Withler Marcelin rushed for 217 yards on 41 carries in the season finale vs. TCNJ. Rowan athletics photo

If the passing game and high-scoring outbursts are the rage in college football, Rowan coach Jay Accorsi is happy his team represents a throwback.

The Profs have ridden a strong running game, led by junior back Withler Marcelin, and a stout defense to a second straight NJAC conference championship and third consecutive berth in the NCAA playoffs.

"It always starts with your defense," Accorsi said. "We've always had, traditionally, great defenses here."

Rowan, which travels to play Centennial Conference champion Johns Hopkins this Saturday, last made three straight playoff appearances from 2004-06. But injuries and a brutal nonconference schedule threatened to end Rowan's playoff run at just two seasons.

The Profs played Widener at home, and Framingham State and Wesley on the road before opening conference play on the road against Cortland State. Widener and Wesley were both losses, and neither unexpected -- both the Pride and Wolverines finished a perfect 10-0 and qualified for the playoffs.

Rowan did defeat Framingham State -- handing the ECAC Bowl-bound Rams their only loss of the season -- and Cortland to emerge from the tough stretch at 2-2. The season was far from over, but for a team picked to win the conference and return to the postseason, it added pressure.

"As I always say, preseason rankings and those things, those don't win you any football games," Accorsi said.

Accorsi's team responded by winning six of its final seven, including this past Friday's game against TCNJ to clinch the NJAC's automatic playoff berth. And Marcelin, the main offensive driving force behind it all, was again front and center. Marcelin rushed for 217 yards and two touchdowns on 41 carries, his sixth 100-yard game out of the nine games he's played in this season.

His 1,311 rushing yards rank ninth in the country, and that's despite a nagging ankle injury that caused him to miss a game.

`"He's very dynamic," Accorsi said. "He's strong, he's fast, he can catch the ball. I think we've used him too much, to be honest with you, but we've kind of had to with some injuries at that position."

And when it isn't Marcelin starring, it's the defense. When Marcelin missed the game against Kean two weeks ago, Rowan's defense pitched a shutout while holding the Cougars to just four first downs and 111 total yards. Rowan is allowing just 13.7 points per game (16th in Division III) and 267 yards per game (17th) this season.

Senior outside linebacker Tyler Jenkins leads the team in tackles (78), ranks second in sacks (3.5) and shares the team lead in pass breakups (7). Junior middle linebacker Darren Dungee, who has 77 tackles, has emerged as a playmaker this season. Senior safety Kurt Kingett, a co-captain, has developed into a consistent producer after walking onto the team as a freshman.

The team's other senior co-captain, defensive end Chris Alvarez, has seen his individual numbers dip this season in the wake of constant attention and double teams, but remains an important piece. Defensive tackle John Dokouslis and linebacker Vinny Simone, also both seniors, have been major factors this year as well.

In short, Rowan's defense is loaded with experienced, talented players. And they will need all of them Saturday against Johns Hopkins' deep offense.

Six players have at least 20 carries for the Blue Jays this season, led by Stuart Walters (651 yards, 7 touchdowns). Quarterback Branden Anderson has thrown for 2,118 yards and 20 touchdowns against just six interceptions, and also added nine rushing scores. Bradley Munday (664 yards, 6 TDs) and Quinn Donaldson (644 yards, 6 TDs) are his top two targets.

"You don't go undefeated and you don't win your conference just by chance," Accorsi said. "There's usually some reasons why that occurs. When you watch them on film, you understand why they win a lot of games and they're as good as they are."

At this point in the season, Rowan isn't likely to change what has gotten it this far. Run the ball, and stop the other team from running the ball. It's a simple concept, easier to assign than execute. But it's the reason the Profs are still playing.

"It's been kind of an up-and-down season, kind of a roller-coaster season," Accorsi said.

"It's strange how things work out," Accorsi added. "We were 9-1 a few years ago (in 2010) and it was a three-way tie, and Montclair and Cortland go to the NCAA playoffs and we don't. ... You just never know how it's going to turn out, you never know how it's going to work."

Playoff reaction: Three of five East teams to host

Three of the four automatic bids earned were the same as last season -- Hobart in the Liberty League, Ithaca in the Empire 8 and Rowan in the NJAC. Widener, by virtue of its head-to-head win, earned the MAC's automatic bid over Delaware Valley, which still got in as a Pool C selection. Tough break for St. John Fisher, which missed out on a Pool C bid. The Cardinals made the playoffs as an at-large selection last season with the same record (8-2). Here's a quick look of each game:

UW-Whitewater bracket

Muhlenberg (9-1) at No. 11 Widener (10-0), noon, Saturday: Under first-year coach Mike Kelly, Widener has rebounded from a 6-4 season in 2013 to complete a perfect 10-0 regular season in 2014. The Pride enters the NCAA tournament undefeated for the second time in the last three seasons. Widener, behind the potent combination of quarterback Seth Klein and wide receiver Anthony Davis, defeated Delaware Valley, 44-28, in the de facto MAC conference championship game this past Saturday. And though Klein and Davis have shined this season, Widener's defense has consistently ranked among the country's best units. The Pride enter this weekend's game in the top 25 in points allowed (11.9) and yards allowed (279.4). Muhlenberg, a former MAC rival of Widener, earned a Pool C bid out the Centennial Conference. The teams last met on the football field back in 1982. Widener won the national championships back in 1977 and 1981, its only two Stagg Bowl appearances.

