District College Football Playoffs For This Weekend

By: Bruce Markey
Monday, November 16, 2015 | 1:49 PM

NCAA playoff action is set with three area teams set for action this weekend.

In Division II, #9 Slippery Rock (10-1), fresh off a 61-12 pounding of West Chester in the PSAC State Title Game, will host Virginia Union (8-2) at noon on Saturday. It is the first appearance in 24 years in the playoffs for the Panthers, out of the CIAA. Slippery Rock received the #2 seed in Super Region 1 while Virginia Union is the #7 seed.

Also in Division II, the 5 seed in the region IUP (8-2) will hit the road for the opening round as the Crimson Hawks travel to West Virginia to meet 4th seeded Charleston (10-1). The Golden Eagles finished second in the MEC, behind #1 seed Shepherd (10-0) and will make their first ever NCAA trip. The matchup is also a noon start on Saturday.

In Division III, #11 Thomas More (10-0), the PAC champion, will host Washington and Lee (10-0) on Saturday at noon in the opening round of the 32 team field.

Finally, the ECAC announced the 12 teams that will participate in the Division III Football Championship, to be played this weekend at Central Connecticut State University. Two PAC members were named to take part and both are making their first post-season appearance in years.

Westminster (8-2) will face St. John Fisher (7-3) on Saturday at 11am. The Titans come off a 6-1 finish in the PAC and posted their best record since 2000. The Cardinals shared the Empire 8 title but did not make the NCAA field.

Carnegie Mellon will also represent the PAC as the Tartans meet Bridgewater State on Sunday at noon in a battle of 7-3 teams. The Tartans come off an Academic Bowl win over rival Case Western on Saturday, while the Bears defeated Massachusetts Maritime 64-42 in the Cranberry Bowl last Saturday.

District College Preview will take an in depth look at all of these games on Thursday and recaps will be posted on Sunday. Both will include the regular season battle for the NEC title between Saint Francis and Duquesne with a spot in the Division 1 FBS playoffs on the line.