PSAC Playoff Preview Round Two
November 28th, 2019 9:00am
PSAC West Week 13 Playoffs Second Round
Last weekend the football seasons ended for two of the four PSAC football programs in action. West Chester dropped a seven point decision to defending regional champions Notre Dame College 31-24. Kutztown survived the upset bid from GMAC Champion Tiffin 33-31. Shepherd ended the season of the Crimson Hawks of IUP in heartbreaking style, scoring the game winning touchdown in the final seconds.
This weekend the PSAC and the commonwealth continue to take center stage as both of the regional semi final matchups emanate from inside her boundaries. Across the country five home teams lost opening round matchups, the biggest upset was Lindenwood who enter their matchup with Quachita Baptist with an 8-3 record upset the undefeated Tigers 41-38. Other games of note, Carson Newman upset CIAA Champion Bowie State 17-9. Central Missouri advanced with a win over the University of Indianapolis 37-27. This weekend on D2Football.com we will have links for all of the matchups under the score tab on the homepage. Many great matchups all across the country this weekend as on sixteen programs remain in the hunt for the national championship.
Super Regional 1 Semi-Final Matchups
#3 Notre Dame College at #2 Kutztown
#5 Shepherd at #1 Slippery Rock
#3 Notre Dame (11-1) (Mountain East Champions) at #2 Kutztown (11-1) (PSAC East Champions)
12:05pm, Andre Reed Stadium, Kutztown PA
- In the first ever matchup between these two clubs comes with a spot in the regional championship on the line. The defending regional champions the Falcons of Notre Dame College make the trip across I80 on this holiday weekend to visit PSAC East Champions Kutztown. Notre Dame dispatched of another PSAC East team last week as they held off the Golden Rams of West Chester 31-24. Kutztown bounced back from PSAC Championship game heartbreak with a thrilling 33-31 victory of Tiffin the Champions of the GMAC in the opening round. Notre Dame has a small edge in scoring offense heading into this game as they are averaging 40.3 points per game and Kutztown 37 points per game. Kutztown has struggled with their kicking game this season only converting two field goals and going 2-6 on the season. Both teams are averaging around fifty yards per game in penalties. This is a matchup of two evenly positioned teams, this game could come down to a missed kick or a timely turnover. The winner of this game will play the winner of Slippery Rock Shepherd matchup. If Shepherd pulls the upset the winner of this game will host the regional title game. The Falcons will lean on D2 all American Jale McLaughlin who enters this week with over 2000 yards rushing on the season. Kutztown has held teams to an average of only 103 yards per game on the ground and if they can hold McLaughlin in check we will have an all PSAC regional title game this season. The pick Kutztown 31 Notre Dame 30
#5 Shepherd (10-2) at #1 Slippery Rock (11-0) (PSAC Champions)
1pm, Milhalik-Thompson Stadium, Slippery Rock PA
- In an all PSAC second round matchup, the Rams represent the PSAC East and the Rock represents the West. The Rock is coming off of the bye week while the Rams are coming into this weekend off of an absolute thrilling victory over the four seed IUP last weekend. IUP scored with under two minutes left to take the lead but the Rams returned the favor with a last second touchdown to retake the lead and complete the upset. Shepherd has a small lead in overall offense but scores about seven points less per game than the Rock. Quarterback Rolland Rivers will look to continue his stellar season for Slippery Rock and push the Rock into the regional championship game next week. Shepherd leads the PSAC in total passing and are third in NCAA D2 with over 340 yards per game. The biggest challenge for shepherd will be containing Rivers when he decides to run the ball. Many teams this year have fallen victim to his running late in games. The pick Slippery Rock 37 Shepherd 30
This weekend Super Regional One has the two most even matched games of any regional. We have four of the most quality programs, and coaching staffs. This weekend we are even more thankful for our schools and the great sport we all enjoy each week in the fall. To everyone not only in the PSAC but all across this great country Happy Thanksgiving, remember what we all have and how lucky we are to be able to enjoy these great games this weekend.
I will be away from my phone this week on game day as it is the opening day of hunting season in Pennsylvania. I will share updates when I can on Friday and Saturday. Have a great weekend and a wonderful and happy thanksgiving.
