STATESBORO — The goal is always to get to the national championship game.
But you can’t skip any steps.
First, you have to get past the semifinals, and the Georgia Southern Eagles won’t have an easy path if they hope to get a chance at their seventh national championship.
Fifth-seeded Southern travels to Fargo, N.D., to face top-seeded North Dakota State in the Fargodome on Friday night.
Last season, the Eagles lost in Fargo 35-7 in the semis — their most lopsided playoff loss since 1995.
Some FCS followers say North Dakota State might be stronger this season.
But that doesn’t change the expectations for Georgia Southern.
“Georgia Southern is expected to win national championships, so day in and day out there’s pressure from Day One when you walk on campus,” GSU senior safety J.J. Wilcox said before the playoffs started.
The Eagles opened the 2012 postseason with a 24-16 victory over Central Arkansas before posting a fourth-quarter rally to beat Old Dominion 49-35 last Saturday.
The victory boosted GSU to the semifinals for the third straight year. It took a big effort by the Eagles to get past Old Dominion in Norfolk, Va., and it might take a similar push to get past the Bison in Fargo.
But Southern has a history of pulling out some upsets along the way to championships.
The Eagles have played in 12 semifinal games and won eight.
“I think it’s part of the culture here at Georgia Southern,” offensive coordinator Brent Davis said. “It’s always been like that. There’s a sense of responsibility when you play here or coach here because the expectations to win are here. That’s what also makes it fun to play here or coach here. You wouldn’t want to trade that.”
Here is a look back at five memorable semifinal playoff games in Georgia Southern’s history.
1. Georgia Southern College 40, Northern Iowa 33
Dec. 14, 1985
Quarterback Tracy Ham’s 21-yard touchdown run with 34 seconds left gave the Eagles a thrilling win in the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Ham led an offense that produced 415 rushing yards against a team surrendering an average of only 87 yards on the ground entering the contest.
Fullback Gerald Harris ran for 178 yards and two touchdowns and kicker Tim Foley booted field goals of 35 and 29 yards.
“Coach (Erk) Russell always says that if we work hard, good things will come to us,” said Foley after the game.
Georgia Southern, in only its fourth year since restating its football program, defeated Furman in the finals to win its first national championship.
2. Georgia Southern College 48, Nevada-Reno 38
Dec. 13, 1986
Georgia Southern’s offense quieted the top-ranked Wolf Pack and their obnoxious fans called Zonies who resided in the South end zone at Mackay Stadium in Reno, Nev.
The Eagles rolled up 623 yards, 476 on the ground.
Ham ran for 162 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 147 yards and two scores.
A week later, Southern pounded Arkansas State and won its second straight title.
3. Georgia Southern College 21, Eastern Kentucky 17
Dec. 10, 1988
Defensive lineman Darren Alford recovered Lorenzo Field’s fumble at the Eagles 5-yard line with 12:26 left as GSC held on to defeat Eastern Kentucky before a then-Paulson Stadium record 14,023 fans.
Slotback Frankie Johnson scampered six yards for the game-winning touchdown in the third quarter. Quarterback Raymond Gross ran for 152 yards and a touchdown.
“Our kids are jumping up and down hollering, ‘Idaho’ ” said Russell, whose squad earned a trip to the finals in Pocatello, Idaho. “I’m sure glad to be going. It beats the alternative.”
Southern lost to Furman in the finals.
4. Georgia Southern University 27, Delaware 18
Dec. 9, 2000
Adrian Peterson ran for 198 yards and a touchdown, and the Eagles avenged a 1997 second-round playoff defeat to the Blue Hens.
GSU survived four lost fumbles and advanced to its eighth title game in 16 years.
Kicker Scott Shelton booted two field goals in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
“The last time we came to Delaware, we were just getting started and they beat us,” coach Paul Johnson said. “But that seems like a 100 years ago.”
The Eagles, behind first-year starting quarterback J.R. Revere, knocked off Montana the next week for their sixth national championship.
5. Western Kentucky 31, GSU 28
Dec. 14, 2012
The Eagles scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns to overcome a 17-point deficit, but coach Jack Harbaugh’s squad recovered and scored with 46 seconds left to win.
Shelton’s 56-yard field-goal attempt on the final play drifted to the right during Mike Sewak’s first year as head coach.
Western Kentucky made a key play during its game-winning drive when wide receiver Casey Rooney outjumped a GSU defender to pull in a pass for a 31-yard gain to the Eagles 2.
On the next play, WKU quarterback Jason Michael scored.
The next week, the Hilltoppers went on to win the championship by defeating McNeese State.
Russell, Frye earn AP All-America honors
Senior defensive tackle Brent Russell and offensive right tackle Garrett Frye earned FCS All-America honors from The Associated Press on Wednesday.
Russell garnered first-team honors after recording 39 tackles with 7.5 tackles for losses and 3.5 sacks.
Frye received third-team honors after starting every game for a unit that led the FCS in rushing with 409.2 yards a game.
GSU players to receive diplomas in special ceremony
Georgia Southern will hold a special graduation ceremony tonight at 8:45 for nine players and a manager who will be in Fargo, N.D., for the Eagles’ semifinal game against North Dakota State.
The Eagles who will receive their diplomas during the special commencement ceremony are offensive lineman Blake DeBartola, quarterback Russell DeMasi, wide receiver Markus Farmer, defensive back Brandon Lane, defensive linemen Zach Reckers and Brent Russell, linebackers John Stevenson and Zach York, tight end Tyler Sumner and manager Nate Baker.
Due to the NCAA semifinal playoff game scheduled for Friday evening, the student athletes will be unable to attend GSU’s formal graduation ceremonies at Hanner Fieldhouse on Friday afternoon in Statesboro.
Georgia Southern President Brooks Keel, Ph.D., will present the diplomas during a videoconference to be shown live on www.georgiasouthern.tv.
— Donald Heath