Independents

I normally don't get very personal in my columns, and I tend to keep my comments directly about the football games at hand. This week, I'm at least breaking that tradition in my opener because of what has happened most recently in my life.

Just a couple hours after returning home from the Lake Erie-Wesley game last Saturday, I received word that a co-worker and friend of mine and my wife's, Ian Howard, had passed away. After having beaten cancer once a few years ago (before I had ever met him), he had to try to fight cancer all over again starting in early 2009. Sadly, Ian had just turned 23 years old six days before he passed, ending a life that was decidedly all too short.

Ian was a man who, particularly over the past year, I learned a lot from. His faith in God never wavered, no matter what challenges life threw at him. He went through life as if he knew what it was that he was destined to do. Even while dealing with the effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatments, he tried to come to work, not out of obligation but because he loved what he was doing and he loved the people he was working with. He set an example for others to follow, and anyone who spent even just five minutes with him couldn't help but to be touched by him in some way. He cared about what other people were interested in, even if he didn't have a direct connection to it himself (sometimes asking me, "So, Dave, what crazy place are you going to this weekend for football?"). He put other people ahead of himself in life, and his word on anything he said was as good as gold.

I write these words just a few hours after saying goodbye to Ian and attending his funeral. In such a short life, he touched the lives of a lot of people, including mine, and he is deeply missed. But the lessons that he taught me still live on in my heart and, hopefully, in my life as an example to others. He knew, in a way that so many of us don't, what life was really about and what was really important in it. He played football himself in high school and knew that the game was about more than just the wins and the losses but about the experiences and the people along the way. And he knew that life was the same way.

Farewell, Ian. We miss you, and I believe that you and I will see each other again.

Okay, I've composed myself again. Now I can do what this column is supposed to do and talk about football.

Playoffs? Are you kidding me? Playoffs?

First off, here's the good news. For the first time since UC-Davis did it in 2002, an independent has made it into the NCAA Division II playoffs. The fact that UNC Pembroke has only been playing football for three seasons (in the last 50 years, at least) makes this accomplishment that much more impressive.

Now for the bad news. Last week, I thought I had it all figured out. I thought I knew exactly what was going down with the playoff seedings after last Saturday's games were over. Then the committee proved that I don't know a single thing about what happens in that smoke-filled room.

Super Regional 2 Regional Rankings
1. North Alabama (10-1)
2. Carson-Newman (9-2, 8-2 vs. D-II)
3. Albany State (8-2)
4. Arkansas Tech (8-2)
5. UNC Pembroke (9-1, 7-1 vs. D-II)
6. West Alabama (7-4, 6-3 vs. D-II)
7. Fort Valley State (7-4, 6-3 vs. D-II)
8. Morehouse (7-3)
9. Benedict (8-3, 7-3 vs. D-II)
10. Wingate (7-3)

You'll have to allow me to rant some here, though I'll try to keep it rooted in logic. According to the official NCAA manual, there are used to determine the regional rankings and, thus, playoff seedings:

In-region win-loss record
Overall Division II win-loss record (both total wins and losses and winning percentage)
Overall Division II strength of schedule
Head-to-head wins and losses
Record against common opponents
Win-loss record against teams over .500
Recent trend performance over the last four games
Overall win-loss record
Cumulative results (wins and losses) of opponents defeated and lost to
Win-loss record against teams at or under .500
Non-Division II results

Primarily, the Division II win-loss record and the Division II strength of schedule (a combination of "average opponents' winning percentage and average opponents' opponents' winning percentage, most likely in a 2:1 ratio if it's calculated at all like it is in Division III) are the criteria used. Yet somehow, Albany State lost again and stayed at #3 while UNC Pembroke dropped to #5 and hits the road in the first round of the playoffs. While I can figure out many of the other bizarre results of the regional and national committees (though some things in Super Region 1 still don't make sense), this one I can't quite figure out completely. And I'm a math guy. So let's do some comparisons:

In-region W-L: Albany State is 7-2, Arkansas Tech is 6-2, UNC Pembroke is 3-1. The committee will give Arkansas Tech preference because 6-2 is more statistically reliable than 3-1 even though the percentages are the same. But it's a clear advantage for Albany State and Arkansas Tech on the actual number of wins and in-region games played

Overall Division II W-L: Albany State is 8-2 (.800), Arkansas Tech is 8-2 (.800), UNC Pembroke is 7-1 (.875). It's a slight advantage for UNC Pembroke on percentage and a slight disadvantage on actual number of wins. We'll call it a push.

