2013 playoffs: UW-Whitewater bracket

Warhawks UW-Whitewater Warhawks
Seed:No. 1, Whitewater bracket
Last Top 25 ranking: No. 5, Week 11 2013
Location: Whitewater, WI
Enrollment (FT undergrads): 9790
Stadium: Perkins Stadium (13500)
Playing surface: Turf
Conference: WIAC
Preseason ranking from Kickoff: 9
Head coach: Lance Leipold (UW-Whitewater '87)
Career record: 89-6 (.937)
Base offense: Multiple pro set
Base defense: 4-3
Record in NCAA playoffs: 33-6 (1988, 1990, 1997, 2005-11)
NCAA D-III championships: 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011

• D3football.com team page: Schedule and results, more news

How they got here: Pool A, WIAC champ
You'll know they're playing well if: Jordan Ratliffe and Booker Ross each outrush the opposition and the opposition punts seven or more times.
You'll know they're playing poorly if: Matt Behrendt throws an interception (it's happened just once) and the Warhawks need a defensive score to get on the board.
This season's turning point: Scoring the final 17 points of the game in the final 10 minutes to defeat Wash U in the season opener.
Rushing/passing yards per game: 188.6/225.2
Rushing/passing yards allowed: 75.4/146.2
How far can they go? They're familiar with the road, having traveled it seven times before.
Wildcats Linfield Wildcats
Seed:Likely No. 2, Whitewater bracket
Last Top 25 ranking: No. 2, Week 11 2013
Location: McMinnville, OR
Enrollment (FT undergrads): 1589
Stadium: Maxwell Field (2250)
Playing surface: Turf
Conference: NWC
Preseason ranking from Kickoff: 4
Head coach: Joe Smith (Linfield '93)
Career record: 60-14 (.810)
Base offense: Spread
Base defense: 4-2-5
Record in NCAA playoffs: 16-8 (2000, 2002-05, 2009-12)
NCAA D-III championships: 2004

• D3football.com team page: Schedule and results, more news

How they got here: Pool A, NWC champ
You'll know they're playing well if: If the Wildcat run game (yes, run game) is clicking and the defense is stout against the run.
You'll know they're playing poorly if: The 'Cats offense stalls by giving up negative plays (allowed 61 tackles for loss and 18 sacks).
This season's turning point: None needed, really. This team faced very little on-field adversity this season before losing Tyler Steele to another season ending injury in Week 11.
Rushing/passing yards per game: 274.2/226.1
Rushing/passing yards allowed: 57.0/181/2
How far can they go? Teams built on defense have a tendency to go far, but the Wildcats must avoid making the crucial mistake at the crucial time.
Lutes Pacific Lutheran Lutes
Seed:Likely No. 3, UW-Whitewater bracket
Last Top 25 ranking: No. 13, Week 11 2013
Location: Tacoma, WA
Enrollment (FT undergrads): 3109
Stadium: Sparks Stadium (3500)
Playing surface: Turf
Conference: NWC
Preseason ranking from Kickoff: 13
Head coach: Scott Westering (Pacific Lutheran '81)
Career record: 47-34
Base offense: Pro set
Base defense: 3-4
Record in NCAA playoffs: 8-4 (1998-2001, 2012)
NCAA D-III championships: 1999

• D3football.com team page: Schedule and results, more news

How they got here: Pool C
You'll know they're playing well if: PLU's defensive front and linebackers are causing havoc and the Lutes offense can maintain a balanced attack.
You'll know they're playing poorly if: Turnovers. The Lutes have turned it over 29 times this season (14 picks, lost 15 of 33 fumbles).
This season's turning point: Stuffing UW-Eau Claire running back Joel Sweeney on a two-point conversion attempt with 41 seconds left that would have tied the game back in Week 4. PLU held on to win 21-19.
Rushing/passing yards per game: 178.2/212.6
Rushing/passing yards allowed: 92.6/210.8
How far can they go? Because of the "landlocked" Pacific Northwest, they can't go anywhere if they can't beat Linfield.
Bears Washington U. Bears
Seed:Likely No. 4, UW-Whitewater bracket
Last Top 25 ranking: Never ranked
Location: St. Louis, MO
Enrollment (FT undergrads): 6322
Stadium: Francis Field (3500)
Playing surface: Turf
Conference: UAA
Preseason ranking from Kickoff: 101
Head coach: Larry Kindbom (Kalamazoo '79)
Career record: 184-124-1 (.597)
Base offense: Multiple/spread
Base defense: 4-2-5
Record in NCAA playoffs: 0-1 (1999)
NCAA D-III championships: None

