Precaps for the first round games in Super Region Four, and information on the two teams that have byes, following this cleverly-placed jump device:

6 Abilene Christian (8-2) at 3 Washburn (9-2)
Yager Stadium, Topeka KS, 1pm ET
Video available via B2LiveTV. Audio available via StreamAudio and KULL. Live Stats available via Sidearm.
Series: Abilene Christian leads 1-0 (34-26 on 9/4/2010 at Washburn).

Abilene Christian Wildcats

Location: Abilene TX
Conference: Lone Star
Colors: Purple and White
Playoff appearances: 6, 3-5 (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011; plus NAIA 1977)
Coach: Chris Thomsen (7th year, 51-20)
Key games: 23-17 loss to then #4 North Alabama on 9/17; 51-35 win over Western Oregon on 10/1; 28-18 win over then #17 West Texas A&M on 10/15; 70-28 loss to then #12 Midwestern State on 10/22
Offense: 36.1 ppg, 490.0 ypg
Defense: 27.2 ppg, 424.7 ypg
Passing offense: 333.2 ypg
Passing defense: 283.3 ypg
Rushing offense: 156.8 ypg
Rushing defense: 141.4 ypg
Turnover margin: +4
Key players: QB Mitchell Gale (60.2%, 3317 yds, 24 TD, 6 INT), RB Daryl Richardson (123-693, 69.3 ypg, 10 TD), WR Taylor Gabriel (58-869, 86.9 ypg, 8 TD, 1 PR for TD), K Morgan Lineberry (13-16, 12-13 inside 50), DE Aston Whiteside (6 sacks, 12.5 TFL)
Other notes: They’ll throw all over the place, with enough rushing to keep you honest. They give up a ton of yards through the air, though, although they do stiffen up in the red zone. An 0-2 record against this year’s playoff field is cause for concern, though.

Washburn Ichabods

Location: Topeka KS
Conference: Mid-America IAA
Colors: Blue and White
Playoff appearances: 3, 0-2 (2005, 2007, 2011; also 3-3 in three NAIA appearances prior to joining the NCAA)
Coach: Craig Schurig (10th year, 71-43)
Key games: 41-20 win over Missouri Western on 9/22; 52-28 loss to then #6 Northwest Missouri State on 10/22; 43-25 win at then #2 Pittsburg State on 11/5; 39-21 loss to Central Missouri on 11/12
Offense: 38.9 ppg, 497.6 ypg
Defense: 22.5 ppg, 349.1 ypg
Passing offense: 333.2 ypg
Passing defense: 218.8 ypg
Rushing offense: 164.5 ypg
Rushing defense: 130.3 ypg
Turnover margin: +9
Key players: QB Dane Simoneau (60.3%, 3449 yds, 34 TD, 10 INT), RB Justin Cooper (200-1043, 94.8 ypg, 13 TD), WR DeJuan Beard (58-965, 87.7 ypg, 15 TD), DE Dakota Palan-Johnson (12.5 TFL)
Other notes: K Jeremy Linn doesn’t have a lot of range, but when Washburn gets into the Red Zone, they’re going to score at least three unless you force a turnover. Simoneau, a four-year starter, is steady and experienced, although still a little prone to untimely picks. But when you’ve got a QB with almost 3500 yards passing and a 1000-yard rusher, you can afford a mistake here and there. But their two losses were both horrific, though the win at Pittsburg State was redemptive.

Jon’s Prediction:
Washburn 44, Abilene Christian 21. Here’s the thing. On paper, they look very similar. But Abilene gives up a lot more yards, and more to the point, Abilene doesn’t play in the MIAA. Yeah, Washburn got shelled by Northwest; Abilene’s not Northwest. They’re also not Pittsburg.

5 Northwest Missouri State (9-2) at 4 Missouri Western (9-2)
Spratt Stadium, Saint Joseph MO, 1pm ET
Video available via B2LiveTV. Audio available via KFEQ and StretchInternet. Live Stats available via Missouri Western.
Series: Northwest Missouri State leads 21-11 (last: 31-28 Missouri Western, 11/5/2011 at Missouri Western)

Northwest Missouri State Bearcats

Location: Maryville MO
Conference: Mid-America IAA
Colors: Green and White
Playoff appearances: 16, 32-12, 3 titles (1984, 1989, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)
Coach: Adam Dorrel (1st year, 9-2)
Key games: 38-35 loss to then #15 Pittsburg State in Kansas City on 10/1; 38-20 win at then #19 Central Missouri on 10/8; 52-28 win over then #3 Washburn on 10/22; 31-28 loss at then #25t Missouri Western on 11/5
Offense: 53.8 ppg, 521.4 ypg
Defense: 20.3 ppg, 351.6 ypg
Passing offense: 293.3 ypg
Passing defense: 227.4 ypg
Rushing offense: 228.1 ypg
Rushing defense: 124.3 ypg
Turnover margin: +10
Key players: QB Trevor Adams (64.9%, 1831 yds, 17 TD, 8 INT), backup QB Blake Christopher (69.4%, 1369 yds, 11 TD, 2 INT), RB James Franklin (152-989, 86.2 ypg, 19 TD), RB Jordan Simmons (107-778, 70.7 ypg, 14 TD, 1 PR for TD, 2 KR for TD), WR Tyler Shaw (34-801, 72.8 ypg, 23.6 ypc, 9 TD), DB Bryce Enyard (6 INT, 1 TD)
Other notes: I really shouldn’t have to explain Northwest too much. They’ve lost two games, each by a field goal away from home. The rest of the way, they’ve just bushwacked everyone. The problem, if you want to term it as such, is that the two of the three possible teams standing between them and the semifinals are the two teams that beat them, but that’s hardly an obstacle when you average over 500 yards of offense, is it?

