NCAA Division II Football Playoffs National Semifinal Schedule

A Pennsylvania team has never won this tournament, and this year will not be the first. With Mercyhurst's loss to Shepherd, that eliminated the last hope the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference had. Shepherd is located near the Pennsylvania border in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, but close only counts in horse shoes, right? If the information becomes available and I can find it, I will list the TV announcers and I might even possibly type up some previews on Friday, depending on how I feel. Anyway, the games are this Saturday, December 5 played on the campus of the designated home teams (the team listed 2nd below), in this case, Delta State and Minnesota-Duluth, respectively. Here's your schedule for D2 football this Saturday! (all times ET; FBS bowl schedule will be up later today).

Shepherd vs. Delta State 2:00 (CBS College Sports)
Northwest Missouri State vs. Minnesota-Duluth 6:00 (CBS College Sports)

NCAA Division II Football Playoffs Super Regional Finals Schedule

My beloved Bloomsburg huskies may be eliminated, but that won't stop the schedule postings! The 2010 Division II football playoffs are down to 8 teams, with the winning teams getting to take home th title of champions of their respective Super Regional, in addition to appearing on national TV next week (CBS College Sports) for the National Semifinals. Hopefully in addition to some Oregon/Auburn excitement, the Division II games will provide some excitement as well. Personally, I am particularly looking forward to the Central Missouri vs. Northwest Missouri State game. The way Central Missouri attacks defenses through the air provides great excitement, while defending D2 champions Northwest Missouri State have twice comeback from 2 scores down to advance into these playoffs. Also, Mercyhurst is the lone remaining team from the PSAC in this tournament. Can they be the first PSAC team to win the D2 National Football Championship? They are only 3 wins away. Also, Albany State (GA) and Minnesota-Duluth will hope to continue what have been perfect seasons up to this point. Anyway, enough rambling, here is the schedule.

Schedule by time

#4 Shepherd vs. #2 Mercyhurst 12:00
#2 Delta State vs. #1 Albany State (GA) 1:00
#2 Augustana (SD) vs. #1 Minnesota-Duluth 1:00
#4 Central Missouri vs. #3 Northwest Missouri State 2:00

Schedule by Super Regional

Super Regional 1
#4 Shepherd vs. #2 Mercyhurst 12:00

Super Regional 2
#2 Delta State vs. #1 Albany State (GA) 1:00

Super Regional 3
#2 Augustana (SD) vs. #1 Minnesota-Duluth 1:00

Super Regional 4
#4 Central Missouri vs. #3 Northwest Missouri State

A Preview Of Bloomsburg's Super Regional 1 Semifinal Game

2 weeks ago, Bloomsburg traveled to Erie to take on Mercyhurst in the PSAC Championship. The result was a 56-37 drubbing that favored Mercyhurst. This coming Saturday, Bloomsburg will return to Louis J. Tullio Field in Erie, PA to face Mercyhurst in the Super Regional 1 semifinals (click here for bracket). Only this time, a spot in the Super Regional 1 finals is on the line. And the loser's season is over.

In the game 2 weeks ago, Mercyhurst annihilated Bloomsburg's normally stout pass defense. Mercyhurst QB Travis Rearick threw for 345 yards. Mercyhurst WR Travis Kennedy had one of the best games in Mercyhurst football history, catching 11 passes for 163 yards. That's the bad news. The good news is the Bloomsburg defense limited the Lakers to 40 rushing yards in 22 attempts. The damage was done with the passing game, defense and capitalizing on opportunities given to Mercyhurst on special teams. How bad was this from a historical perspective? The last time Bloomsburg gave up at least 56 points was in the 2000 National Championship game, which Delta State won 63-34.

But there is reason to believe that things will be different this time around. For starters coming into that PSAC Championship game, Mercyhurst averaged around 28 points per game. They more than doubled their average 2 weeks ago. Bloomsburg's past defense is normally a very good one and likely won't be replicating that piss poor defense. Provided of course, they decide to pay attention to Travis Kennedy. Secondly, Mercyhurst is a team that thrives on rhythm. Last Saturday was their first bye week since September 4. For a team that is used to playing in consecutive weeks and winning every Saturday since October 9, the week off they had last weekend could possibly disrupt their momentum. Finally, last game was played under fair skies. This game is forecasted to be played on the tail end of a lake effect snow storm that is forecast (and we all know these weather forecasts are NEVER wrong) to dump 8 inches of snow on Erie. Not to state the obvious, but this game is not being played at an NFL football stadium or top notch Division I facility. This is Louis J. Tuillo Field. I have never been to Mercyhurst nor do I have any contacts up there, but something tells me that the field maintenance won't be the best. The surface is artificial so there is no mud problem, but I'll be shocked if this place has a heater, especially seeing as Mercyhurst is not a traditional Division II football powerhouse. In fact, this is their first Division II playoff game. I don't think their football team is used to something like this, and I am not confident at all that they have the personnel or resources to handle it.