Christopher Newport (7-3) at No. 16 Delaware Valley (9-1), noon, Saturday: Delaware Valley returns to the NCAA playoffs after a two-year absence. It's the Aggies' sixth trip overall to the tournament, and in each of the past five appearances, they've won at least one game. Aaron Wilmer passed for 369 yards and three touchdowns, including two to standout receiver Rasheed Bailey, but was intercepted five times in the team's loss to Widener in last week's regular-season finale. Christopher Newport enters the playoffs as the USA South Athletic Conference champion. The Captains have reached the postseason in 10 of the program's 14 seasons. Christopher Newport and Delaware Valley have never faced each other.

Wesley bracket

Ithaca (7-3) at No. 9 Hobart (10-0), noon, Saturday: Two of the top teams in the East region this season will meet in this matchup. Hobart completed another perfect regular season -- its third straight. Ithaca is coming off a stunning 23-20 loss to rival Cortland State, but is just two weeks removed from a crucial 19-8 win over St. John Fisher that clinched a second consecutive Empire 8 title. Both teams like to run the ball and play physical defense. Hobart was more successful consistently in those areas this season, but Ithaca faced stiffer competition in the Empire 8. The two teams have played 27 times previously, but not since 2003 (and never in the playoffs). Ithaca has made seven Stagg Bowl appearances, the third-most in Division III history, with championships in 1979, 1988 and 1991. Hobart reached the second round last season, but advanced to the quarterfinals in 2012.

Rowan (7-3) at No. 7 Johns Hopkins (10-0), noon, Saturday: The Blue Jays are one of just eight teams to qualify for the NCAA playoffs in each of the last four seasons. Rowan is making its third straight trip and advanced to the second round last season. The two teams have never met before. This will be a tough test for Rowan. Johns Hopkins won its sixth straight -- and 10th overall -- Centennial Conference championship this season. Despite all of its regular-season success, Johns Hopkins has lost in the first and second rounds in the last tournaments, respectively.

ECAC slate: Morrisville State to host Utica

Not much was expected from Utica this season. Morrisville State was a darkhorse in the NJAC. The two teams will meet in the ECAC North Central Bowl Championship on Saturday. Utica, which finished 7-3 and tied for second in the loaded Empire 8 one year after finishing 3-7, will play in its first-ever ECAC bowl. Morrisville State went 8-2 and earned a share of the NJAC title this season -- uncharted territory for a team that won just eight games over the previous five seasons. This matchup also pits Utica head coach Blaise Faggiano against his former offensive coordinator, Curt Fitzpatrick, who now coaches Morrisville State.

Other ECAC games featuring East teams:

• North Atlantic Bowl Championship: RPI (6-4) at Framingham State (9-1), noon, Saturday
• Northwest Bowl Championship: Western Connecticut State (7-3) at No. 21 St. John Fisher (8-2), noon, Saturday
• South Atlantic Bowl Championship: Albright (6-4) at Salisbury (6-4), noon, Saturday
• Southwest Bowl Championship: Buffalo State (7-3) at Waynesburg (8-2), 1 p.m., Sunday
• Southeast Bowl Championship: Bethany (6-4) at Stevenson (7-3), 2 p.m., Saturday

Top 25: Widener, St. John Fisher move up

Widener and St. John Fisher rose to No. 11 and No. 21, respectively, in this week's D3football.com Top 25 poll.

Liberty League champion Hobart slipped one spot to No. 9. Delaware Valley held steady at No. 16.

Morrisville State, Ithaca, St. Lawrence and Rowan each received votes.

Quick hits

Luke Hinton picked up a bobbled snap on the potential game-tying field goal, spun to his left and found Jon Mannix for a 4-yard touchdown as time expired to give Cortland State a 23-20 win over rival Ithaca. Cortland won its fifth straight Cortaca Jug game, and the miracle play has garnered national attention. ... Danny Catan and Tyler Fenti each threw touchdowns and Tony Fusco rushed for 92 yards and a score as St. John Fisher routed Alfred, 34-12. ... Mike Lefflbine passed for 265 yards and five touchdowns in St. Lawrence's 42-13 victory against Merchant Marine. ... Craig Needhammer rushed for 299 yards and three touchdowns as Lycoming cruised past winless FDU-Florham, 45-27. ... Jesse Baldassare rushed for 197 yards and four touchdowns and Utica's defense piled up seven sacks (three by Juwan Wilson) in a 47-24 win over Hartwick. ... Trey Lee rushed for 157 yards and two touchdowns and Jeff Farrah tossed three touchdowns to lead Stevenson to a 35-14 win against Misericordia. ... Aarron Moore rushed for 109 yards and two TDs, Jerome Johnson ran for 107 yards, and Connor Canonico rushed for 104 yards and a score as Salisbury knocked off Frostburg State, 27-10. ... Nick Borkowski tied for a game-high with 11 tackles and returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown as RPI beat Union, 31-28, in the Dutchman Shoes Trophy game. ... Tariq Turner rushed for 114 yards and a TD and CJ Conway picked off a pair of passes as Montclair State held off Kean, 16-14. ... Romello Monroe tallied 116 yards and two TDs on the ground as Albright defeated Lebanon Valley, 17-14. ... Kyle Hoppy passed for 324 yards and two TDs while Rich Pete rushed for 72 yards and three touchdowns in Buffalo State's 55-21 rout of Brockport State. ... Dan Eckler threw for 218 yards and a pair of touchdowns and Zach Grasis rushed for 101 yards and a score in WPI's 28-14 win over Springfield. ... Matt Deiana rushed for 132 yards and William Paterson's defense forced five turnovers in a 10-8 win against Southern Virginia. ... Patrick Robinson rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown as King's upended Wilkes, 27-21, in the Mayor's Cup game.

Thank you/contact me
If you've read the Around the East column at any point this season, emailed me with feedback or just simply to chat about D-III football, thank you. Enjoy the playoffs and keep in touch. Drop me a line at andrew.lovell@d3sports.com or send me a tweet (@Andrew_Lovell).