year coached together for the last six years.Its no surprise The Citadels Brent Thompson and James Madisons Mike Houston are leading the way considering their championship-winning ability.Besides them going separate ways last offseason, the difference is that Thompson kept the triple option offense that he and Houston utilized together at The Citadel and previously at Division II Lenoir-Rhyne, while Houston wisely kept the spread attack that was in place among the great talent at James Madison.After beating Samford on Saturday, fifth-ranked The Citadel (9-0) has clinched at least a share of its first back-to-back Southern Conference titles and secured an automatic bid to the FCS playoffs. James Madison (8-1) sits in first place in CAA Football and will move up to the No. 6 ranking following a great win over rival Richmond, and it can clinch the conference title and a playoff bid with a victory at Villanova next Saturday.Houston and Thompson first coached together as assistants on the Lenoir-Rhyne staff in 2010, with Houston coordinating the defense and Thompson the offense under head coach Fred Goldsmith. When Goldsmith retired after the season, Houston was elevated to head coach and Thompson remained on with the Paul Johnson/Fisher DeBerry form of the triple option, which took Lenoir-Rhyne to the 2013 D-II national championship game and set an NCAA record for rushing yards in a season.Houston left for The Citadel before the 2014 season and named Thompson as his offensive coordinator. Last year, they led the Bulldogs to their first SoCon title since 1992.When Houston took over at James Madison after last season, Thompson remained at The Citadel to become its 25th head coach.Theyre both winning with high-powered offenses this season. James Madison, which has lost only to North Carolina, ranks second in the FCS in scoring offense and third in total offense behind quarterback Bryan Schor and running back Khalid Abdullah. The Citadel leads the nation in rushing offense behind fullback Tyler Renew and four of the top 10 rushers in the SoCon.Six of the 19 FCS teams with new coaches are enjoying winning seasons. The others are Fordham (Andrew Breiner), Maine (Joe Harasymiak), Southern Utah (Demario Warren) and Western Illinois (Charlie Fisher).---=SECOND AND 10=Ten more observations from the FCS weekend:1.) James Madisons 47-43 win over Richmond in a Top 10 matchup was among the games of the season. It was two interstate rivals and defending champions in CAA Football playing for first place again and going back and forth at each other (the lead changed five times, including three times in the fourth quarter). Quarterbacks Schor and Richmonds Kyle Lauletta combined for 10 total touchdowns and no turnovers. Its a shame there has to be a winner and loser in this ball game, considering the way these two teams competed, Houston said, but for us, its certainly a huge win.2.) Gardner-Webb is the team of the week after stunning No. 8 Charleston Southern 17-10 on the road in the Big South. The Runnin Bulldogs (4-6), though inconsistent, make it a habit of beating ranked teams, this time behind quarterback Tyrell Maxwell, who amassed 360 total yards (195 passing, 165 rushing) and two total touchdowns. They capped a game-winning, 85-yard touchdown drive with Maxwells 1-yard TD pass to tight end Mike Estes with 27 seconds remaining.3.) The Citadel and Lehigh are the first qualifiers to the FCS playoffs, so whos next? Next weekend, Liberty (Big South), James Madison (CAA), Saint Francis (Northeast) and San Diego (Pioneer Football League) can clinch automatic bids with wins.4.) Can the MEAC runner-up earn an at-large bid to the playoffs? Dont forget the team not headed to the Celebration Bowl is eligible, and its looking more possible for No. 11 North Carolina A&T (8-1) or North Carolina Central (7-2). They are both 6-0 in the conference and on a collision course for a Nov. 19 matchup at Central. Their three combined losses are against FBS teams and A&T owns a win over MAC member Kent State. The MEAC has had at-large qualifiers in the past.5.) Speaking of the selection committee, chair Brian Hutchinson was forthcoming in an interview with Bison 1660 in Fargo, North Dakota, about the initial rankings last week. His revealing that the committee will look deeper into the data as it advances toward the release of the Nov. 20 pairings brings into question why that wasnt done prior to the first rankings. After Jacksonville States 17-10 struggle past Southeast Missouri, the Gamecocks could fall from the No. 1 ranking. Their 101st schedule ranking, according to NCAA statistics, is the lowest of the 10 teams in the first committee rankings.6.) If any team is going to get an at-large bid with a 6-5 record, it would likely come from the toughest conference, the Missouri Valley, where Western Illinois was the first team to accomplish the feat a year ago. Northern Iowa (4-5) and Illinois State (5-5) were Top 10 teams entering the season, but both have been frustrated by close losses this season. Illinois State figures to beat Missouri State next weekend and get to 6-5 with impressive wins over Northwestern, South Dakota State and Western Illinois. UNI also would have wins over SDSU and WIU if it wins out and an FBS win (Iowa State). Ironically, they are not playing each other in the MVFCs unbalanced schedule.7.) Teams wont lose if theyre not giving up points. The top 13 FCS teams in fewest points allowed are a combined 93-21, with none worse than 6-3. San Diego (7-1) leads the way at 11.6 points per game.8.) Its getting overlooked because of Eastern Washingtons weekly offensive firepower, but the Eagles defense is progressing down the stretch -- more bend than break. Second-year defensive coordinator Jeff Schmeddings defense has allowed its three-lowest point totals of the season in the last three games, including the No. 3 Eagles 42-21 win at No. 14 Cal Poly in the