A ton of offense marked the first round of the playoffs, and while division bullies Grand Valley and Northwest Missouri advanced on Saturday, the other two #3 seeds bit the dust. Details on the action and previews of second-round matches after the jump.

Super Region 1
(6)Bloomsburg 28, at (3)California (PA) 24
Things looked grim for Bloomsburg (10-2) a week ago; they’d lost the PSAC State Game, and it appeared as though they might have lost star running back Franklyn Quiteh to injury. Fortunately for the Huskies, Quiteh was able to play, and came through with 141 yards and two touchdowns to help Bloomsburg upset the Vulcans, who finish the season at 10-2. Quiteh, a redshirt freshman who was expected to be a third-down back this season, is D-II’s leading rusher and a Harlon Hill finalist. He needs 117 yards next week to eclipse the 2,000 yard mark on the season.

at (4)Shepherd 40, (5)Shaw 6
Shepherd (10-1) got 145 rushing yards from Tommy Addison and another 106 from Nate Hoyte as they exorcised their frustrations over losing their unbeaten season in the season finale upset loss to Glenville. The game looked as though it might be a tight defensive contest early; the scoreboard remained unblemished until the Rams took a 3-0 lead 17 minutes into the game, and at the half Shepherd only led 10-0. The Bear defense wore down in the second half, however, and Shepherd was able to start piling on the points. Shaw closes the season 9-3.

Semifinals:
Shepherd will travel to Kutztown (10-1), and both teams are explosive offensively, so I’d look for the scoreboard to spin fairly frequently. Bloomsburg will visit Mercyhurst (9-2) for the second time in three weeks and hope for a different result this time.

Super Region 2
(6)North Alabama 43, at (3)Valdosta State 20
If you were expecting a repeat of the bizarre 5-0 game from October, this outcome was probably a surprise. UNA forced seven Valdosta turnovers, including four in the first quarter to help the Lions jump out to a 26-7 lead after one quarter. Valdosta ends the season 8-3.

at (4)Wingate 63, (5)Morehouse 41
Wingate (9-2) made the most of their first-ever appearance in the D-II playoffs, racking up 614 yards to overpower Morehouse. The Bulldogs were led by QB Cody Haffly, who launched seven touchdown passes and amassed 477 yards in the air. Wingate actually trailed the Maroon Tigers 17-7 at the end of the first quarter, partially as a result of a 39-yard fumble recovery by Morehouse’s Mykel Green. From that point on, though, it was all Wingate. Morehouse finishes with an 8-3 record.

Semifinals:
Wingate is going to have to overcome their primary problem — falling behind early — on Saturday, because I really don’t think that’s going to fly against Albany State (10-0). As for North Alabama, they’re going to have to make a second trip to Delta State (8-3). The first visit a month ago was not a hospitable one, as the Statesmen mugged UNA 31-7. However, after what the Lions did this week, I’m not sure the previous meeting will be very indicative.

Super Region 3
at (3)Grand Valley State 35, (6)Colorado Mines 13
Things were never in doubt here, as the Lakers (11-1) took control early. Defense was the key, as the Orediggers were held to -56 yards rushing, and you’re just not going to win a playoff game when you lose over a yard every time you try to run the ball. Colorado Mines completes their season with a 9-3 record.

at (4)St. Cloud State 42, (5)Hillsdale 28
In a game which see-sawed early, St. Cloud (10-2) pulled away late to score an euphoric victory in the wake of the salvation of the school’s football program. Dante Steward 153 rushing yards for the Huskies, while Hillsdale was handicapped by the absence of RB Joe Glendening, lost to an achilles injury. Deprived of Glendening’s services, Charger QB Troy Weatherhead lit up the St. Cloud secondary for 400 yards (208 to WR Andre Holmes) and four TDs; 236 of St. Cloud’s 252 passing yards were credited to Huskies WR Fred Williams. Hillsdale ends the season at 9-3.

Semifinals:
St. Cloud’s season is almost certain to come to an end as they run into the #1 team in the country in Minnesota-Duluth (11-0). The two teams met a month ago, also in Duluth, and the Bulldogs ripped the Huskies apart, 40-17. The other contest is much more intriguing, as Grand Valley heads to Augustana (SD) (10-1). It’s hard to say just how good Augie really is; they have not played a non-conference opponent thus far this season, and they also missed Duluth in the conference schedule. That said, their wins over mediocre competition aren’t as eye-popping as one would expect from an elite team, and there’s the matter of their surprising loss to Wayne State (NE), which was a decidedly worse defeat than the one suffered by Grand Valley to Michigan Tech (a team which missed the playoffs themselves by a whisker). I expect Grand Valley — fueled by… well, really, being Grand Valley — will pull off the upset.

Super Region 4
at (3)Northwest Missouri State 28, (6)Missouri Western 24
This was the second time these two conference foes met in Maryville this season, with Northwest winning the first game 42-0 back in October. They really dislike one another — it’s a long story, but it has to do with a proposal in Jefferson City a few years ago to cut down on the number of state colleges, and politicians favoring Western lobbied hard to get Northwest shut down. Of course, Northwest has ruled the roost for years in the MIAA, and has advanced to the Division II championship game in each of the last five years, so this was the expected result. It almost wasn’t, though, as Western surged out to a 17-0 halftime lead. In the second half, Northwest stormed back, beginning with a 46-yard Josh Baker run off a fake punt, as the Bearcats scored four second-half touchdowns while holding Western to 0 yards on the ground after the intermission. Western finishes 8-4.

at (4)Central Missouri 55, (5)West Texas A&M 35
The Mules mugged West Texas in the first half, mixing grinding drives with quick strikes to open a 28-0 lead and headed into the locker room up 35-7. The Buffaloes fought back in the second half, but only won the half 28-20, which wasn’t nearly enough. UCM QB Eric Czerniewski threw for 368 yards and four scores, leading the Mules to their first-ever playoff win. West Texas concludes the season at 8-4.

Semifinals:
Central Missouri will have to hope their offense is as potent next week as it was Saturday, as Abilene Christian averages over 40 points a game. Northwest will travel to Kingsville for a rematch of the season opener for both schools, a 16-7 Kingsville win at Northwest.