Strength of schedule: I did the math and have the spreadsheet online if you want to see it (it isn't pretty), and Albany State's is 0.488, Arkansas Tech's is 0.479, and UNC Pembroke's is 0.522. Advantage: UNC Pembroke

Head-to-head: Not applicable

Common opponents: Not really applicable. Albany State and UNC Pembroke had one, and they both mercilessly beat winless Lane.

Trend: Albany State is 2-2 (!) in the last four games while both Arkansas Tech and UNC Pembroke are 4-0. No further discussion should be needed.

W-L against teams over .500: Albany State is 3-2, Arkansas Tech is 0-2 (!), and UNC Pembroke is 3-1. Advantage: UNC Pembroke

Overall W-L: Albany State, 8-2; Arkansas Tech, 8-2; UNC Pembroke, 9-1. Advantage: UNC Pembroke

Cumulative W-L of opponents defeated: Albany State, 32-49 (.395); Arkansas Tech, 28-54 (.341); UNC Pembroke, 30-42 (.417). Advantage: UNC Pembroke

Cumulative W-L of opponents lost to: Albany State, 15-6 (.714); Arkansas Tech, 17-5 (.772); UNC Pembroke, 9-2 (.818). Advantage: UNC Pembroke

W-L against teams at or below .500: They're all undefeated with Albany State at 5-0, Arkansas Tech at 8-0, and UNC Pembroke at 4-0. Again, call it a push.

Non-Division II results: Albany State and Arkansas Tech didn't have any; UNC Pembroke went 2-0. It's not a real advantage for anyone.

So, the only category in which UNC Pembroke is at a disadvantage is in-region win-loss record. Yet that doesn't really seem to matter at all until the very last ranking of the season and the only one with any importance? And why should a win against an opponent in the NCAA's regional assignments (which, for teams that aren't in a conference, can be quite random at times) be worth any more than any other win against a Division II opponent? Personally, it seems that this criterion is one that automatically discriminates against an independent team, as teams in Arkansas would be considered in UNC Pembroke's region while many teams in North Carolina (such as more than half of the CIAA) are not. Conferences aren't divided such that part of the conference is in one region and part of it is in another, so non-independent teams aren't affected by rules like this. But independents, who have a hard enough time as it is filling a schedule for a full season, now have to do more than just find enough Division II teams: they have to find enough of the NCAA-declared "right" Division II teams or be penalized come playoff time.

If it sounds like I'm angry about this, well, you'd be right. It simply doesn't make sense, and quite frankly, it encourages teams to be more insular and to eliminate some of the exciting non-conference games that we all look forward to at the beginning of the season. Even though UNC Pembroke and Fayetteville State opened the season with a double overtime thriller, the Braves may have been better off playing against a sub-.500 Catawba team simply because the Indians are in the Braves' region. A regional focus in Division II can be great, but when a football game matters more because of geographic lines, simple common sense is lost. Let's throw out in-region win-loss record as a discriminator and let all of the Division II results on the field decide how the teams are ranked.

Okay, you can have the soapbox back now. Thanks for listening, or at least tolerating.

Week 11 Scores

Southwest Baptist 54, Missouri S&T 13
UNC Pembroke 42, North Greenville 14
Wesley 28, Lake Erie 13
Saint Joseph's 31, Central State 20
Kentucky Wesleyan 21, Lincoln 6
Urbana 30, Seton Hill 14
Southern Nazarene 48, Oklahoma Panhandle State 20
Eastern New Mexico 35, Incarnate Word 30

All-Independent Players of the Week

Offense

Southwest Baptist QB Steve Gachette

The junior once again showed why he's the most prolific quarterback among the independents this year in the Bearcats' 54-13 win over Missouri S&T. Gachette rushedg for 163 yards on 15 carries and completed 31 of 39 passes to 12 different receivers for 407 yards, five touchdowns, and no interceptions.

Defense

Urbana LB Chad Kinkead

The senior led a dominant defensive performance by the Blue Knights in Urbana's 30-14 win at Seton Hill. Kinkead recorded 17 total tackles (11 solo), two tackles for a total loss of 12 yards, a sack for a five yard loss, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.

