One top seed was victimzed by an upset, but in the other three regions the top two seeds remain to fight for a place in the semifinals. Scores, SID recaps, updated standings, and this week’s schedule after the jump.
AMERICAN SOUTHWEST:
1 MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR 49, 5 McMURRY 20
(McMurry SID recap)
McMurry was keeping it close, trailing 28-20 in the third, but UMHB pulled away and sent the War Hawks off to D-II in a hurry. The Cru will now host Wesley on Saturday in the quarterfinals.
CENTENNIAL:
Season complete.
CCIW:
2 Wabash 29, 3 NORTH CENTRAL 28
The CCIW season came to an abrupt and shocking end as Wabash stormed back from a steep deficit to pip the Cardinals with just seconds to go.
EASTERN:
Season complete.
EMPIRE 8:
2 SALISBURY 49, 3 Kean 47 (3OT)
Kean came roaring back late to tie the game and send it into overtime, and it took a failed two-point conversion for Salisbury to escape with the win. Next up for the Seagulls is a trip to Whitewater.
5 SAINT JOHN FISHER 27, 1 Delaware Valley 14
The Cardinals were in control pretty much the whole game as they upset the top-seeded Aggies behind freshman QB Ahmed Hassanien, who was forced to start in place of the injured Ryan Kramer. This week, Fisher travels to Saint Paul to face Saint Thomas in the quarterfinals.
HEARTLAND:
1 Wisconsin-Whitewater 41, 4 FRANKLIN 14
It wasn’t as bad as their earlier meeting, but Franklin was still overpowered by the Warhawks, ending the HCAC season.
IOWA:
Season complete.
LIBERTY:
Season complete.
MICHIGAN:
Season complete.
MIDDLE ATLANTIC:
5 Saint John Fisher 27, 1 DELAWARE VALLEY 14
The MAC season came to an end as Delaware Valley never did get untracked, losing in an upset to the Cardinals.
MIDWEST:
2 Saint Thomas (MN) 38, 6 MONMOUTH (IL) 10
Monmouth hung tough early thanks to failed drives and turnovers, but in the end the Tommies were just too much. The loss brings an end to one of the most successful seasons in Midwest Conference history.
MINNESOTA:
2 SAINT THOMAS (MN) 38, 6 Monmouth (IL) 10
Turnovers and missed chances plagued the Tommies in the second half, but they righted the ship after the break and cruised to a win. They’ll get to host a game they hadn’t counted on now thanks to Saint John Fisher’s upset over top-seeded Delaware Valley.
NEW ENGLAND:
Season complete.
NESCAC:
Season complete.
NEW JERSEY:
2 Salisbury 49, 3 KEAN 47 (3OT)
A heartbreaking defeat for Kean, as they had stormed back from a huge deficit to force overtime. The NJAC season is now complete.
NORTH COAST:
2 WABASH 29, 3 North Central 28
It looked like Wabash was done for, but a furious rally ended with a late score, and the Little Giants are moving to the quarterfinals. They’ll head to Mount Union on Saturday.
NORTHERN:
Season complete.
NORTHWEST:
2 Wesley (DE) 49, 3 LINFIELD 34
The Wildcats will be contemplating this one a long, long time. At the half, they were winning by 20, but gave up 42 unanswered points. That ends the season for the NWC.
OHIO:
It wasn’t an easy win, but it wasn’t difficult either. The Purple Raiders will now host Wabash on Saturday.
OLD DOMINION:
Season complete.
PRESIDENT’S:
Season complete.
SOUTHERN CAC:
Centre hung in there, but ultimately Mount Union was just too much. The loss ends the final season of football for the SCAC, which itself is a serious loss to D-III football.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA:
Season complete.
UNIVERSITY:
Season complete.
UPPER MIDWEST:
Season complete.
USA SOUTH:
Season complete.
WISCONSIN:
1 WISCONSIN-WHITEWATER 41, 4 Franklin 14
No problems whatsoever. Whitewater cruised, and now we’ll see how adept they are at stopping the triple option when Salisbury comes calling on Saturday.
INDEPENDENTS:
2 WESLEY (DE) 49, 3 Linfield 34
Wesley was trailing 27-7 at the half, then came back from the break and went berserk. Saturday, they’ll travel to Mary Hardin-Baylor.