October 3rd, 2017 12:00am
Once again the backup quarterback is in charge of the national column this week. Bob should be back soon, but until then I will continue to give my perspective. Bob was also kind enough to email some of the questions he has received and I will be answering them in his place.
I have been following Division II Football since 1990 and I have seen a lot of crazy occurrences and improbable comebacks. Saturday, I was in person for what is likely the second most improbable comeback I have ever seen.
After trailing for practically the entire game, Central Missouri pulled ahead 20-17 with 34 seconds left in the game after quarterback Brook Bolles led an eight play, 84-yard drive.
Northwest Missouri started the ensuing drive with 30 seconds left at their own 32-yard line.
Bearcat quarterback Zach Martin engineered a four play, 68 yard drive highlighted by a 47-yard pass to Shawn Bane and finished off with a seven-yard pass to Jordan Bishop to give Northwest the win.
Typically, a team needs to be at midfield with around a minute left in the game to have a legit shot at punching one in.
There are two things that I took from the game.
The first is that Jim Svoboda has his program headed in the right direction. The balance he is showing on offense makes them tough to defend and he is finding the size and physicality he needs for the Mules to compete at a national level. If the Mules can somehow find their way into the playoffs with two losses, they will be a tough out for anyone they face.
The second is that the 2017 season is wide open. After one game last year, it was evident that Northwest Missouri, if they stayed healthy, would most likely win back-to-back national championships.
The 2017 edition of the Bearcats is not as strong. The defense is still tremendous. However, the injury-riddled offense is inconsistent at best. That could be problematic during the regular season much less during the playoffs.
The 2017 season should be one of the most unpredictable seasons in recent memory.
GNAC Looking Good in 2017
With Central Washington and Humboldt State featuring undefeated records, the chance for the GNAC to have more than one representative in the playoffs looks as good as it ever has.
The conference is 5-1 so far in non-league games that count toward the playoffs. GNAC teams have wins over West Texas, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Dixie State, Chadron State, and Western New Mexico. The only loss is to Kingsville.
The league also has a chance to widen the gap. Contests against Colorado Mines (APU), Colorado Mesa (APU), North Alabama (CWU), Western State (HSU), and Tarleton State (WOU) remain on the schedule.
The only problem? Those two teams still have to face each other twice.
Some people have criticized the GNAC for its double-round robin schedule, but this illustrates how it can be a disadvantage.
North Alabama Football
West Georgia*s 37-22 win over North Alabama all but eliminates the Lions from the playoffs. While most at UNA had probably conceded that they would not make the playoffs, I was holding out hope that something crazy could happen in SR2. It does not look like that will be the case.
North Alabama is and has been a great member of Division II. They did a great job of hosting the championship game all those years and were a playoff contender most years. They are still the only program to win three national championships in a row.
While I have access to this platform, I would like to recognize a few people who I might not run into as much anymore.
Jeff Hodges is their sports information director. He is as good as any in the country and for many years coordinated the media at the championship game as well as everything to do with the Harlon Hill Trophy. He is an incredibly hard worker. Jeff is a classy, gracious individual who will be greatly missed.
Mark Linder is their athletic director. I had met Mark while he was the AD at Missouri Western and he continued to be as nice at UNA as he was at Western. The man always had a smile on his face and it was a pleasure to see him.
There is a group of people I have met over the years that are an absolute delight to see every time our paths cross. Mitch Dobbins, Will Cory, Mason Matthews, Steve Pierce, Bryan Wade, Kathi Wade, Maggie Wade, Sabrina Whitten, Hannah Whitten, and Justin Whitten. I have a met a lot more than that but these are folks that I have consistently spent time with in my 12 trips to Florence.
Finally, I would like to mention two people who hold a special place in my heart (I have already mentioned members of their families).
The first is Mitch Wade. He is a tremendous UNA supporter but an even better person. I have never met a more generous and patriotic individual. If the public only knew what he does by helping those in need, supporting our military veterans, and supporting UNA athletics. I always have admired people who do good things because of what is in their heart and not because of the notoriety it brings and Mitch is one of those people. He is a person who I look towards as an example of how to lead my life.
The second is Jeff Whitten. Jeff and I started this website together after the 1999 season. Quite frankly, the site would never have existed without Jeff*s abilities. It has become more than either of us could have imagined. While Jeff*s commitment to his family did not allow him to stay on the same path as I could, he will always be part of this website and I will always appreciate him for the adventures this site has allowed me encounter.
Facebook and other social media will allow me to stay connected to most of these people, but it is not the same as seeing them in person and I wanted to let them all know their friendships have made a lasting impression.
Other Notes from Last Week
- CSU-Pueblo was able to down Colorado Mesa 30-24 in a hard fought contest at home. Looking at the remaining schedule, it looks like the Thunderwolves could finish 9-1 on the season. After missing the playoffs last year, it looks like the team is well on its way to a high seed this year.
- Slippery Rock narrowly defeated California in overtime, maintaining a three-way tie for first in the PSAC West (IUP and Mercyhurst) and matching IUP*s overall record. The Rock will have a chance to ruin Mercyhurst*s undefeated PSAC record this week, setting up what might be the game of the year the next week with IUP.
