December 24, 2022Today, we are all Mount UnionMount Union is no longer alone at the top. They’re peering through the glass at the champions like everyone else. But as Keith McMillan and Greg Thomas write, perhaps the Division III landscape is forever different, and the next North Central could come from various places.
December 19, 2022'A long five years'In four seasons, plus a COVID year, North Central has gone from a team that had trouble getting past the second round to a program with two national titles and a third Stagg Bowl trip. Ethan Greenfield, Sam Taviani and others reflect on the ride with Greg Thomas.
December 17, 20222022 Division III football playoff bracketThe final results on the 31-game road to Annapolis, culminating in North Central defeating Mount Union 28-21 in Stagg Bowl XLIX to end up the 2022 Division III football national champion.
December 16, 2022Quick Hits: Our predictions for Stagg Bowl XLIXA warning to all fans: In 22 previous years, our collective picks have only been wrong one time. But if you're looking for hope, here's that hope: That one wrong time was last year. We've certainly been wrong here before, and we might be again. Here's our Stagg Bowl predictions.
December 16, 2022North Central hangs on for second titleThe Cardinals dominated the first half, took a 21-0 lead on the first play of the fourth quarter, and then withstood the Purple Raiders’ rally to win their second title in three years in Stagg Bowl XLIX. Game story with more coverage to follow.
December 15, 2022Mount Union in Annapolis to uphold its standardIt's well-known that the Purple Raiders have won 13 national titles but have not played in the Stagg Bowl since 2018 or won it since 2017. But every Purple Raider knows that is the goal. Greg Thomas talks with them and has more from Annapolis.
December 14, 2022Spencer is North Central, through and throughA Naperville native and a former North Central batboy, Brad Spencer came to North Central as a student and never left. So when the longtime assistant coach, now head coach, says his program is like family, it goes well beyond the usual definition. Joe Sager has more in a Stagg Bowl feature.
December 10, 2022Mount Union wins semifinal thrillerTyler Echeverry capped a frenzied fourth quarter with a 3-yard touchdown run and Mount Union will play in the Stagg Bowl for the 22nd time as the Purple Raiders edged Wartburg in an incredible national semifinal, 34-31.
December 9, 2022Quick Hits: Our predictions for the semifinalsWe've got a 13-time national champion, a first-time semifinalist, and the last two Stagg Bowl winners, and our prediction crew tackles the two games, picks winners and tells you why.
December 8, 2022No more Q's about UMHB's DAfter seven defensive /starters graduated from last year's national champions, there were questions, and growing pains, as the younger players took over. But the questions should be over now. Riley Zayas has more in a Road to Annapolis feature.
December 8, 2022It 'wasn't the right time for me to leave'Sam Reyes faced the same decision many in Division III sports are facing right now: to stay and take an extra year or graduate and move on. But coming off the lost COVID season and last year's 7-3 mark, Reyes wasn't ready to leave Wartburg. Greg Thomas has more on the Knights in a Road to Annapolis feature.
December 6, 2022Backfield brothers look to finish in StaggEthan Greenfield and Terrence Hill came to North Central together, have combined for more than 8,000 rushing yards, and hope to extend their running back relationship for one more week. Joe Sager has more in a Road to Annapolis feature.
December 3, 2022Wartburg rolls to crash traditional power partyHunter Clasen had a huge game in support of quarterback Nile McLaughlin, the quarterback battle in Belton went to Kyle King, Mount Union opened up a 20-0 win and cruised at Delaware Valley and North Central decimated another quarterfinal opponent as No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 12 advanced to the national semifinals.
December 2, 2022Quick Hits: Our quarterfinals predictionsAmong the 2022 quarterfinalists are some of the usual suspects, one team on the precipice of reaching heights the program hasn't reached in nearly 30 years, and three programs aiming to set a new highwater mark for their program. Our playoff panel is here to break down the quarterfinals and predict who will move through to the final four.
December 1, 2022Controlling the controllables"Stats don’t win football games, but they do tell a story," says North Central coach Brad Spencer. The rest is focusing on what they can control, and the Cardinals have been doing a great job of that this season. Brian Lester has more.
December 1, 2022Seniors drive Bombers to advanceIthaca hasn't played football in December since 2003, but with 47 seniors and beyond on their roster, this veteran group is certainly doing a good job living up to “Operation Keep the Team Together.” Greg Thomas has more in a Road to Annapolis feature.
December 1, 2022Knights secondary becomes primary focusWartburg's defensive backfield was a source of much concern in the spring and in the preseason, but the difference in the young secondary has been like night and day as the season has progressed. Brian Lester has more.
November 30, 2022Bethel's big man on campusThe phrase Big Man On Campus is classic, maybe out of date, but never more appropriate than it is for Jaran Roste. He helps students find internships, teaches classes, loves the World Cup, and oh yes, has quarterbacked the Royals to the quarterfinals. Joe Sager has more.
November 29, 2022New faces join Del Val 'D'On a defense where you should already know the Nobile brothers, Yusuf Aladinov and others, there's a key starter who is new to the lineup this year and another who moved over from offense this season. Joe Sager has more in a Road to Annapolis feature.
