Notes on the quarterfinal round of the NAIA playoffs and previews and predictions for the semifinals are after the jump. Please note: the full recaps I’ve been writing will not appear from this point forward. Real life interferes, and frankly I feel as though I’m just digesting a box score. I’d rather talk about the game. I came to this realization last weekend, but forged ahead on FCS and D-II for continuity’s sake; realizing that time was catching up made the decision for me.
1 Marian (IN) 49, 11 Saint Francis (IL) 7
at Saint Vincent Health Field, Indianapolis IN; attendance 2475
Marian never had a drive last longer than 3:43, relying on quick strikes and four interceptions to annihilate Saint Francis.
It’s almost not even worth recounting. Julian Williams scored on 37 and 40 yard passes from Adam Weise, and John Hasty added a 47-yard TD reception. Tevin Lake, who had 176 yards on the day, scored on runs of 9, 24, and 1 yard, and Clifford Brown scored on a 2-yard run in garbage time. E.J. White found Desmond Page for an 11-yard touchdown pass to finally get Saint Francis on the board with 1:38 to go in the game. It was the first passing touchdown scored on Marian all season. Take note.
My pre-game prediction: Marian 34, Saint Francis (IL) 14. Undersold it a bit. Total domination.
5 Saint Xavier 29, 4 MidAmerica Nazarene 14
at Pioneer Stadium, Olathe KS; attendance unreported
Saint Xavier stifled the Pioneers’ rushing attack, and six turnovers led to far more than the margin of victory.
The Cougars struck first, Jimmy Coy finding Wes Gastel from nine yards out midway through the first quarter, with the PAT being missed. After each team failed to get anywhere twice, Xavier punted, but Brande Griffin fumbled on the return and Clayton Fejedel came up with it for the Cougars. Nine plays later, Coy hit Corey Wennmache to put SXU up 13-0. After another trade of possessions, the Pioneers got on the board on a one-yard James Tillman run which followed just a couple of plays after a 52-yard completion from Tyler Herl to Juan Redmond. The Cougars turned it over on downs in Pioneer territory, but three plays later Ashford Johnson fumbled at the end of a 16-yard run, and Xavier recovered at their own 35. As the clock ticked zero for the half, Tom Lynch missed a 35-yard field goal, and the Cougars took a 13-7 lead into the locker room.
The Pioneers drove deep, and on first and goal from the 10, Herl hit Redmond at the one, but the ball was forced loose and recovered in the end zone by the Cougars. The remainder of the quarter was punt after punt, save for one turnover on downs by Saint Xavier. The fourth quarter began in much the same fashion, but on the first play of MidAmerica’s second drive, Herl connected with Austin Conyers for a 65-yard score and took the lead. The Cougars came right back, however, Coy finding Gastel for a 23-yard score in five plays. The Pioneers then fumbled the ensuing kickoff, giving Saint Xavier possession at the 21; five plays later, Lynch hit an 18-yard field goal.
The fourth quarter was half over, but with five and half minutes left, Herl was intercepted by Jacob Ghinazzi at the Pioneer 35, and Ghinazzi returned it for a score. Now desperate, the Pioneers tried to get the score back, but Herl was again picked off by Ghinazzi at midfield, and the Cougars were able to run out all but 30 seconds of the clock.
For Saint Xavier, Coy was 24-38 for 229 yards and three scores. Nick Pesek ran for 80 yards on 25 carried, and Gastel had eight catches for 81 yards and two touchdowns. For the Pioneers, Herl was 16-30 for 214 yards with a touchdown and two picks, with Austin Conyers hauling in five passes for 98 yards and a score, and Redmond had five catches for 81. MANU only managed 68 net rushing yards on the day.
My pre-game prediction: Saint Xavier 40, MidAmerica Nazarene 24. It’s always interesting when you basically get the margin right and the teams right, but you’re still off by 21 points. Both teams just performed better defensively than they had over the course of the season.
Next up:
5 Saint Xavier (12-1) at 1 Marian (IN) (12-0)
Saint Vincent Health Field, Indianapolis IN, 1pm ET
Video available via Livestream. Audio available via WXAV and WSPM. Live stats available via DakStats.
Series: Saint Xavier leads 4-1 (last: 11/5/2011, Marian 27-9 at Marian)
Jon’s Prediction:
Marian 33, Saint Xavier 20. It’s one of those games that won’t feel that close. Marian already stifled the Cougars on the same field a month ago. I figure Xavier will do a little better (teams usually do), but not enough to matter.