Special Teams

North Greenville RS Isaiah Johnson

This freshman phenom has done it again, finding the end zone on a 49 yard punt return in the Crusaders' 42-14 loss to #15 UNC Pembroke. Johnson led North Greenville with 151 all-purpose yards in the game: 53 yards on two punt returns and 98 yards on four kickoff returns.

Week 12

For the first time that I've seen, there are actual scheduled "regular season" games this week: three, as a matter of fact. The GLFC champion may have been decided and wrapped up its season, but the other four teams are playing for pride and something to build on in 2010. Urbana and Oklahoma Panhandle State are each looking to finish over .500, something that hasn't happened too often in each school's history. And, oh yeah, there's a somewhat important game happening out in Arkansas.

Urbana Blue Knights (5-5) at Central State Marauders (1-9), 12:30 ET

Originally scheduled for a 1:30 kickoff, this game was moved an hour earlier to make sure there would be sufficient light to get the game completed. Unfortunately, light at the end of the tunnel hasn't been a big part of the story for these 2009 Marauders.

It may have taken nearly the entire season, but at least the offense has shown some signs of life in recent weeks. By far, WR Jerred Hill (978 yards, 6 TD) has been the highlight on that side of the ball for this team, and improvements by QB Jeff Brooks (43% completion, 1354 yards, 7 TD, 12 INT) have helped make that possible. RB Joshua Anderson (423 yards, 10 TD) has also made great strides after a tough beginning. Still, the offense doesn't have a lot of flow. But the bigger problem, oddly enough, has been the defense, which has given up 35 points per game this year. LB Darius Wilson has been probably, by far, the Marauders' best and most consistent player, but with an offense struggling to learn a new system, the defense has to step up, and that generally just hasn't happened.

Urbana, meanwhile, definitely has a bright future, especially when compared to the turmoil of last year's 1-10 season that included just a single win over lowly NAIA West Virginia Tech. After weeks of struggles, the Blue Knights finally got the running game going, led by three touchdown runs by RB Ian Iler and 65 net yards by RB Nigel Smith. With the ground game working, the pressure was off QB David Gerber, so he was able to focus more on his accuracy and on reading the defense, which was definitely improved. LBs Travis Brisco and Chad Kinkead have been absolute fiends on defense, forcing opposing offenses into many mistakes and generating plenty of lost yardage. But outside of CB Troy Brookins, the defensive secondary has been questionable, giving up 224 yards per game in the air. Can the Marauders take advantage? They might be able to for a half, but Coach Taynor has been very good at making the necessary halftime adjustments this season, and that will lead to the Blue Knights' third 6-5 season all time and demonstrate Urbana as a team to watch out for in the next couple years.

Prediction: Urbana 31, Central State 19

Missouri S&T Miners (3-7, 1-1 GLFC) at Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers (2-8, 2-1 GLFC), 1:00 CT

A second place finish in the Great Lakes Football Conference is on the line in this game between two injury-plagued teams that each expected much more this season.

Having Vincent Lalonde as Kentucky Wesleyan's quarterback for most of this season wasn't exactly Coach Holsclaw's plan. But with Chris Owen getting hurt and David Howard not being effective, Kentucky Wesleyan went with Lalonde, who had a huge learning curve to overcome to run the offense. RB Thomas Gordon has had some flashes of brilliance this season, but as a freshman, he hasn't established consistency yet in the ground game. Having WR DaMarcus Ganaway back out onto the field after missing the first few games of the year has also been a big improvement for this team, and in the last two weeks, the offense has been able to move the ball down the field pretty well. What's lacking are both a defense that can make stops and an offense that can score consistently rather than just accumulate yardage, and those are two main reasons why the Panthers have just two wins on the season.

Offense hasn't typically been a problem for the Miners, but there was a very dark stretch of this season where Missouri S&T definitely didn't look like itself. Injuries to Chad Shockley, Bryan Crider, and Jason Schleuter played significant roles in an 0-6 start to the season, as did injuries to several linemen and other key players. But the big difference is that most of those pieces have come back together again, and the Miners do have some depth at various positions. The defense hasn't been anything to get excited about, as was noticeable in a blowout loss to Southwest Baptist last weekend as well as the 36 points per game allowed on average this season. But against lesser defenses, the Miners have been about to score close to 40 points this year, and as long as they can do that this week, they'll at least be the ones to finish this season on more of a high note.