November 26, 2022Del Val rallies; Bethel rolls; Wartburg holds onDelaware Valley scored the final 21 points to get past Randolph-Macon, while Bethel rolled past Linfield on the road. Mary Hardin-Baylor came up with two key sacks to get out of the Texas sub-bracket. Aurora cruised into the regional final, while Wartburg held on when their starting quarterback went down.
November 23, 2022Springfield Pride: It starts up front“Since freshman year our goal was to make it to Thanksgiving,” says defensive lineman Michael Casinelli, “and now it’s reality. We have a special group of people and we are doing a special thing.”
November 23, 2022Freshmen cracking Bethel lineupWhen the season started, 28 of the top 30 players for Bethel were returning, so there wasn't much chance for a freshman to break into the lineup. But Devin Williams and David Geebli have, and have thrived. Greg Thomas has more.
November 23, 2022Lone Star showdownTrinity cemented its spot in the top 10 by playing Mary Hardin-Baylor tight in last year's playoffs, and made it stand up against Wheaton. Now the teams meet again in the second round, with the winner emerging as the last Texas team standing. Riley Zayas has more.
November 22, 2022At Aurora, Beebe-ing is believingThe Spartans have woven the hustle, determination, and never-say-die traits of their coach, former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Don Beebe, into their DNA, so perhaps it should be no surprise that their third consecutive playoff trip resulted in a first-round win. Joe Sager has more.
November 22, 2022Doubted Utica? Now who's the turkey?The Pioneers are still standing during the week of Thanksgiving, still playing football and feeling as though they proved they deserve this opportunity. Brian Lester has more.
November 21, 2022Alma winning with KILT styleThe coach of the Scots is famous for wearing a kilt on the sidelines, in any kind of weather, and Jason Couch's team is getting ready to host a second-round playoff game. Joe Sager has more in a Road to Annapolis feature.
November 19, 2022R-MC, Utica get stops; Mount, Del Val win bigUtica's first-ever trip to the Division III playoffs will continue into the second round, while Randolph-Macon had a big second half defensively and Mount Union and Delaware Valley rolled in first-round games in the bottom left bracket on Saturday.
November 19, 2022Trinity wins on last-minute TD; Bethel edges WheatonJaran Roste led Bethel to a two-point win at Wheaton, while Tucker Horn found Ryan Merrifield streaking up the left side of the field with 2:16 to play for Trinity. UMHB had an easy time against Huntingdon while Linfield came alive to put Pomona-Pitzer away.
November 18, 2022Quick Hits: Our predictions for the first roundWhich games will be close? Which will be high scoring? Which games will be toss-ups? The first round of the Division III playoffs has that and more. Check out Quick Hits, where our panel, plus a returning guest, predict the scores of each game.
November 17, 2022'Genius' move has UMass-Dartmouth in playoffsUMass-Dartmouth coach Mark Robichaud really wanted to move Dante Aviles-Santos to wide receiver when he came in last year as a freshman. But he refused to move, and instead, is now one of the nation's leading passers. Brian Lester has more in a Road to Annapolis feature.
November 16, 20222022 Mount Union bracketFrom Mount Union to Gallaudet, the teams in the lower-right bracket, their statistical leaders, how you'll know if they're playing well, and how far they can go. It's our annual playoff team capsules.
November 16, 20222022 North Central bracketThis bracket stretches from Chicagoland to Massachusetts, and that's one that is put together quite nicely.
November 16, 20222022 Trinity bracketThe folks at Trinity (Texas) haven't been the top seed in a bracket in a long time. This bracket is home to everyone who has to fly, plus two of the top at-large teams.
November 16, 2022Previewing the playoffs, team by teamWe've previewed the playoffs this way every season since 1999, with a preview capsule on every Division III playoff team. The playoffs have grown over the years, and so have our capsules. Check them out as we push them out.
November 16, 2022Randolph-Macon looks to extend special seasonThe Yellow Jackets' first 10-0 season is also one with a quite balanced team behind it. Randolph-Macon comes in having won 24 of its last 25 games and has a chance to extend that run. Joe Sager has more in a Road to Annapolis feature.
November 15, 2022NCAA final regional ranking
November 13, 2022The NCAA playoff bracket is out!In a year where a number of teams took risks and scheduled top-notch opponents, the NCAA Division III football committee rewarded them. Two-loss teams got at-large bids. A one-loss team got a top seed.
November 12, 2022Our projected playoff bracketOur mock selection committee met Saturday evening to do what we always do: Try to project what the NCAA committee will do, given the same information. We choose five at-large teams. We bracket them using the rules the committee has to use.And it's always a challenge to separate the final at-large teams. Here's our attempt.
November 9, 2022NCAA regional ranking, now with actual rankingsThis week is the only week you get to see a ranking with a number on it before the playoff bracket gets announced on Sunday, so, here you go!
November 2, 2022NCAA's first regional 'ranking'Rankings? Or listings, really. The teams, in alphabetical order for this first regional ranking, from A to W instead of 1 to 7.
November 20, 2021Springfield picks up road win; home teams cruiseThe Pride handed Endicott its first loss of the season, while Carnegie Mellon easily overcome some opening-kickoff adversity and North Central and Ithaca made it look easy in the top right bracket.