• D3football.com team page: Schedule and results, more news

How they got here: Pool B
You'll know they're playing well if: The defensive line is getting up and knocking down passes and the offense is solid, if not flashy.
You'll know they're playing poorly if: No matter what the defense does, it can't set up the offense in good enough position to score and the lack of depth at running back is an issue.
This season's turning point: Seeing their name come up on the bracket on Selection Sunday.
Rushing/passing yards per game: 166.8/159.3
Rushing/passing yards allowed: 111.7/167.9
How far can they go? Their defense could carry them into the holiday weekend but they would not be leading a Whitewater rematch in the fourth quarter.
Grizzlies Franklin Grizzlies
Seed:Likely No. 5, UW-Whitewater bracket
Last Top 25 ranking: No. 20, Week 11 2013
Location: Franklin, IN
Enrollment (FT undergrads): 996
Stadium: Faught Stadium (2500)
Playing surface: Turf
Conference: HCAC
Preseason ranking from Kickoff: 19
Head coach: Mike Leonard (Hanover '84)
Career record: 82-36 (.695)
Base offense: Multiple spread
Base defense: 3-4
Record in NCAA playoffs: 3-5 (2007-08, 2010-12)
NCAA D-III championships: None

• D3football.com team page: Schedule and results, more news

How they got here: Pool A, HCAC champ
You'll know they're playing well if: Jonny West is flinging the ball all over the lot and the running back tandem is approaching 100 yards combined.
You'll know they're playing poorly if: Their speed is negated and it doesn't matter that the opponent can't run the ball very well.
This season's turning point: It'll have to be yet to come. Right now the last turning point went in a negative direction.
Rushing/passing yards per game: 137.4/360.5
Rushing/passing yards allowed: 69.7/214.6
How far can they go? Depends on whether Week 1 Franklin or Week 10 Franklin shows up.
Tigers Hampden-Sydney Tigers
Seed:Likely No. 6, UW-Whitewater bracket
Last Top 25 ranking: No. 25, Week 10 2011
Location: Hampden-Sydney, VA
Enrollment (FT undergrads): 1120
Stadium: Everett Stadium (1850)
Playing surface: Grass
Conference: ODAC
Preseason ranking from Kickoff: 48
Head coach: Marty Favret (Catholic '84)
Career record: 103-41 (.715)
Base offense: Very multiple
Base defense: 3-3
Record in NCAA playoffs: 0-5 (1977, 2007, 2009-11)
NCAA D-III championships: None

• D3football.com team page: Schedule and results, more news

How they got here: Pool A, ODAC champ
You'll know they're playing well if: They score, score, score -- the Tigers have scored 50 or more 26 times in Favret's 14 seasons.
You'll know they're playing poorly if: They go more vanilla on offense in the second half and struggle and the defense, which started only three seniors in Week 11, shows its vulnerability to the run.
This season's turning point: Stuffing the two-point conversion attempt by Randolph-Macon in the closing minutes of The Game to secure a 28-26 win and the conference's automatic bid.
Rushing/passing yards per game: 169.9/280.5
Rushing/passing yards allowed: 124.7/136.4
How far can they go? How's that flight to Oregon/Washington looking?
Scots Maryville (Tenn.) Scots
Seed:Likely No. 7, UW-Whitewater bracket
Last Top 25 ranking: No. 24, Week 10 2013
Location: Maryville, TN
Enrollment (FT undergrads): 1097
Stadium: Lloyd Thornton Stadium (5500)
Playing surface: Grass
Conference: USAC
Preseason ranking from Kickoff: 93
Head coach: Mike Rader
Career record: 8-2 (.800)
Base offense: Multiple
Base defense: 3-4
Record in NCAA playoffs: First trip
NCAA D-III championships: None

• D3football.com team page: Schedule and results, more news

How they got here: Pool A, USA South champ
You'll know they're playing well if: They're running more than passing and linemen Jamie Owen and Zach Capehart have consistent pressure on the quarterback.
You'll know they're playing poorly if: The quarterback has time to throw and hit the secondary gives up big plays and the offense ends up in a lot of second-and-long situations.
This season's turning point: A strong first half vs. Methodst back in September that allowed the Scots to weather the Monarchs' second-half comeback. When Maryville later lost to Huntingdon, it was that win that gave Maryville the automatic bid via tiebreaker.
Rushing/passing yards per game: 289.1/184.9
Rushing/passing yards allowed: 134.2/203.6
How far can they go? Kindly refer back to previous statement as regards Hampden-Sydney.
Green Knights St. Norbert Green Knights
Seed:Likely No. 8, UW-Whitewater bracket
Last Top 25 ranking: No. 24, Week 11 2007
Location: De Pere, WI
Enrollment (FT undergrads): 2019
Stadium: Donald J. Schneider Stadium (2500)
Playing surface: Turf
Conference: MWC
Preseason ranking from Kickoff: 91
Head coach: Jim Purtill (Miami, Ohio '78)
Career record: 130-43-1 (.750)
Base offense: Pro I
Base defense: 4-3
Record in NCAA playoffs: 1-10 (1989, 1999, 2000-01, 2003-04, 2006-07, 2010, 2012)
NCAA D-III championships: None

• D3football.com team page: Schedule and results, more news

How they got here: Pool A, MWC champ
You'll know they're playing well if: The ballhawking defense gets the methodical Green Knights offense a couple of extra possessions and better field position to work with.
You'll know they're playing poorly if: They can't come up with the big play or move the chains on offense and, in fact, they just can't score (total of three points in two losses).
This season's turning point: When Carroll held on against Illinois College, putting the Green Knights, who had already lost that afternoon, in the playoffs.
Rushing/passing yards per game: 134.1/172.3
Rushing/passing yards allowed: 99.7/197.7
How far can they go? About as far as usual.