Prediction: Missouri S&T 37, Kentucky Wesleyan 21

Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers (6-3, NAIA) at Oklahoma Panhandle State Aggies (5-5), 2:00 CT

The Aggies finished the 2003 and 2004 seasons at 6-5, the best the Aggies had finished since a 6-4 season in 1994. If this OPSU team is to join those on the better side of .500, they'll have to defeat an opponent the Aggies haven't fared well against.

You have to go all the way back to 1983 to find the last time the Rangers lost to OPSU, when Northwestern Oklahoma State lost 21-17 as part of an unusually bad 4-6 season. This year, the Rangers are a perfect 5-0 against Central States Football League competition (though past indiscretions are keeping them from receiving any votes in the NAIA poll and from having any chance at the playoffs). RB Nate Guillory (1466 yards, 15 TD) has been the clear star for this team, breaking school records for yardage and scoring. But the Rangers can throw too: QB Kyle Jech (57% completion, 1585 yards, 13 TD, 6 INT) can usually be counted on to find Korey Williams (758 yards, 5 TD) at least five or six times a game along with several other dangerous receivers like Mike Hall (283 yards, 2 TD), Kent McDonald (250 yards, 4 TD), and Keith Barefield, Jr. (133 yards, 2 TD). The defense has been very successful in stopping the run, holding opponents to under 80 rushing yards per game, and DE Lantz Mathers has been especially tough on opponents, registering 28.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and four fumble recoveries this season.

The Aggies are looking to regroup after simply being beaten by a hungrier Southern Nazarene team last weekend, particularly in the second half. To get a win, what OPSU doesn't need to do is stop Guillory; he's going to get his 100 yards no matter what, so just keep him out of the end zone and make Jech make plays to beat you. Against this rush defense, RB Darryl Brister could be in for a tough day, so it will be up to QB Vincent Gay and his corps of receivers to put points on the board for the home team. A big advantage in the turnover battle, a poor completion percentage by Jech thanks to good coverage in the defensive backfield, or a hugely productive day on offense will be essential for the Aggies to pick up their first win over the Rangers in 26 years. They'll probably need more like two of those three things to happen in reality to get the win, and while this is a vastly improved OPSU team, this is a corner they haven't quite turned yet.

Prediction: Northwestern Oklahoma State 42, Oklahoma Panhandle State 21

Lincoln Blue Tigers (0-10) at Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils (2-7, I-FCS), 3:00 CT

It will be Senior Day down in Itta Bena, Mississippi, but there won't really be much to celebrate for either of these teams this weekend: with one exception, neither of these teams has been lighting up the scoreboard this year.

In eight games this season against Division I competition, the Delta Devils have totaled just 57 points (and allowed 286 points in those games). There was, though, one breakout game: a 61-6 win over lowly NAIA Texas College. For pretty much the only time this season, QB Paul Roberts went wild: 24 of 35 passing for 329 yards, five touchdowns, and just one interception. Granted, Roberts has been accurate this season (57.4% completion and just four interceptions against seven touchdowns), but that efficiency hasn't turned into success on offense. The reason? The Delta Devils have no rushing game. RB Johey Hargrett (122 yards, 1 TD) was the team's leading rusher going into last week's game against Texas Southern (a 30-7 loss). Add in the fact that the defense hasn't been great this year, and you might think that Lincoln has a chance in this game.

Unfortunately, the Blue Tigers have been even worse on offense this season. The passing game is virtually nonexistent because the right personnel to play quarterback simply don't exist, particularly in Coach Cochran's desired offensive schemes. So, the Blue Tigers have focused on an option-run game most of the time with a few tricks thrown in, which has at least gotten Lincoln up over 125 rushing yards per game. But less than 200 yards per game isn't going to cut it against any Division I opponent, though, and when you add in a defense that has allowed over 30 points per game while playing the weakest Division II schedule in the country, it doesn't add up to anything you want to see. It has been a long, tough year in Jefferson City in 2009, and I only hope that Coach Cochran will find some quick success in recruiting during the offseason.