If it is push comes to shove like that and both teams need to rely on the running game, I like Bloomsburg's chances a lot in this game, despite the blowout 2 weeks ago. Bloomsburg freshman running back Franklyn Quiteh has been nothing short of a sensation. He is a finalist for the Harlon Hill Award, an award given to the most valuable player in Division II football. Consider it D2's version of the Heisman. But he was unable to finish the PSAC Championship game 2 weeks ago because of an injury he suffered early in the 2nd half, but with the 16 carries he did get, he rushed for 104 yards. Meanwhile as mentioned above, Mercyhurst got 40 rushing yards all game, with their best rusher being the QB Rearick, he mustered 30 yards on 5 rushing attempts. Their running back Gerald Anderson got 13 carries on 16 yards. Any other person who carried the ball only lost yards, as evidenced by the fact that Rearick and Anderson combined for 46 rushing yards, and Mercyhurst ended the game with 40. The good news for Quiteh is that he was able to return from injury and play against California last weekend, and once again, Quiteh ran for over 100 yards.

I mentioned this in last week's Cal-Bloomsburg preview, but QB Pat Carey threw 37 passes last week. According to Bloomsburg radio announcers Jim Doyle and Andy Ulicny, Carey's arm was getting tired at the end of the game, as he had to pass so damn much without his star RB because said RB was injured the 2nd half of that game and the Huskies needed to try and stay in a game that was not totally out of reach given the amount of points Bloomsburg was still able to score (Bloomsburg lost the game when they were unable to get a defensive stop). Carey is an efficient QB for a team whose strategy is run the ball, run the ball, play defense, and run the ball some more, but Carey is not a QB who can pass 66 times a game like West Texas A&M QB Taylor Harris did last week and still be an effective QB in the 2nd half. Hell, the 2nd half is when West Texas A&M scored 28 of their 35 points in their 55-35 defeat to Central Missouri. Basically the point I am dancing around is, while an efficient QB, Pat Carey is not a QB who can put a team on his shoulders, pass on every down, and win the football game. The running game must be established and must be effective if Bloomsburg wants to win this game. Because while I doubt that Mercyhurst will put up 56 again, they are capable of putting points on the board. And Bloomsburg will have to counter that. And the best way they can counter it is by creating turnovers, running the ball, and using that ground game to set up the pass from Carey, who does throw a decent deep ball.

If Bloomsburg successfully accomplishes that, I like their chances at avenging the PSAC Championship loss and advancing to the Super Regional 1 Finals on Saturday, December 4. If not, I fear I might be saying goodbye to the 2010 version of the Bloomsburg Huskies football game.

NCAA Division II Football Playoffs Super Regional Semifinals Schedule

With 16 teams left, it is time for the 2nd round of the D2 football playoffs, perhaps better categorized as the Super Regional semifinals. When looking at the bracket, consider this the D2 football equivalent to the Sweet 16, only the games are played on the campus of the higher seed, not on a neutral court. There were some last minute time changes last week and I suspect there might be some this week as well. D2football.com has not released their schedule yet, which leads me to believe that some times may still change. As soon as I find out about the changes I will update the schedule, but as of now, here is the NCAA Division II Football Playoffs Super Regional Semifinals Schedule! (all times ET)

Schedule by time

#4 Shepherd vs. #1 Kutztown 12:00
#6 Bloomsburg vs. #2 Mercyhurst 12:00
#4 Wingate vs. #1 Albany State (GA) 12:00
#6 North Alabama vs. #2 Delta State 1:00
#4 Saint Cloud State vs. #1 Minnesota-Duluth 1:00
#3 Grand Valley State vs. #2 Augustana (SD) 1:00
#4 Central Missouri vs. #1 Abilene Christian 1:00
#3 Northwest Missouri State vs. #2 Texas A&M-Kingsville 1:00

Schedule by Super Regional

Super Regional 1
#4 Shepherd vs. #1 Kutztown 12:00
#6 Bloomsburg vs. #2 Mercyhurst 12:00

Super Regional 2
#4 Wingate vs. #1 Albany State (GA) 12:00
#6 North Alabama vs. #2 Delta State 1:00

Super Regional 3
#4 Saint Cloud State vs. #1 Minnesota-Duluth 1:00
#3 Grand Valley State vs. #2 Augustana (SD) 1:00

Super Regional 4
#4 Central Missouri vs. #1 Abilene Christian 1:00
#3 Northwest Missouri State vs. #2 Texas A&M-Kingsville 1:00

A Preview Of Bloomsburg's First Round Playoff Game

2 years ago, Bloomsburg and California (PA) met in the Super Regional 1 finals. Unfortunately, bad officiating and a costly end of game fumble by then QB Dan LaTorre cost the Huskies the game and ultimately a spot in the Final 4. Suffice to say, the California University of Pennsylvania Vulcans are not one of my favorite teams in college football. Now the playoff rematch is in the 1st round of the 2010 playoffs coming up in just a few short hours. It will be played on campus in California, PA, which just to make things confusing, is located in Washington County. As a reference, Washington County is the southwest neighbor of Allegheny County, where Pittsburgh is located.

