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NCAA Division II and Division III College Football Championship Playoffs plus the NAIA Football Championship Series - Status as of Nov. 23, 2008

By Andis Kaulins

We offer some news and comments here on the NCAA Division II and Division III College Football Championship Playoffs plus the NAIA Football Championship Series.

In Division III, last year's foes in the championship game, top-ranked Mount Union of Alliance, Ohio, and the 4th- viz. 5th-ranked University of Wisconsin at Whitewater, won easily, with the Purple Raiders defeating Randolph-Macon 56-0 in their first playoff game and Whitewater winning over St. John's University 37-7. For other Division III playoff scores, see D3football.com.

In Division II, the top-ranked Lakers of Grand Valley State played Ashland for the second time this year, lucky to win the first game 48-42, but prevailing easily in the playoffs 40-7.

Last year's defending champion, Valdosta State, was eliminated by North Alabama 37-10.

2nd-ranked Abilene Christian, led by NFL-prospect quarterback Billy Malone and running back Bernard Scott, could probably give any team in NCAA Division I a run for their money. The Wildcats already had phenomenal statistics this season, and now set an NCAA playoff scoring record by beating 9th-ranked and now 11-2 West Texas A&M 93-68, a team they beat in the regular season 52-35. In fact, a number of other offensive NCAA records were set by this game. Astoundingly, there were no interceptions and only 2 fumbles. For the full stats see the ACU football site, from which we include the Box Score below:

                                  WTAMU      ACU
FIRST DOWNS...................       34       30
RUSHES-YARDS (NET)............   30-126   31-427
PASSING YDS (NET).............      595      383
Passes Att-Comp-Int...........  64-42-0  25-16-0
TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS.....   94-721   56-810
Fumble Returns-Yards..........      0-0      0-0
Punt Returns-Yards............     1--2     3-23
Kickoff Returns-Yards.........   11-189    6-125
Interception Returns-Yards....      0-0      0-0
Punts (Number-Avg)............   3-40.0   1-27.0
Fumbles-Lost..................      2-1      0-0
Penalties-Yards...............     7-75     8-84
Possession Time...............    36:48    23:12
Third-Down Conversions........  9 of 17   5 of 8
Fourth-Down Conversions.......   3 of 4   1 of 1
Red-Zone Scores-Chances.......      6-6      4-5
Sacks By: Number-Yards........      1-5     1-13

As one can see, possession time means nothing. ACU had the ball only 23 minutes, but averaged an amazing 14.5 yards per play on 56 plays, padding their already terrific yards per play average, which in college football this year has only been topped by Division III Mount Union.

The Purple Raiders in the regular season averaged 8.1 net average yards per play on offense to only 2.9 yards on defense or a NAYPPA of 5.2 yards per play. In the playoff game against Randolph-Macon, those figures increased to 8.4 and 2.9, or a NAYPPA of 5.5, which is simply an incredible football statistic, not matched in any college football league, anywhere. See various Division II and Division III team stats at the bottom of our YPPSYS rankings after the 12th week.

For scores of the Division II playoffs, see D2football.com.

The 2008 NAIA Football Championship Series was announced at the NAIA Official Site. Included there are the pairings and a synopsis of each qualified team.

See the first round recap and the scoreboard, with recaps and stats, e.g.

The 28-0 playoff shutout of St. Ambrose by Sioux Falls, national champion in 2006, and this year the nation's NAIA leader in defense, was its seventh of the year.

Carroll College of Montana, winner of 26 consecutive games and ranked Number One, is the defending NAIA 2007 champion and was also champion in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005.

Full post as published by LawPundit on November 23, 2008 (boomark / email).