INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Four Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference football teams were selected to participate in the NCAA Division II Football Championship, the NCAA announced Sunday afternoon.
(Photo of IUP’s Lenny Williams. Photo courtesy of IUP Athletics)
The championship consists of 28 teams from four different regions. All contests are set to be played at 1 p.m. unless approved by the committee.
With four selections, it marked the first time the PSAC put four teams in the championship since 2010.
The No. 3/1 IUP Crimson Hawks earned the No. 1 seed in the Super One Region and a first-round bye. The Crimson Hawks won the PSAC title Saturday, Nov. 11, following a 24-7 victory at West Chester.
IUP earned home-field advantage throughout regional play and will open its postseason push on Saturday, Nov. 25. IUP will play the winner of the No. 4/No. 5 contest.
IUP posted an unblemished 11-0 record and is tied for 11th in DII in scoring defense with a 14.6 clip. Lenny Williams will pace the offense after leading the league in efficiency (170.1).
The Shippensburg Red Raiders claimed the No. 4 slot and will host a first-round contest Saturday, Nov. 18. SU impressed with a 10-1 mark while its defense stymied offenses throughout the year after allowing only 11.7 points per game. That is the best in the PSAC and fourth-best in DII.
Red Raider quarterback Ryan Zapoticky has tossed 25 touchdowns while throwing only five interceptions on the season. It is SU’s first appearance in the postseason since 2012.
The West Chester Golden Rams swiped the No. 5 seed and will travel to SU for a first-round contest. This is WCU’s first postseason appearance since 2014.
The Golden Rams defeated SU, 37-27, Oct. 7 in West Chester. Quarterback Paul Dooley averages 246.9 yards of offense per game, which is fifth-best in the PSAC.
The California Vulcans earned the No. 6 seed and will travel to No. 3 Assumption Saturday, Nov. 18.
Cal boasts a 9-2 record and has won five consecutive contests following back-to-back losses. The Vulcans appear in the tournament for the seventh time (all since 2007) and in consecutive seasons. Cal earned the No. 1 seed in 2016 and fell to Shepherd in the quarterfinals.
The Vulcans quarterback Michael Keir has thrown 19 touchdowns, compared to six interceptions. Linebacker Luke Hrapchak finished fifth in the PSAC in tackles with 104.
The championship game will be played December 16, at 6 p.m. Eastern time at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas and will be broadcast live on ESPN2 HD/ESPN3.com.
Super Region One Final Rankings
1. IUP
2. Shepherd
3. Assumption
4. Shippensburg
5. West Chester
6. California
7. Findlay