Prediction: Mississippi Valley State 49, Lincoln 6

Independents Game of the Week

#15 UNC Pembroke Braves (9-1) at #22 Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys (8-2), 12:00 CT
NCAA Division II Playoffs - Round 1

Thanks to the wonders of the Internet (and a tip from a friend), I managed to find a last-minute, cheap airfare to Little Rock for this weekend's game, so I will be making the trip across nearly half the country for my first Division II football playoff game and the first playoff game for an independent team since UC-Davis did it last back in 2002. Additionally, I'll be doing a live blogcast of the game (check the Arkansa Tech-UNC Pembroke game threads on d2messageboard.com for details). But enough about me: there's plenty to talk about between these two teams in what should be a great first round playoff game.

The Braves will embark (and likely have already hit the road by the time this column gets printed) on their longest road trip in program history as they find themselves in their first ever playoff game. Arkansas Tech has been here before, sporting a 1-2 record all-time that includes a 40-28 loss to Carson-Newman in 1999 and two games in 2004: a 24-20 win over Catawba and a 42-24 loss to Albany State.

The Wonder Boys come into this game on a five-game winning streak in which they have averaged 46 points per game. They win with offense, as they have not held a single opponent this season to fewer than 10 points, and only two teams have been held to fewer than 20. UNC Pembroke, meanwhile, can score (though not quite as prolifically), but its success has come especially with strong defense, holding opponents to under 250 yards and just 12.5 points per game. Who comes out on top? Let's break it down:

UNCP rushing offense vs. Arkansas Tech rushing defense: As with most positions on this Braves team, UNCP has depth in the ground game. Travis Daniels (968 yards, 10 TD) and Rashon Kennedy (747 yards, 6 TD) are the team leaders, but look for Keith Gore (286 yards, 5 TD) to be a key situational back as well. On the offensive line, the strength is at the guard positions: Hivera Green and Brandon Holland are the biggest men on the line and have been opening up plenty of holes all season, and OT Blake Yarbrough has been particularly strong as well. With the nickel-style defense that Arkansas Tech tends to run, the focus hasn't been on stopping the run, though they've been very effective in doing that this year, even holding North Alabama to just 33 rushing yards. Look for DLs Josh Govan and Derandus Frye to be the biggest forces at the line of scrimmage, but Govan and Frye aren't the strongest players on Arkansas Tech's defense. Instead, it will be up to LBs like Brandon Wright and Jamal Johnson to bring Kennedy and Daniels down. Somehow, Arkansas Tech has held opponents to under 100 rushing yards per game this season, but that may be stemming from the fact that just one opponent on the Wonder Boys' schedule is in the top 40 in the country in rushing: West Alabama (at #40), who ran for over 200 yards in defeating Arkansas Tech in September. UNC Pembroke, meanwhile, is ranked eighth in the nation in rushing. Advantage: UNC Pembroke

UNCP passing offense vs. Arkansas Tech passing defense: For the Braves, it all begins with QB Cory Smith. He doesn't put up gaudy numbers: 1662 yards, 16 touchdowns, and five interceptions on the season. What he does do, though, is avoid mistakes, make good ball placements on throws, and run an efficient game, completing just over two-thirds of all of his passes. By far, in receiving, WR Jamal Williams (612 yards, 4 TD) and L.J. Johnson (335 yards, 7 TD) are his favorite targets, though the Braves will often use TE Josh Throckmorton (143 yards, 1 TD) as more than just a blocking tight end. Add in the fact that the offensive line has allowed only ten sacks all season, and Arkansas Tech could have its hands full. What does play to the Wonder Boys' advantage is their tendency to drop back up to five men into coverage and blitz the quarterback heavily, often with all six or more remaining defenders. The numbers tell the story: a slightly below average 19 sacks on the season but a strong 15 interceptions as well, led by four from DB Tario Dansby. The pressure may be on Smith to perform more than he has had to recently, but Arkansas Tech will have to contend with the most efficient quarterback it has faced all season. Advantage: UNC Pembroke

Arkansas Tech rushing offense vs. UNCP rushing defense: The ground game doesn't tend to be the Wonder Boys' first choice. Sure, RBs Cody Burns (460 yards, 6 TD) and Tim Childress (366 yards, 6 TD) have carried the load well, but Arkansas Tech's offensive strengths aren't in the running game. One thing that does help is the running ability of QB Nick Graziano (415 yards, 6 TD), who ran for 196 yards in the Wonder Boys' win over Delta State. The offensive line is a little bit smaller than UNC Pembroke's, but there are three All-GSC selections there: C Torrence Wright, OL Deerick Smith, and the monstrous OL Chris Warden. UNC Pembroke's usual four-man defensive line is a bit smaller but has plenty of depth: Ben Kurti and Morris McLaughlin have been the two biggest playmakers, but James Alexander is one of the strongest linemen on the team that will come in from off the bench. I have a hard time really giving either team a real advantage here, but this won't be a critical area in determining who wins this game. Advantage: Push

