The top half of the bracket goes chalk; the bottom is ravaged by upsets. First round recaps and quarterfinal previews follow the jump. (There will be no News and Stuff post for the NAIA this week, as the only real news is the playoff action.)
First Round:
at #1 Sioux Falls 33, #16 Northwestern Oklahoma State 14
Things began badly for the Cougars (11-0) on a miserable day with temperatures in the teens, as their first drive ended with NWOSU’s Chris Jones picking off a Jon Eastman pass and returning it 48 yards for a score. The Rangers, however, would not set off the scoreboard again for another 56 minutes, during which time Sioux Falls reeled off 33 unanswered points and wrapped up their 40th consecutive win. Northwestern concludes the year at 8-3.
at #2 Carroll (MT) 35, #18 Azusa Pacific 21
The Cougars from sunny California would probably have preferred not to open their playoff run in a blizzard, but that’s what they got when they visted Helena. The Saints (11-0) scored on two separate pass plays of 50 yards or more, and on a 76-yard Ryan Egan kickoff return which broke a 21-21 tie in the third quarter, to pull away from Azusa, who finishes the year at 6-4.
at #3 St. Xavier 66, #20 Cumberlands (KY) 19
A third set of Cougars had no trouble at all in their opening game. St. Xavier (12-0) relied on 419 yards and six touchdowns from QB Anthony Kropp, who added one on the ground as well, to steamroll the Patriots in Chicago. Cumberlands ends their season with a 7-4 mark.
at #4 MidAmerica Nazarene 27, #17 Georgetown (KY) 24
The Pioneers (11-0) faced a stern test on the day, trailing the Tigers 24-10 midway through the fourth quarter. A pair of 1-yard touchdown runs by Sean Ransburg, the second coming with three minutes left to play, saved MANU from the upset. Georgetown finishes at 8-3.
#10 St. Francis (IN) 46, at #5 Lindenwood 38
Lindenwood’s final appearance in the NAIA playoffs turned out to be a track meet, as the Lions were upset by the Cougars (lot of Cougars in this tournament). St. Francis (10-1) relied on QB Shaine Tierney, who added 72 rushing yards and four rushing TDs to his 296 yards in the air and one passing TD — the game winner with 22 seconds remaining — to outscore the Lions. Lindenwood, who ends the season 9-2, was led by QB Philip Staback, who threw for 354 and 4 TDs.
#12 McKendree 38, at #6 McPherson 14
McKendree (9-2) rolled up 529 yards of offense and earned head coach Carl Poelker his 200th career victory in a convincing rout of the Kansas champion Bulldogs. RB Jimmy Berezik rumbled for 171 yards, and the Bearcats forced five McPherson turnovers and held the NAIA’s #3 offense to a mere 242 yards. Previously unbeaten McPherson concludes proceedings with a 10-1 record.
at #7 Morningside 38, #9 Dickinson State 17
Dickinson State had not allowed more than 24 points all season, but the Mustangs (10-1) pounded the Blue Hawks for 507 yards of offense in a cruise-control victory. Dickinson bows out at 9-2.
#11 Marian 35, at #8 Ottawa 20
Finally, the Marian Knights (10-2) made it a clean sweep for the MSFA in the first round, coming back from a 20-14 halftime deficit to upset the Braves in Ottawa. Ottawa held that lead despite only 99 yards of offense in the first half to Marian’s 265; the trend continued in the second half, only with actual results to show for it, as Marian finished with 472 yards of offense and secured their first-ever playoff victory. Ottawa packed it in with a 9-2 record.
Second Round:
#12 McKendree (9-2) at #1 Sioux Falls (11-0)
This shouldn’t present a problem for Sioux Falls, although they’ve had trouble running the ball against defenses well-equipped to stop the run, and McKendree fits that bill. This game features two teams which are on their way out the door to D-II.
#11 Marian (10-2) at #2 Carroll (MT) (11-0)
Eventually, every NAIA power has to visit Montana for a playoff game on their way to the top. They also usually lose, and that’s what’s going to happen to Marian here.
#10 St. Francis (IN) (10-1) at #3 St. Xavier (12-0)
An all-MSFA matchup, and the only quarterfinal game featuring teams who’ve already met before in the post-season (St. Francis has won both meetings). Saint X should come out on top, but I wouldn’t stake my retirement on it.
#7 Morningside (10-1) at #4 MidAmerica Nazarene (11-0)
This is the Game of the Week at VSN, and it will be a battle of defenses. Both teams can score, but they’ll struggle to do so in this game. Still, MANU is a clear favorite despite last week’s scare.