Missouri Western Griffons

Location: Saint Joseph MO
Conference: Mid-America IAA
Colors: Black and Western Gold
Playoff appearances: 3, 0-2 (2006, 2010, 2011)
Coach: Jerry Partridge (15th year, 112-61)
Key games: 34-7 loss to Pittsburg State on 9/1; 23-6 win over then #12 Central Missouri on 9/10; 41-20 loss to then #8 Washburn on 9/22; 31-28 win over then #3 Northwest Missouri State on 11/5
Offense: 36.1 ppg, 409.8 ypg
Defense: 19.6 ppg, 344.6 ypg
Passing offense: 155.8 ypg
Passing defense: 211.4 ypg
Rushing offense: 254.0 ypg
Rushing defense: 133.3 ypg
Turnover margin: +6
Key players: QB Travis Partridge (55.1%, 1604 yds, 17 TD, 11 INT), RB Michael Hill (244-1240, 112.7 ypg, 8 TD), KR Tarrell Downing (1 PR, 1 KR for TD), K Greg Zuerlein (20-21, long 58, 14-14 outside 30, 6-6 outside 50), DB Jeremy Weston (5 INT), DL David Bass (14.5 sacks, 20 TFL), DL Ben Pister (8.5 sacks, 13.5 TFL), DL Austin Baska (6 sacks, 11.5 TFL)
Other notes: Western relied on their defense to get their biggest win of the year, and even then it was a near thing. They’ve already beaten Northwest once, so it’s possible they’ll do so again, but they’re not getting any further.

Jon’s Prediction:
Northwest Missouri State 35, Missouri Western 27. Yes, MWSU won the earlier matchup. It’s not like Northwest has never gotten revenge before, and we’re talking about a team that may still actually be the best team in Division II in terms of talent. Just as a note, the two teams met in the first round of last year’s playoffs as well, with Northwest taking a 28-24 win from the visiting Griffs.

The byes:

2 Pittsburg State (10-1)

Pittsburg State Gorillas

Location: Pittsburg KS
Conference: Mid-America IAA
Colors: Crimson and Gold
Playoff appearances: 17, 20-15, 1 title (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2011, plus 6 NAIA playoff appearances prior to joining NCAA)
Coach: Tim Beck (2nd year, 16-7)
Key games: 34-7 win at Missouri Western on 9/1; 38-35 win over then #1 Northwest Missouri State on 10/1 in Kansas City; 43-25 loss to then #9 Washburn on 11/5
Offense: 40.7 ppg, 451.7 ypg
Defense: 20.0 ppg, 305.5 ypg
Passing offense: 180.5 ypg
Passing defense: 186.5 ypg
Rushing offense: 271.2 ypg
Rushing defense: 119.0 ypg
Turnover margin: +4
Key players: QB Zac Dickey (64.6%, 1464 yds, 10 TD, 6 INT, 142-801 rushing, 80.1 ypg, 10 TD), RB Briceton Wilson (148-741, 74.1 ypg, 7 TD), WR John Brown (40-744, 74.4 ypg, 8 TD, 1 PR for TD, 1 KR for TD, 14-419 on KO returns, 29.9 ypr), DL Gus Toca (9 sacks, 12 TFL)
Other notes: The Gorillas rely on Dickey for most of their offense, with Wilson keeping defenses honest. The PSU defense is stout, although a strong passing offense can give them trouble.

1 Midwestern State (11-0)

Midwestern State Mustangs

Location: Wichita Falls TX
Conference: Lone Star
Colors: Maroon and Gold
Playoff appearances: 4, 1-3 (2004, 2006, 2009, 2011)
Coach: Bill Maskill (10th year, 80-31; 93-39 overall including two years at Southeast Missouri State)
Key games: 44-38 win over then #16 Texas A&M-Kingsville on 9/24; 70-28 win over then #9 Abilene Christian on 10/22; 35-21 win over then #20 West Texas A&M on 11/5
Offense: 50.4 ppg, 548.2 ypg
Defense: 21.9 ppg, 357.1 ypg
Passing offense: 221.0 ypg
Passing defense: 255.9 ypg
Rushing offense: 327.2 ypg
Rushing defense: 101.2 ypg
Turnover margin: -1
Key players: QB Brandon Kelsey (68.9%, 1868 yds, 16 TD, 9 INT, 96-902 rushing, 90.2 ypg, 10.1 ypc, 11 TD), RB Keidrick Jackson (126-860, 86.0 ypg, 17 TD), RB Jimmy Pipkin (53-655, 72.8 ypg, 12.6 ypc, 7 TD), FB Lester Bush (117-558, 55.8 ypg, 12 TD), DE Kevin Birdow (4.5 sacks, 12 TFL)
Other notes: A team that uses the pass to keep you honest so they can run the ball down your throat, but is still effective enough at passing that if they had 150 ypg less, they’d still outgain you. They’ve only had one close call all year, but they’re likely to have two epic games to survive to get to the semifinals.