Two of the top seeds fell, and only one regional final will feature 1vs2. Scores, SID recaps, updated standings, and this week’s schedule after the jump.
CENTRAL:
#1 WINSTON-SALEM STATE 35, #5 California (PA) 28
Thanks to the chaos in Super Region 4, Winston-Salem State is the only remaining unbeaten in D-II. They’ll host New Haven on Saturday.
Also on the docket for the CIAA this week is the Pioneer Bowl in Columbus GA, pitting Johnson C. Smith against Miles from the SIAC.
GREAT AMERICAN:
season complete
GREAT LAKES IAC:
#6 WAYNE STATE (MI) 38, #2 Nebraska-Kearney 26
Wayne State went on the road and notched an upset for the second week in a row, crushing a turnover-plagued UNK. They’ll head back to the wintry wastes of Minnesota on Saturday to face Minnesota-Duluth.
GREAT LAKES FOOTBALL:
Season complete.
GREAT NORTHWEST:
Carroll (MT) 17, AZUSA PACIFIC 14
Incoming member Azusa Pacific had control of the game until the final few minutes, when Carroll surged back and ended their season — and the GNAC season with it.
GULF SOUTH:
#1 DELTA STATE 42, #5 NORTH ALABAMA 14
(North Alabama SID recap)
Delta State left nothing to chance, outright burying the Lions early and never looking back. Saturday, the Fighting Okra will host North Greenville in the quarterfinals.
LONE STAR:
#5 Northwest Missouri State 38, #1 MIDWESTERN STATE 31 (OT)
Midwestern and Northwest traded rather significant leads, each team mounting comebacks; in the end, it took overtime to settle, and Midwestern failed to score on their possession.
LOWER KANZA BOWL: WEST TEXAS A&M 26, Central Missouri 7
On Sunday in Topeka, West Texas A&M easily handled Central Missouri in the Kanza Bowl, and with that ends the Lone Star season.
MID-AMERICA:
#2 PITTSBURG STATE 31, #3 WASHBURN 22
(video highlights available in game recap)
(Washburn SID recap)
Pittsburg spotted Washburn nine points, then stormed back to bury the Ichabods and avenge their only loss of the season. The Gorillas will now host a game they hadn’t expected to when Northwest Missouri State visits this week.
#5 NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE 38, #1 Midwestern State 31 (OT)
A defensive hold in the first overtime was the Bearcats’ key to a quarterfinal meeting with their bitter rivals from Pittsburg on Saturday.
LOWER KANZA BOWL: West Texas A&M 26, CENTRAL MISSOURI 7
The Mules never led, falling to West Texas A&M on Sunday in Topeka. Failure to score from within the Buffaloes five doomed the Mules.
Northeastern State, who will become a full member of the conference next year, faces Minnesota State-Mankato in the Mineral Water Bowl on Saturday in Excelsior Springs MO.
NORTHEAST TEN:
#2 NEW HAVEN 44, #3 Kutztown 37
In a back-and-forth contest, New Haven finally pulled away late. They’ll travel to Winston-Salem State on Saturday for the quarters.
NORTHERN SUN:
#4 MINNESOTA-DULUTH 24, #1 Colorado State-Pueblo
The defending champions made a statement, knocking off the #1 team in the country. They’ll now actually HOST the quarterfinals, entertaining Wayne State (MI).
PENNSYLVANIA:
#2 New Haven 44, #3 KUTZTOWN 37
The Golden Bears led, but New Haven poured coal into the engine and pulled away late.
#1 Winston-Salem State 35, #5 CALIFORNIA (PA) 28
The Vulcans got behind 14-0, and just couldn’t quite catch up.
And with that, the PSAC season comes to a close.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN:
#4 Minnesota-Duluth 24, #1 COLORADO STATE-PUEBLO 21
The top team in the country had the misfortune of not scoring last in a back-and-forth contest.
#6 Wayne State (MI) 38, #2 NEBRASKA-KEARNEY 26
The Lopers’ final game as a member of the RMAC was a disaster, as five first-half turnovers buried Kearney in a hole they couldn’t dig themselves out of despite a valiant second-half attempt to do just that.
Suddenly, and surprisingly, the RMAC season ends.
SOUTH ATLANTIC:
#3 North Greenville 58, #2 MARS HILL 32
Mars Hill got jumped on hard, and North Greenville never let up. Even a late surge was only enough to narrow the lead to 26 points, although Jonas Randolph did set the SAC career rushing record in the loss. The SAC closes the books on a very strange 2011.
SOUTHERN IAC:
TURKEY DAY CLASSIC: Alabama State (FCS) 30, Tuskegee 21
(link includes video)
Tuskegee gave the Hornets all they could handle in the annual meeting of cross-divisional rivals, but Alabama State prevailed.
Saturday, Miles will conclude the SIAC season by traveling to Columbus GA to face the CIAA’s Johnson C. Smith in the Pioneer Bowl.
WEST VIRGINIA:
Season complete.
INDEPENDENTS:
#3 NORTH GREENVILE 58, #2 Mars Hill 32
North Greenville has now scored 123 points in two playoff games after once again plowing their opponent. This week, they’ll attempt to make the ultimate statement of domination in the south when they travel to Delta State.
Mary Hardin-Baylor 49, McMURRY 20
McMurry wrapped up their remaining business in Division III, giving up 21 unanswered points in the final 20 minutes to lose their second-round playoff contest.