Despite being trounced by Mercyhurst last week, I did not expect Bloomsburg to drop all the way to the 6th seed in Super Regional 1, especially seeing as they were for sure the #1 seed had they won that game. But that is the reality of a college football playoff where there are so few games to go by.

During last week's PSAC title game against Mercyhurst, Bloomsburg suffered quite a few set backs. They lost their leading wide receiver to a broken collarbone. The leading RB in the D2 nation, Franklyn Quiteh, is questionable with a knee injury he suffered in that very same game. Those are two key parts to an offense that thrives on running the ball. Bloomsburg QB Pat Carey's arm seemed to be getting fatigued at the end of the game last week as he needed to throw a lot to catch up to Mercyhurst without the benefit of Quiteh in the backfield. The total number of passes Carey threw in that game was in the 30s. So, yeah, running the ball is integral to the success of Bloomsburg. Carey is an efficient QB, but he does not have the ability to win games throwing lots of passes. A problem with this: Cal (PA) boasts one of the best running defenses in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference this season (yes, 2 teams from the same conference can play each other in the 1st round here).

While Bloomsburg is normally very solid defensively as well, they got torched last week by Mercyhurst for 56 points. Seriously, the Redskins looked competent next to the shitshow Bloomsburg put on last week. The Huskies thrive on the turnover, and that is something they were unable to generate against Mercyhurst. I am afraid that they will need to force some turnovers against the Vulcans in this game if they want to have a chance at winning it, as frankly, I don't see the offense running up and down the field like they did 2 weeks ago against Kutztown.

Guys to look for on the Cal side of the ball: QB Josh Portis is coming off a career high 5 TD game against Cheyney (although truth be told, most middle school football teams are capable of that very same feat) and WR Chedrick Cherry has played very well as of late.

If the series history between these 2 teams indicate anything, this one is going to be a good one. This will be the 6th meeting in the last 5 years for California (PA) and Bloomsburg, including the playoff game in 2008, with 4 of the last 5 games being decided by single digits. While I won't go on the record with any predictions, I will tell you that I will be posting constant updates on this game (and random score updates of the other D2 playoff games) at Keith's Sports Journal, whether it be in the open thread or in the live blog should he start it early. A webcast of the game will be available here, although I am not sure if this will be free or PPV. If it is PPV and more than $10, I will listen to the free Bloomsburg radio stream. The winner of this game will travel to Erie, PA next Saturday to take on the #2 seeded Mercyhurst Lakers. GO HUSKIES!!!

(Friendly reminder: On Sunday night, the URL of this blog is changing to http://comeback-complete.blogspot.com. Prepare your bookmarks.)

NCAA Division II Football Playoffs 1st Round Schedule

A win last week against Mercyhurst would have assuredly put Bloomsburg has the #1 ranked team in Super Regional 1, along with the bye that comes with it. Instead they are the #6 seed and need to go on the road at California (PA) in the 1st round this weekend. The Division II playoffs is a 24-team tournament, the bracket can be found here, so without further ado, here the much anticipated posting of the NCAA Division II 1st round playoff schedule! All games are this Saturday, November 20, 2010 (all times ET; all games played on campus of higher seeded team)

Schedule by time

#6 Bloomsburg vs. #3 California (PA) 12:00
#6 Colorado Mines vs. #3 Grand Valley State 12:00
#5 Shaw vs. #4 Shepherd 12:00
#6 North Alabama vs. #3 Valdosta State 12:00
#5 Morehouse vs. #4 Wingate 12:00
#5 West Texas A&M vs. #4 Central Missouri 1:00
#6 Missouri Western State vs. #3 Northwest Missouri State 1:00
#5 Hillsdale vs. #4 St. Cloud State 1:00

Schedule by Super Regional

Super Regional 1
#5 Shaw vs. #4 Shepherd 12:00 (Winner plays #1 Kutztown)
#6 Bloomsburg vs. #3 California (PA) 12:00 (Winner plays #2 Mercyhurst)

Super Regional 2
#5 Morehouse vs. #4 Wingate 12:00 (Winner plays #1 Albany State (GA))
#6 North Alabama vs. #3 Valdosta State 12:00 (Winner plays #2 Delta State)

Super Regional 3
#6 Colorado Mines vs. #3 Grand Valley State 12:00 (Winner plays #2 Augustana (SD))
#5 Hillsdale vs. #4 St. Cloud State 1:00 (Winner plays #1 Minnesota-Duluth)

Super Regional 4
#5 West Texas A&M vs. #4 Central Missouri 1:00 (Winner plays #1 Abilene Christian)
#6 Missouri Western State vs. #3 Northwest Missouri State 1:00 (Winner plays #2 Texas A&M Kingsville)