The second part of the NAIA first round playoff preview, our final playoff preview piece of the week, featuring the teams in the bottom half of the bracket.

Note that what you would expect to be seed numbers are merely final regular-season poll rankings, as the NAIA doesn’t really seed, and all rounds of the playoffs are scheduled ad hoc.

11 Saint Francis (IL) (9-2) at 6 Morningside (9-1)
Elwood Olsen Stadium, Sioux City IA, 2pm ET
Video available via LiveStream. Audio available via WCSF and KMSC. Live Stats available via DakStats.

Series: first meeting.

Saint Francis Fighting Saints

Location: Joliet IL
Conference: Mid-States (Midwest League)
Colors: Brown and Gold
Playoff appearances: 2, 0-1 (1987, 2011)
Coach: Mike Uremovich (7th year, 32-44)
Key games: 34-30 loss to then #2 Saint Xavier on 9/10; 36-35 win over then #4 William Penn; 24-21 loss at Grand View on 10/29; 30-27 win at FCS Georgia State on 11/5; 21-10 win over then #17 Saint Ambrose on 11/12
Offense: 43.3 ppg, 471.3 ypg
Defense: 15.7 ppg, 245.5 ypg
Passing offense: 213.0 ypg
Passing defense: 137.3 ypg
Rushing offense: 258.3 ypg
Rushing defense: 108.3 ypg
Turnover margin: +7
Key players: QB E.J. White (66.1%, 2113 yds, 31 TD, 11 INT, 126-723 rushing, 65.7 ypg, 2 TD), RB Garen Demery (154-837, 93.0 ypg, 14 TD), WR Lexus Jackson (43-876, 79.6 ypg, 20.4 ypc, 8 TD), LB Adam Tondini (14.5 TFL), LB Drew Tondini (11 TFL), LB Martelle Prince (10 TFL)
Other notes: White’s a precise passer, and has deep threats to lean on, but the bulk of the attack is on the ground. Defensively, however, the Saints are vicious.

Morningside Mustangs

Location: Sioux City IA
Conference: Great Plains
Colors: Maroon and White
Playoff appearances: 8, 7-7 (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)
Coach: Steve Ryan (10th year, 85-29)
Key games: 35-17 win at Valley City State on 9/1; 21-10 win at then #14 Northwestern (IA) on 9/10; 30-23 loss to Nebraska Wesleyan on 9/17; 28-27 win at then #9t Midland on 9/24; 31-16 win over then #13 Doane on 10/8
Offense: 35.7 ppg, 394.8 ypg
Defense: 15.4 ppg, 261.2 ypg
Passing offense: 198.5 ypg
Passing defense: 195.2 ypg
Rushing offense: 196.3 ypg
Rushing defense: 66.0 ypg
Turnover margin: -3
Key players: QB Kyle Nikkel (61.7%, 1265 yds, 17 TD, 8 INT), RB Fred Jones (184-1005, 100.5 ypg, 10 TD), DB Colby Henderson (9 INT, 4 TD), LB Marshall Barney (7.5 sacks, 19 TFL), LB Taylor Johnson (12 TFL)
Other notes: An almost perfectly-balanced attack, and a defense that’s pretty tight, three times more effective against the run than the pass.

Jon’s Prediction:
Saint Francis (IL) 24, Morningside 14. Morningside will limit the Saints’ ground game, but their problem is going to be scoring points. Meanwhile, the Saints can still pass, and that’s Morningside’s weak spot on defense.

13 Benedictine (KS) (9-2) at 3 Georgetown (KY) (10-0)
Toyota Stadium, Georgetown KY, 1:30pm ET
Video available via ILive (pay per view). Audio available via KAIR. Live Stats available via DakStats.

Series: first meeting.

Benedictine Ravens

Location: Atchison KS
Conference: Heart of America
Colors: Black and Red
Playoff appearances: 11, 4-11 (1985, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2011)
Coach: Larry Wilcox (33rd year, 229-125)
Key games: 38-0 win over then #25 Evangel on 10/1; 35-19 win over then #4 Missouri Valley on 10/15; 49-39 loss at then #5 MidAmerica Nazarene on 10/22; 10-7 loss at then #25 Baker on 11/5
Offense: 34.1 ppg, 394.9 ypg
Defense: 11.6 ppg, 242.7 ypg
Passing offense: 192.1 ypg
Passing defense: 145.6 ypg
Rushing offense: 202.8 ypg
Rushing defense: 97.1 ypg
Turnover margin: +16
Key players: QB Bill Noonan (51.6%, 2060 yds, 24 TD, 14 INT), RB Kevin McGrew (119-662, 73.6 ypg, 5 TD), RB Cameron Fore (94-645, 6.9 ypc, 12 TD), DB Ashton Stephens (6 INT, 1 TD), DB Lawrence Haynes (5 INT), DE Jordan Ancar (16 TFL)
Other notes: Snuck into the field by three poll points. Noonan is not the most accurate passer, and prone to interceptions, but does distribute the ball to numerous targets. A two-headed rushing attack gives Noonan room to work. The defense is potent, but vulnerable to top-end offenses.