- Arkansas Tech fell from the ranks of the undefeated, leaving Southeastern Oklahoma as the only undefeated team in the GAC. It would be advantageous for SEOSU to run the table as there is a high likelihood of a bunch of one-loss teams in SR3. It could be a huge mess come playoff time and an undefeated record could mean a home game and a bye rather than a first-round road game.
Week Six
West Florida and Mississippi College Agree to Game Change
As a result of a potential hurricane predicted to make landfall on the Florida panhandle this weekend, the two teams have agreed to move their game to Friday night.
A late schedule change is tough on football players and coaches. They are used to routine, and this late notice throws that routine off schedule.
This is the second West Florida game to be affected by weather. Their game against Midwestern State was cancelled earlier in the year.
The Argos are 3-1 on the season after their unlikely win against Florida Tech last week.
Top 25 Games
This is an exceptionally great week of games. Not only could some conference races be decided for all intents and purposes, but we should have a little clearer picture of the way things could play out, even though this weekend marks the exact middle of the football regular season.
No. 21 West Alabama at No. 14 Delta State
These are the two remaining undefeated teams in the GSC. West Alabama is finally ranked after looking very strong against Division II opponents. Their only loss is the FCS Samford.
Delta State has been the most impressive GSC team so far this season, with a non-conference wins over Tarleton State and Chowan and an impressive GSC victory over West Georgia. The Statesmen were not happy with their 30-17 win over winless Mississippi College last week, but there is no doubt they will not be looking past this week*s opponent.
UWA has been averaging 47 points per game against D2 teams. Delta is giving up only 14.6 per game.
No. 16 California at No. 3 IUP
California does not have a chance to catch its breath after last week*s overtime loss to Slippery Rock.
The Vulcans face the risk of starting the season 4-0 and then being virtually knocked out of the playoffs two weeks later.
The 2017 IUP Hawks appear to be the best team they have had in a long time. After a narrow victory over a very strong Ashland team to open the season, the team has outscored its opponents by almost 37 points per game.
No. 17 Winona State at No. 4 Sioux Falls
With the loss of coach Jed Stugart to Lindenwood and the defection of a few players, the expectations in Sioux Falls were subdued versus the last few years.
But coach Jon Anderson and running back Max Mickey have defied the expectations and are one of 20 undefeated teams in D2. Mickey is currently ranked second in Division II, averaging 174.6 yards rushing per game.
The running game has helped bolster a defense that is only giving up 204 yards and 6.2 points per game.
Before former NCC schools like Augustana and Minnesota State joined the NSIC, Winona State was the premier program in the conference. But the Warriors have not made the playoffs since 2007 and experienced a sub-.500 record in 2015.
With a 5-0 record, Tom Sawyer has the Warriors are off to their best start since 2003. Winona plays stingy defense as well, giving up only 11 points per game.
Whoever wins what should be a low scoring game will be in a great position to make the playoffs, but with Minnesota State still remaining on the schedule of both teams, the NSIC race is a long way from decided.
No. 2 Texas A&M-Commerce at No. 11 Midwestern State
This is likely to be the game of the year in the Lone Star Conference.
In spite of the playoff run West Texas made in 2012, I thought the 2011 Mdiwestern State team was the one most able to win a national championship.
Current Commerce coach Colby Carthel was the defensive coordinator on that WT team and it is quite possible he learned something from the 2011 MSU team while constructing his current team.
TAMUC is currently #13 in the country in total defense (269) and #5 in scoring defense (10.5). These are numbers that indicate a defense capable of winning a national championship.
If the Lions are going to be the LSC*s best title contender since 2011, they will need to run the football more effectively. Rushing for 94 yards a game and only 3.7 yards per carry could spell doom in the playoffs.
While MSU is doing a good job holding opponents out of the endzone (#11/14.3ppg), they are giving up a lot more yards than a Bill Maskill team typically does (#89/377ypg). The Mustang offense is as good as ever, but this year*s team does not seem as strong as the 2011 version.
The winner of this game will likely win the LSC and could be the top seed in the SR4 playoffs.
No. 20 Humboldt State at No. 18 Central Washington
This will be the game of the year in the GNAC, version-one. As detailed before, these teams have to face each other twice each year.
The only thing that needs to be written about this game is that it is a classic offense versus defense matchup.
Mailbag
[Q] What does it take to get UWA ranked in ANY D2 poll? Do we have to win the NC to get ranked? And UNA is still ranked, WOW! First time ever I have been disappointed in D2Football.com website .
[A] Since the email was sent, West Alabama has obviously been ranked. They are this week*s No. 21 team in the D2Football.com Poll.
Personally, I would have ranked them sooner than the poll did but I do not vote in the poll. In addition, there were 24 undefeated teams remaining in Division II before last week while many teams with high preseason expectations, like Grand Valley, Ashand, Ferris State, Central Missouri, and CSU-Pueblo had only one loss.
At this point in the season it is sometimes a numbers game. While I do not like the poll to be reflective of standings rather than opinion, not everyone who votes shares my opinion.
If a team performed poorly but did not lose, some people will not drop that team. I am not of that opinion because it gives too much control/influence to the preseason polling.
One other thing I would like to point out again. The poll is composed of voters throughout the country and most of them are not staff members of D2Football.com. So in spite of the fact that the poll is published by the website, it does not mean that it is the official opinion of the website. Instead, it acts as the AP/Media poll for Division II.
Contact
Feel free to contact Bob at with any comments or criticisms or if you have a question you would like answered in the Mailbag.