In case you missed it on Saturday, two Big Sky Conference football teams advanced to the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs.

    Automatic berth winner Eastern Washington defeated Wagner 29-19 in Cheney, Wash. while Montana State took down a tough Stony Brook squad 16-10 in Bozeman, Mont. The Big Sky came so close to getting all three of its playoff teams in the next round, but Cal Poly came up just short as it dropped a 18-16 decision to last year’s runner-up Sam Houston State.

    Eagles head coach Beau Baldwin took to Twitter after his team defeated the Seahawks in celebration.

    “Hard fought win over Wagner 29-19,” he said. “Looking forward to playing Illinois State this Saturday in the FCS quarterfinal.”

    MSU’s Rob Ash had his defense ready for a Stony Brook rushing attack that was averaging 287.7 yards per game. The Seawolves picked up just 123 against Jody Owens and the Bobcats.

    “Our recipe for winning worked very good,” Montana State head coach Rob Ash said. “We got ahead and stayed ahead, which maybe forced them to pass a little more.”

    Speaking of defense, the lone loss for the Big Sky was almost a victory. Sam Houston State was scoring over 44 points per game. The Mustangs limited the Bearkats to 18.

    “I am very proud of the effort of all of our 60 players in this game,” said Cal Poly head coach Tim Walsh. “Both defenses had a bye week to prepare and both defenses were extremely well prepared.”

    Now we move to the quarterfinals.

    The most intriguing matchup for next Saturday will be that same Sam Houston State team traveling to Bozeman. It will be a rematch of last year’s contest in Huntsville, Texas that the Bearkats (9-3) dominated 49-13. Perhaps Montana State (11-1) can turn the tables this year and move one step closer a national championship.

    But Eastern Washington (10-2) will have its hands full with a good Illinois State team with a record of 9-3.

    It’s really a dream come true for the Big Sky. Perhaps the league can bring home another national title, Eastern Washington having accomplished the feat in 2010.

    Home field advantage will obviously be a huge factor next weekend. Don’t be surprised if we get an all-Big Sky affair in the title game.