Arkansas Tech passing offense vs. UNCP passing defense: This is the area that the Braves have been working on in the film room all week long. QB Nick Graziano (62% completion, 3416 yards, 31 TD, 10 INT) was named the Gulf South Conference's Offensive Player of the Year, and there's no question as to why. His arm makes the Arkansas Tech offense go and is a threat on any play, especially when coverage opens up for WRs Frantz Simeon (1079 yards, 13 TD) and Landon Turner (905 yards, 7 TD), both first-team All-Gulf South Conference selections. Beyond those two targets, Graziano has five more receivers who have caught at least ten passes this season for a total of eight touchdowns among them. The Braves, meanwhile, have only allowed four touchdown passes all season and just over 120 passing yards per game, but that may be more because of facing weaker pass offenses than strong defense against the pass. Against Concord earlier this season, the Braves focused on containing Concord's leading receiver, a plan that worked quite well, so don't be surprised if Simeon and Turner see a lot of double coverage. Linebackers like J.T. McCoy, Adam Deese, and Fred Williams will also add to the quarterback pressure the Braves will throw at Graziano, but the defensive linemen will primarily be the ones recording any sacks. We really have yet to see what the defensive backfield that includes Caylon Hann and Terrell Partlow is fully capable of this season, but the looks we've seen have been favorable. However, Arkansas Tech is third in the country in passing, and UNC Pembroke will have a much tougher time against this team than anyone else they have faced all season. Advantage: Arkansas Tech

Special teams: UNC Pembroke's K Taylor Baskett is 10-of-14 on field goals and 40-of-44 on extra points this season and perfect in his last three games, having hit from as far as 42 yards out. With no wind and good kick protection, a 50 yard field goal is not out of his range. P Justin Hinson averages just under 44 yards per punt with nine of his 32 punts on the season going over 50 yards and ten of them being downed inside the 20 yard line. D.J. Ellerbe has the lone touchdown in the return game for the Braves, but Jamal Williams is the most dangerous return man, averaging just under 30 yards per kickoff return and 13.5 yards per punt return to put him in the top 15 in the country in each category. Simeon is the Wonder Boys' return leader, averaging just over nine yards per punt return and 23 yards per kickoff return (including one for a touchdown this year). Travis Cockerham handles both kicking and punting duties for Arkansas Tech, having hit 9-of-12 field goals and 51-of-54 extra points on the year with a long field goal of 37 yards. His punts average only 34.3 yards, but nearly half of his 34 punts have been downed inside the 20 yard line. Advantage: Push

Intangibles: The Braves are making their fourth straight road trip this weekend, so at least the long bus ride won't be too much out of the ordinary for them. But the crowd at Thone Stadium will definitely be bigger than UNC Pembroke is used to: home crowds typically average over 5000, and it wouldn't surprise me to see the 7000 seat stadium packed this weekend. Arkansas Tech head coach Steve Mullins has been able to take a team that, back in 1997, was in a transition period and turn it into the best Division II program in the state of Arkansas and one that is trying to turn the corner and routinely contend for the Gulf South Conference title. As much as the Braves have accomplished in such a short period of time, battling against that kind of history can be daunting.

Prognosis: It's worth pointing out again that the Wonder Boys have gone 8-0 against teams this season that were .500 or worse and 0-2 against teams over .500 (West Alabama and North Alabama). The Gulf South Conference simply wasn't as strong this year as usual, and the last five games haven't been as tough a test for Arkansas Tech as they'll face this weekend. Neither one of these teams really shoots itself in the foot by turning the ball over frequently and costing itself a game here or there, and that makes this an even more entertaining and closely-matched contest. Can the Braves establish the run like they've done all season and control the clock, keeping Graziano and the Wonder Boys' offense off the field? Can the UNC Pembroke defense find a way to pressure Graziano into making mistakes or at least cut down on the passing yardage? Look for there to be plenty of points scored in Russellville this weekend in a very close contest. Graziano will easily throw for over 300 yards, but I see the visitors coming away with the upset.

Prediction: UNC Pembroke 34, Arkansas Tech 31

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