Bob Eblen - National Columnist
D2Football.com

What a first round. Two overtime games. Three six seeds winning. Three comebacks from double-digit deficits (and nearly a fourth if not for Albany State missing on a last-second field goal attempt). Two teams - Nebraska-Kearney and Hillsdale - won their first playoff games as D-II programs. West Alabama won its first playoff game in 34 years.

Ron Haun Retires
John Potter
Dixie State Sports Information

Ron Haun, who guided the Dixie State football program's transition to four-year Division II competition, announced Wednesday that he is retiring as head coach.

Interim Athletic Director Maureen Eckroth announced that offensive coordinator Scott Brumfield will be promoted to interim head coach.

KSU Names Dickens Head Coach
WKYT 27

Kentucky State University announces that Wayne Dickens has been named head football coach. KSU Athletic Director Denisha Hendricks says Dickens? performance as interim head coach during the 2009 football season was one reason for his selection.

When Lions Play, Flags Will Fly
Greg Dewalt
Florence Times Daily

North Alabama has been proficient on offense and stingy on defense this season.

That's been the key to winning 10 of 11 games.

There is another area in which the Lions have excelled in 2009, and it's had head coach Terry Bowden seeing yellow.

Nine Finalists for HHT
HarlonHill.com

A field of 24 candidates has been trimmed to nine national finalists in regional voting for the Harlon Hill Trophy as the NCAA Division II College Football Player of the Year.

The finalists were selected by the NCAA Division II sports information directors in regional voting and will now be placed on the national ballot where all 148 of the division's SIDs will select the award's 24th winner.

Tuskegee to Face Elizabeth City State in Pioneer Bowl
Mike Perrin
The Birmingham News

Tuskegee University will face Elizabeth City State University in the 11th Pioneer Bowl game, set for Dec. 5 in Columbia, S.C.

Coach Willie Slater has guided his Golden Tigers to an 8-2 record - with the annual Turkey Bowl Classic vs. Alabama State left to play next week - and a fourth straight Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship.

UC's Non-Con Foes Were its Undoing
Matt Haught
Charleston Daily Mail

With the Division II football playoffs in full swing, and West Virginia Conference representative West Liberty getting ready to play Edinboro, it is difficult to wonder why Tony DeMeo and the Golden Eagles aren't running drills at University of Charleston Stadium.