Georgetown Tigers

Location: Georgetown KY
Conference: Mid-South (East Division)
Colors: Orange, Purple, and Black
Playoff appearances: 17, 22-13, 3 titles (1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011)
Coach: Bill Cronin (15th year, 143-34)
Key games: 21-19 win at then #10 Ottawa on 9/3; 31-14 win over then #10 Cumberlands (KY) on 9/17; 21-14 win over then #18 Shorter on 9/24; 56-27 win over Lindsey Wilson on 11/15
Offense: 37.7 ppg, 412.5 ypg
Defense: 12.8 ppg, 258.3 ypg
Passing offense: 257.6 ypg
Passing defense: 178.3 ypg
Rushing offense: 154.9 ypg
Rushing defense: 80.0 ypg
Turnover margin: +13
Key players: QB Neal Pawsat (63.5%, 1739 yds, 17 TD, 2 INT), WR Chris Gohman (28-587, 21.0 ypc, 4 TD), K Alex Kreimer (7/9, long 40), LB Brock Messina (12 sacks, 10 TFL)
Other notes: Not one rusher on this team has managed to gain 400 yards, yet the team managed to average 155 ypg anyway. It’s the defense that gets things done for Georgetown, both holding the opponent’s running game in check and forcing takeaways.

Jon’s Prediction:
Georgetown 27, Benedictine 20. Georgetown doesn’t blow teams out, but they find a way to win. Benedictine doesn’t get blown out. But Georgetown’s better, and I’ve got to give them the edge here.

9 Saint Francis (IN) (8-2) at 7 Missouri Valley (9-1)
Gregg-Mitchell Field, Marshall MO, 2pm ET
Video available via LiveStream. Audio available via Stretch Internet and WLYY. Live Stats available via DakStats.

Series: first meeting.

Saint Francis Cougars

Location: Fort Wayne IN
Conference: Mid-States (Mideast League)
Colors: Royal Blue and White
Playoff appearances: 12, 18-11 (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011)
Coach: Kevin Donley (14th year, 139-30; overall 254-116-1 including stints at Anderson IN, Georgetown KY, and California PA)
Key games: 34-33 win at Saint Ambrose on 9/10; 42-31 loss to then #1 Saint Xavier on 10/1; 40-13 loss to then #2 Marian on 10/15
Offense: 40.8 ppg, 403.1 ypg
Defense: 21.4 ppg, 268.3 ypg
Passing offense: 246.1 ypg
Passing defense: 159.2 ypg
Rushing offense: 157.0 ypg
Rushing defense: 109.1 ypg
Turnover margin: -8
Key players: QB Justin Boser (59.3%, 1972 yds, 16 TD, 11 INT), RB Frank Wolfe III (86-535, 89.2 ypg, 4 TD), RB Antoin Campbell (94-522, 58.0 ypg, 9 TD), KR Austin Coleman (13-617, 47.5 ypr, 4 TD), DE Rex Drabenstot (8 sacks), LB Brody Kalbaugh (11.5 TFL)
Other notes: It’s got to be rough, being ranked #2 and losing to #1, then two weeks later losing to the team that replaced you at #2. But the Cougars persevered. This is a solid team, but they’re obviously prone to turnovers. Boser can be rattled.

