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Georgia Southern (10-2) survived a wild back-and-forth game, scoring the second-most points this season behind 477 yards rushing, 255 coming from National Offensive Player of the Week Dominique Swope. The SoCon Co-Freshman of the Year, Swope compiled the fourth-most yards in single game and the second-most in a playoff game in school history. The Buford native has compiled 67 percent of his 846 yards this season in the last three games, rushing for 150 yards or more in each contest.
"It was quite a football game. We were just trading touchdowns, one for the other. It was awfully gut-wrenching and we just couldn't stop them," said Head Coach Jeff Monken. "Fortunately we were able to move the football on them, and we were able to keep some drives going and scored enough points to win the football game."
The emergence of Swope in the second-half of the season has allowed the coaching staff expanded flexibility with former B-Back starter Robert Brown (Macon, Ga.). Approaching his second 1,000 yard season in as many years, Brown carried the ball four times from a new position, A-Back, tallying 83 yards in the win over Old Dominion. The sophomore need less than 100 yards for to reach the four-digit milestone in 2011.
Maine (9-3) was one of a number of surprises in the CAA this year. Picked to finish ninth in the 11-team league, the Black Bears bounced back from a 4-7 record in 2010 to emerge as the front runner for the conference title late in the regular season. Setbacks in the final three games to eventual champion Towson and rival New Hampshire left them without the conference hardware but a 34-12 upset of Appalachian State in the second round of the playoffs proved they are not to be taken lightly.
"We have our hands full with Maine. They had a great victory over Appalachian State," said Coach Monken. "Having been to Appalachian State, as an assistant with coach [Paul] Johnson and this year with our team, I know how difficult it is to go into there and win."
Running a similar style offense to former offensive coordinator Bobby Wilder's Monarch, the Black Bears show a nice balance between running back Pushaun Brown's 1,000 yard, 11 touchdown season and Warren Smith's near 3,000 yard and 20 touchdown passing effort. UMaine totals nearly 400 yards a game and is averaging just under 30 points a contest, with 24 scores coming on the ground and 20 through the air.
"They are a well coached team and are a talented group of kids," stated Monken. "Coach Cosgrove has been their for many years and does a great job with that program."
http://accesswdun.com/article/2011/12/244118