Slippery Rock Falls in NCAA DII Football Semis
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NCAA DII SEMIFINAL - SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14 (Teams reseeded after quarterfinal)
No. 3 Minnesota State 58, No. 2 Slippery Rock 15
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NCAA DII QUARTERFINAL - SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7
Slippery Rock 65, Notre Dame (Ohio) 59
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NCAA DII SECOND ROUND - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30
No. 1 Slippery Rock 51, Shepherd 30
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Notre Dame (Ohio) 20, Kutztown 17
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NCAA DII FIRST ROUND - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23
No. 3 Notre Dame (Ohio) 31, West Chester 24
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Shepherd 31, No. 4 IUP 27
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No. 2 Kutztown 33, Tiffin 31
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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. --- Five Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Football teams were selected to participate in the NCAA DII Football Championship, the NCAA announced Sunday evening.
Twelve first-round games will be conducted on the campus of one of the competing institutions. In addition, one team per super regional has earned a first-round bye. The first-round winners will all advance to the second round with games on the campus of one of the competing institutions. Second-round winners will meet in the quarterfinals at various campus sites. Quarterfinal winners will advance to play in the semifinals on the campus of one of the competing institutions. Seven teams selected per super regional make up the field of 28 teams.
It marks the first time the league has boasted five postseason teams in the sport.
Slippery Rock (11-0) entered the week at No. 8 in the American Football Coaches’ Association Poll and earned the No. 1 seed in Super Region 1 and will receive a first-round bye. The Rock will participate in the postseason for the 10th time in school history and fifth time this decade. Coach Shawn Lutz’s team boasts the fifth-highest scoring offense in the country (46.9). Senior quarterback Roland Rivers III is third in the country in passing yards (3409).
Slippery Rock won the PSAC title with a thrilling 37-35 win. The Rock will host the winner of IUP/Shepherd on Saturday, Nov. 30 in a second-round battle.
No. 13 Kutztown claimed the No. 2 seed after finishing the regular season with a 10-1 mark. The Golden Bears are making their fourth appearance in the postseason and for the second consecutive season. Kutztown appeared in the PSAC Championship Game. Kutztown quarterback Collin DiGalbo is fourth in the PSAC in pass yards (2465).
The Golden Bears have the second-best rushing attack in the league (192.3). Kutztown will host West Chester Saturday, Nov. 30.
No. 17 IUP (10-1) swiped the No. 4 seed and are appearing in its league-high 20th postseason. It is the fifth time this decade for the Crimson Hawks. IUP has averaged 45.7 points per game; which is seventh most in DII. The Crimson Hawk defense paced the PSAC after allowing 16 points per game.
IUP’s Duane Brown paces the league with 15.5 yards per punt return. The Crimson Hawks will host Shepherd Saturday, Nov. 23.
Shepherd claimed the No. 5 seed after completing its first PSAC season with a 9-2 mark. The Rams are appearing in their 12th postseason and first since 2017.
Quarterback Tyson Bagent leads the PSAC and is second in the DII in passing yards (3547). Shepherd is one of three PSAC teams to average more than 40 points per game (40.6).
Shepherd’s Antonio Fox is tied for second in the league in interceptions (5).
West Chester (9-2) was seeded at No. 6. It marks the 16th time the Golden Rams will play in the postseason and third consecutive year. West Chester will travel to No. 3 Notre Dame (Ohio) (10-1).
West Chester’s defense allowed the second fewest points per game in the PSAC (16.8).
The championship game will be played December 21, at 3 p.m. Eastern time at McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas and will be broadcast live on ESPNU HD/ESPN3.com.
NCAA DII FOOTBALL SUPER REGION 1 SEEDS
1) Slippery Rock – 11-0
2) Kutztown – 10-1
3) Notre Dame (Ohio) – 10-1
4) IUP – 10-1
5) Shepherd – 9-2
6) West Chester – 9-2
7) Tiffin – 9-1