Big Sky on Saturday night. The Eagles are seeking their fourth conference title in five years.9.) Junior quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe set the Sam Houston State record for touchdown passes in a season when he reached 40 in a 56-43 win over McNeese. With two more regular season games and a potentially deep playoff run ahead, the FCS record of 56 -- held by Mississippi Valley States Willie Totten (1984) and Grambling States Bruce Eugene (2005) -- appears within Briscoes reach.10.) Texas Southern (3-6, 3-4) sits 3 1/2 games out of first place in the SWACs West Division. It would be tied for first place in the East, where none of the five teams has a winning record. Alcorn State (3-5, 3-4) and Jackson State (3-6, 3-4) are expected to play for the East Division spot in the SWAC championship game on Nov. 19. Grambling State (6-1, 6-0) and Southern (6-2, 6-0) have an edge over Prairie View A&M (6-3, 6-1) in the West Division standings.---=A LOOK AHEAD=Next weekends action kicks off Friday night with a big matchup in the Ivy League -- Harvard at Penn. With a win, the visiting Crimson would clinch at least a share of their fourth straight title.On Saturday, James Madison will have its second straight Top 10 matchup in the CAA when it goes to Villanova.Other pivotal conference matchups include: Big Sky, Northern Arizona at North Dakota, Cal Poly at Weber State and Montana at Northern Colorado; Big South, Charleston Southern at Liberty; Ivy, Princeton at Yale; Missouri Valley, Northern Iowa at Western Illinois and South Dakota at South Dakota State; NEC, Sacred Heart at Duquesne; OVC, Southeast Missouri State at UT Martin; Southern, Wofford at Chattanooga; Southland, Nicholls at Central Arkansas; and SWAC, Southern at Prairie View A&M and Alabama State at Grambling State.Southern Utah will go to Provo to take on BYU. Custom Eric Staal Jersey . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . Authentic Custom Wild Jersey . "It was nerve-wracking, but we pulled through," said Collaros, who threw four touchdown passes to lead the Toronto Argonauts (8-4) to a 33-27 win over the Calgary Stampeders (9-3) in front of 28,781 fans at McMahon Stadium. http://www.customwildjersey.com/ .S. hockey team after paying his dues as an NHL general manager for more than three decades and giving up a lot of his free time to help USA Hockey. Authentic Custom Wild Jersey . Still, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke thought taking him out before the fifth inning was an unusual move. "Im looking up at the board and hes got two hits given up and one run, and Im taking him out after the fourth inning," Roenicke said. Custom Wild Jerseys . John Lucas, signed as a mentor for rookie Trey Burke, showed he can score if required, scoring 12 points of his 16 points in the second quarter as Utah built an 18-point lead. OKLAHOMA CITY -- There has been a national debate taking place this past week over star players sitting out games due to rest. From Cleveland to Atlanta, head coaches have decided to sit their best players in order to save them for the entire season.Indiana coach Nate McMillan wishes he had that problem. He has been forced to scratch forward Paul George from Fridays lineup due to a sore left ankle. The Pacers wound up falling 116-96 to the Phoenix Suns.He really hasnt done anything in the last two days, McMillan told the Indy Star. The ankle was sore when he was playing and the last two days it really hasnt gotten any better. We just want to make sure everything is OK there, for his sake and ours. Hopefully there isnt anything and he just needs some time.The Pacers didnt announce whether George will be suited up for Sunday nights game in Oklahoma City. He was scheduled to have an MRI Saturday.But there is no doubt, they play much differently when their All-Star forward is on the floor or not.George leads Indiana in scoring (21.0), rebounds (7.1) and steals (1.7). If he cant go, thats a lot of slack the rest of the Pacers have to pick up.Indiana is hoping the return of Rodney Stuckey will make up for some of the loss of George. Stuckey played Friday after straining his right hamstring Oct. 28.He said he felt pretty good and was ready to go, McMillan told the Star. You want to slowly work him back into conditioning and rhythm and not give him a ton of minutes right off the bat.The Thunder also sustained an injury during its win over Brooklyn Friday. Backup point guard Semajj Christon suffered a concussion and is currently in the NBAs concussion protocol.dddddddddddd He also has a non-displaced left facial fracture.According to Thunder officials, once Christon passes the protocol, he will be able to return to the lineup wearing a facemask.That leaves the Thunder with only Russell Westbrook as the only point guard on the roster. Cameron Payne is still healing from foot surgery in the preseason.According to Thunder coach Billy Donovan, Victor Oladipo will see time running the point with the second unit.Victor I feel very comfortable with just because hes played some point in Orlando and hes done it a little bit here, Donovan said. Im fine with that. I think we can create and generate enough ball handling when Russell is off the floor to at least get into our offense. That will be the biggest thing.Its the Thunders reserves that have been a big reason the team has won two straight after a four-game losing streak. On Friday, they accounted for 39 points and 15 rebounds.I thought they did a really good job, Donovan said. I mentioned after a couple games ago that I felt like we as a staff, myself in particular, try to help those guys. I thought they were on the same page. I thought they moved the basketball. I thought they made the game easier for each other. They generated good shots. They helped each other. They defended. It was good to see them play the way they did and it was good to see them extend onto the lead. ' ' '