Missouri Valley Vikings

Location: Marshall MO
Conference: Heart of America
Colors: Purple and Orange
Playoff appearances: 9, 7-8 (1974, 1978, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011)
Coach: Paul Troth (10th year, 78-33, 116-51 overall including four years at Si’Tanka-Huron)
Key games: 26-21 win over then #3 MidAmerica Nazarene on 9/10; 38-7 win over then #22 Baker on 9/24; 35-19 loss at then #9 Benedictine (KS) on 10/15
Offense: 40.3 ppg, 397.0 ypg
Defense: 11.8 ppg, 204.7 ypg
Passing offense: 163.5 ypg
Passing defense: 130.7 ypg
Rushing offense: 233.5 ypg
Rushing defense: 74.0 ypg
Turnover margin: +10
Key players: QB Bruce Reyes (55.2%, 1128 yds, 15 TD, 9 INT), RB Keith O’Neal (120-781, 76.6 ypg, 6 TD), RB Nijel Daw (115-625, 69.4 ypg, 4 TD), DB/PR Tyler Davis (26-336 PR, 1 TD; 6 INT, 1 TD), PR Jonathan Hicks (10-182, 2 TD), DL Richard Wick (6.5 sacks, 14.5 TFL), DL Trey Kampeter (5 sacks, 11 TFL), LB Adam Maher (12 TFL)
Other notes: MVC’s crushing defense is going to be a problem for anyone, although they can be vulnerable against the pass. If they run into a team that can stop their running game, though, it’s going to be a problem.

Jon’s Prediction:
Missouri Valley 34, Saint Francis (IN) 27. This is going to be a tight one. MoVal will force SFIL into the passing game, where Boser’s inaccuracy and tendency to get picked will hurt. But the reverse is equally true. Ultimately, Valley has just a little bit more defense, and home-field advantage to boot.

12 Valley City State (9-1) at 2 Carroll (MT) (10-1)
Nelson Stadium, Helena MT, 2pm ET
Video available via LiveStream. Audio available via KOVC and KBLL. Live Stats available via DakStats.

Series: Carroll leads 2-0 (last: 45-27 at Carroll in 2001)

Valley City State Vikings

Location: Valley City ND
Conference: independent
Colors: Cardinal and Blue
Playoff appearances: 7, 1-6 (1976, 1980, 1988, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2011)
Coach: Dennis McCulloch (15th year, 75-58)
Key games: 35-17 loss to then #5 Morningside on 9/1; 28-26 win at then #7 Dickinson State on 9/10
Offense: 29.5 ppg, 377.4 ypg
Defense: 18.4 ppg, 296.9 ypg
Passing offense: 222.3 ypg
Passing defense: 129.5 ypg
Rushing offense: 155.1 ypg
Rushing defense: 167.4 ypg
Turnover margin: +5
Key players: QB Tommy Zinke (59.8%, 2223 yds, 24 TD, 8 INT), RB A.J. Pfeifer (256-1049, 104.9 ypg, 7 TD), WR LeTheo Proctor (54-872, 16.1 ypc, 10 TD), DB Cody Kilthau (5 INT, 2 TD), DL Jordan Maher (11.5 sacks, 16 TFL)
Other notes: I don’t mean to disparage the Vikings, but they got here by beating the #7 team in the country during the dead period between the pre-season poll and the first regular season poll, when said #7 team went out of the poll altogether because they’d been grossly overrated going in. They coasted through a very weak schedule, and were pulled up the rankings by filling a vacuum. They’re not a bad team by any stretch, but they don’t have what it takes to advance through this field.

Carroll Fighting Saints

Location: Helena MT
Conference: Frontier
Colors: Purple and Gold
Playoff appearances: 20, 36-13, 6 titles (1978, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)
Coach: Mike Van Diest (13th year, 154-21)
Key games: 41-33 loss to Eastern Oregon on 9/10 (lost #1 ranking); 37-21 win over then #22 Montana State-Northern on 10/1; 30-7 win over then #21 Rocky Mountain on 10/15; 31-21 win at then #22 Eastern Oregon on 10/22
Offense: 34.4 ppg, 419.5 ypg
Defense: 16.4 ppg, 268.3 ypg
Passing offense: 175.9 ypg
Passing defense: 193.2 ypg
Rushing offense: 285.6 ypg
Rushing defense: 101.9 ypg
Turnover margin: +9
Key players: QB Dane Broadhead (61.6%, 1643 yds, 23 TD, 5 INT), RB Chance Demarais (242-1422, 142.2 ypg, 14 TD), WR Matt Ritter (59-906, 82.4 ypg, 12 TD), DB Mike Siegersma (6 INT, 1 TD),
Other notes: Carroll is Carroll. Their stats aren’t gaudy, but they play disciplined ball and don’t kill themselves with mistakes. Oh, and they’re the defending champs. They’ve been here.

Jon’s Prediction:
Carroll 28, Valley City State 10. VCSU can make some progress in the air, but in the end Carroll is going to roll over them on the ground. Especially if weather becomes a factor, as it often does in Helena during the playoffs.