Playoffs! The NAIA

[SWC75]

Here is the field for the 2013 NAIA football playoffs. The first round has already been played so I’m including complete information only for the teams that have moved on to the second round. I’ve included the school name, what state it is in, (if that’s not in the title), with won-loss record, points for and against, who they lost to, if anyone, by what score and when, their ranking, their record in post season tournaments and bowls, what championships, if any, they have won previously.


CUMBERLANDS (Kentucky) 11-0 (531-214) #1, 3-6 (0)

They beat St. Ambrose (Iowa, 7-4) 56-28 in the first round. Quarterback Adam Craig accounted for 7 touchdowns, running for 115 yards and 5 scores in 24 carries and completing 6 of 7 passes for 106 yards and two more scores. This one was a close game most of the way with the Patriots leading by only 35-28 late in the third period until three late touchdowns sealed the deal.


GRAND VIEW (Iowa) 11-0 (409-168) #2, 1-1 (0)

They beat Ottawa (Kansas, 8-4) 38-13 in the first round. The Vikings used a muffed punt and an interception to turn a 7-7- tie into a 24-7 halftime lead and were never headed. Mike Perez rushed for 99 yards and two scores.


CARROLL (Montana) 11-1 (444-193) #3, 39-18-1 (6) Lost to Eastern Oregon 31-35 on 9/28

They beat Georgetown (Kentucky, 7-4) 38-28 in the first round. It was a great game between two perennial NAIA powerhouses, (Georgetown is 24-15 with 3 titles), tied at 21 at the half after the Tigers had leads of 14-0 and 21-6 and tied again going into the fourth quarter at 28. The Saints took the lead for good on a one yard plunge by Dakota Stonehouse, (don’t you love that name?). Two fumbles ended a Georgetown drive and then set up the clinching field goal. Stonehouse completed 14 of 18 passes for 164 yards and 2 scores while running for 70 yards and two more scores.


BAKER (Kansas) 11-1 (431-211) #4, 12-13 (0) Lost to Benedictine, (Kansas) 28-42 on 9/21

They beat Sterling (Kansas, 9-3) 10-7 in the first round. Freshman Clarence Clark kicked a 28 yard field goal as time expired to give Baker its first post season win in 20 years. He’d missed three longer field goals attempts earlier in the game. He’s also a receiver and caught three passes for 118 yards and an 89 yard score late in the first half.


MORNINGSIDE (Iowa) 10-1 (555-192) #5, 11-9 (0) Lost to Northwestern (Iowa) 28-38 on November 9

They beat Rocky Mountain (Montana 8-4) 40-21 in the first round. The Mustangs, the highest scoring team in the country gained 682 yards. They had 347 yards rushing and 338 passing! They led 33-14 at halftime. Not sure why they ‘only’ scored 40 but the box score shows 4 turnovers.


ST. FRANCIS (Indiana) 9-2 (345-215) #6, 21-13 (0) Lost to Grand View 7-23 on 9/28 and Robert Morris, (illinois0 24-28 on 10/26

They beat Faulkner (Alabama, 9-3) 20-13 in the first round. They held on with a late goal line stand. Jake Allen nailed Josh Hollingsworth for a 3 yard loss to stop a 17 play 77 yard drive, (in a snow storm), with 1:39 left. The Cougars led 20-7 at halftime, (in better weather), and gained only 31 second half yards.


MISSOURI VALLEY (Missouri) 9-2 (319-127) #7, 13-11-1 (0) Lost to Ottawa, (Kansas) 6-20 on 9/14 and Baker (Kansas) 10-13 on 10/26.

They beat Northwestern (Iowa, 8-3) 38-13 in the first round. MV broke open a close game, (14-13) at halftime with a 24-0 second half in which their defense allowed only 35 yards. Jarrell Davis scored three times on a 25 yard pass, a 47 yard punt return and a 58 yard pass.


TABOR (Kansas) 10-2 (396-124) #10, 2-3 (0) Lost to Sterling (Kansas) 45-46 on 9/28 and Bethany (Kansas) 17-24 on 11/2

They beat Benedictine (Kansas, 10-2) 14-13 in the first round. Tabor won in dramatic fashion, blocking a PAT with one second left to advance. Dylan Delk, (another great name) broke through to smash Tyler Keenan’s kick to the ground and win the game for his team. They’d outrushed Benedictine 255-90, getting 94 yards and a touchdown from Tyler Davis.


Quarterfinals, (all Saturday):

St. Francis at Cumberlands
Tabor at Grand View
Missouri Valley at Carroll
Morningside at Baker

Comment: The ranks of the NAIA continue to thin. Carroll is the only school in the playoffs that has ever won the title before than they’ve won 6 of them. It’s hard to pick against them. But then, there’s a 7-1 chance it will be somebody else this year. Cumberlands and Morningside seem pretty potent. Lat year’s champ, Marian, is out of it this year.

 

[jekelish]

I was working as a spotter for the TV crew at one of those Carroll victories. Patrick Crayton was the NAIA Player of the Year and was on the opposing team that year (Southwestern Oklahoma). That was a lot of fun. The TV crew was former Pats QB Scott Zolak as the color guy and I THINK (but don't recall) John Sciambi on play by play. If it wasn't Sciambi it was a guy who looked just like him. He was kind of a tool, Zolak seemed like a good dude.

Man that was fun working at the NAIA national office. I got to compile top 25 rankings and helped put together the brackets for the national tournaments. Plus this was my first year out of college, 03-04, and since the national office was only 30 minutes from Lawrence I got to wear my championship shirt around and earn the ire of KU fans.

 

[SWC75]

I was working as a spotter for the TV crew at one of those Carroll victories. Patrick Crayton was the NAIA Player of the Year and was on the opposing team that year (Southwestern Oklahoma). That was a lot of fun. The TV crew was former Pats QB Scott Zolak as the color guy and I THINK (but don't recall) John Sciambi on play by play. If it wasn't Sciambi it was a guy who looked just like him. He was kind of a tool, Zolak seemed like a good dude.

Man that was fun working at the NAIA national office. I got to compile top 25 rankings and helped put together the brackets for the national tournaments. Plus this was my first year out of college, 03-04, and since the national office was only 30 minutes from Lawrence I got to wear my championship shirt around and earn the ire of KU fans.

Could you tell us why the NAIA still exists and what it's future is. It was created by Naismith so that small colleges could compete for championships, too but it seems kind of obsolete these days and they have been bleeding teams to the NCAA for years.