2 Carroll (MT) 17, 8 Azusa Pacific 14
at Nelson Stadium, Helena MT; attendance unreported
A clock-killing final drive allowed Carroll to take the lead for the first time in the contest with under two minutes to play, and once again — for the final time — the Saints ended Azusa’s season.
Azusa struck first, scoring on a five-yard Johnell Murphy run on their first possession. Carroll responded quickly, going 57 yards on seven plays before Chance Demarais scored from 14 yards out. But Azusa would find the end zone again before the end of the quarter, with Terrel Watson crashing in from the three with two minutes remaining.
From that point, Carroll’s defense completely stifled the Cougars. Midway through the second quarter, Tom Yaremko hit a 41-yard field goal to bring Carroll within four, and the teams settled into a brutal defensive grind.
It wasn’t until late in the game that things got moving for someone. Carroll took over at their own 22 with 10:16 to go, and began pushing their way downfield. After an 18-play drive which consumed 8:25, Demarais finally dove over the line for a 1-yard score to put Carroll in front. John van der Raadt tried to get Azusa back downfield, but was picked off by Joe Dunning, and Carroll was able to kill the clock.
Both Murphy and Demarais had 128 yards rushing, oddly, Murphy on 13 carries and Demarais on 30. Neither team was able to get anything going through the air.
My pre-game prediction: Carroll (MT) 33, Azusa Pacific 30. No… no, it wasn’t like that at all, was it? I’ll take credit for getting the right team and the margin almost right, though!
3 Georgetown (KY) 26, 9 Saint Francis (IN) 14
at Toyota Stadium, Georgetown KY; attendance 3337
Georgetown scored 14 third-quarter points to extend their lead beyond the reach of the Cougars.
The only score of the first half was a 31-yard Alex Kreimer field goal late in the second quarter. Before that, however, Saint Francis squandered a golden opportunity. With 3rd and goal on the Georgetown two-yard line, Antoin Campbell gained a yard, but then lost two on fourth down to give possession back to the Tigers.
On Georgetown’s first possession of the second half, the Cougars forced a three-and-out, but Aaron Knight fumbled the punt. The Tigers capitalized, scoring two plays later on a 26-yard pass from Neal Pawsat to Rashad Mason. The teams traded punts, then Saint Francis was stuck facing fourth and one from their own 14. They went for it, and lost a yard; Pawsat then immediately found Chris Gohman for a 13-yard score to put the Tigers up 17-0. Saint Francis responded with a 7-play drive which ended with a 12-yard Frank Wolfe TD run; Georgetown then moved to midfield before the quarter ended.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, the Tigers got that score back and all but buried the Cougars when Pawsat hit Rob Maden for a 46-yard score. It almost got out of hand then, as Justin Boser completed a pass to Aaron Knight at the 20, but Zach Goebel forced a fumble which Brandon Lawson recovered for the Tigers. However, on 2nd and goal from the six, Pawsat was intercepted by Brody Kalbaugh. The teams traded punts, and then Boser hit Koby Frye for a 24-yard score with 7:27 left; an onside kick attempt by the Cougars was recovered by Georgetown, and they proceeded to murder the clock. With 2:41 to go, Georgetown turned the ball over on downs at the Cougar 14; three plays later Boser was sacked in the end zone. After the free kick, Georgetown killed what was left of the clock.
Pawsat was “only” 14-22 for 179 yards, but had three TDs (and a pick). Logan Osborne had 54 yards on 14 carries, and Zach Sowder added 52 on 11. Maden caught three balls for 65 yards and a score; Mason had three catches for 64 and a score. For Saint Francis, Boser was 14-28 for 127 yards with a TD and a pick. Wolfe had 68 yards on 12 carries, and a touchdown.
My pre-game prediction: Georgetown 31, Saint Francis (IN) 28. Saint Francis didn’t really play up to their ability in this game, although you can obviously blame a good bit of that on the Georgetown defense.
Next up:
3 Georgetown (KY) (12-0) at 2 Carroll (MT) (12-1)
Nelson Stadium, Helena MT, 2pm ET
Video feed available via Livestream. Audio available via KBLL. Live stats available via DakStats.
Series:
Jon’s Prediction:
Carroll (MT) 21, Georgetown (KY) 17. Really, a standard Carroll contest against a strong foe. There won’t be a lot of scoring, and Carroll will manage to come out on top.