They pound the rock, get pressure on the opposing quarterback and the cornerbacks pick off at least one pass.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
The offense is so focused around receiver Jake Kumerow that they get out of sync, or struggle if he is out
This season's turning point:
The 2013 semifinals, when Mary Hardin-Baylor elected to kick the field goal down four points late in the game and the Whitewater defense closed it out. UWW's defense allowed one touchdown drive in last year's Stagg Bowl and opponents have scored just 86 points since then.
Rushing/passing yards per game:
215.0/258.1
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
77.0/176.9
How far can they go?
To Salem, possibly even without Kumerow. But they may need him to put them over the top once they're there.
They use their skill up front to stop the run game and lock down in the secondary on defense and spread the ball to their multiple options on offense.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
They turn the ball over and the defense doesn't bail them out of it, give up big plays on defense or they're forced to throw Logan Schrader more than they'd like.
This season's turning point:
Trailing 7-3 in the third quarter of the Week 2 game vs. Bethel, Logan Schrader hit passes to Taylor Jacobsmeier to get from midfield to the 8-yard line, then ran it in himself to give Wartburg a 10-7 lead. Wartburg has not trailed after the first quarter in any game since then.
Rushing/passing yards per game:
216.7/271.6
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
121.0/136.2
How far can they go?
With a better draw, to the semifinals. Here, quarterfinals are still a possibility.
Sam Sura is chugging along in the backfield, they get Josh Bungum involved in the offense and the defense gets after the quarterback.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
The opposing quarterback can pick his spots in the Johnnie secondary and the offense gets one-dimensional.
This season's turning point:
A week after losing to Concordia-Moorhead, St. John's found itself tied with archrival St. Thomas on the road and chose to punt in four-down territory, pinning the Tommies on their 1-yard line. SJU forced a three-and-out and Sura ran for a 44-yard touchdown on the next play. SJU went on to win 24-14.
Rushing/passing yards per game:
234.5/122.8
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
138.2/189.9
How far can they go?
Well, magic can only carry them so far but if Whitewater doesn't break out of its funk soon ...
Michael Putko is getting chunks of yards off of play-action or option keeps and the defense is applying significant pressure on the quarterback.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
They are spending a lot of time in third down and medium-to-long situations. Wabash's 35.5 percent third down conversion rate has been the red flag all year for Wabash.
This season's turning point:
Recovering from the early-game 60-yard bomb Nash Nance threw to Holton Walker to put Hampden-Sydney up 7-0. Wabash dominated defensively afterward en route to a 34-21 win.
Rushing/passing yards per game:
244.8/204.2
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
53.9/154.8
How far can they go?
Should be favored in the first round, underdogs in the second.
The offense stays ahead of the chains with the running game. It brings more people into the box and allows for single coverage matchups on the outside.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
The defense does not get pressure on the quarterback. Franklin gives up more passing yards than any other playoff team, and does so by a significant margin. That reflects big plays typically happening in the passing game.
This season's turning point:
The Grizzlies survived an upset attempt by Manchester (which finished 4-6) when they scored a touchdown and tacked on a two-point conversion with 1:55 left. Manchester missed a field goal that would have won the game as time expired.
Rushing/passing yards per game:
149.0/328.5
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
158.9/345.5
How far can they go?
Not favored to win the first-round game but Franklin has surprised on the road before.
Brenton Braddock continues to show his 2012 form and the retooled offense is clicking.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
The linebackers can't cover the width of the field and short gains turn into medium or long ones. In the four games against the rest of the big five contenders in the MIAC, the Tommies recorded just six sacks on defense and opponents averaged 6.3 yards per snap, 417 yards per game.
This season's turning point:
When John Gould took over the offense for good, midway through the Bethel game. St. Thomas had struggled at quarterback this season prior to that point but scored 24 second-half point at Bethel, 35 against Concordia-Moorhead and 57 vs. Gustavus.
Rushing/passing yards per game:
253.7/247.7
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
136.1/186.3
How far can they go?
This is a better question for 2015. For now, St. Thomas is going to have to hope it can just beat everyone with offense.
St. Scholastica Saints
Seed:
Likely No. 7, UW-Whitewater bracket
Last Top 25 ranking:
Never ranked
Location:
Duluth, Minn.
Enrollment (FT undergrads):
2414
Stadium:
Public School Stadium/MN-Duluth (5000)
Playing surface:
Turf
Conference:
UMAC
Preseason ranking from Kickoff:
159
Head coach:
Kurt Ramler
Career record:
32-38 (.457) overall, 10-0 (1.000) at St. Scholastica
The Saints use a heavy dose of Preston Robinson to keep the pressure off of quarterback Tyler Harper and standout kicker Mike Theismann is used to convert long field goals rather than settle for short kicks.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
They struggle with the speed of the game and the size of the opponent. St. Scholastica's players generally are not undersized, although the offensive line has just one player over 6-2 and one over 255 and Tyler Harper is listed at 5-7.
This season's turning point:
Forcing a four-and-out after Ripon intercepted a pass at midfield with 1:54 to go and St. Scholastica leading 28-27. It's safe to say that that season-opening win is the difference between drawing St. John's or UW-Whitewater in the first round.
Rushing/passing yards per game:
187.6/229.5
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
149.1/138.3
How far can they go?
Don't see this as the year they get out of the first round.
They are using their two-headed rushing advantage to churn out yards on the ground and shorten the clock. Zandy Stowell and quarterback Samson Bialostok combined for ten 100-yard games rushing this season.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
Bialostok is kept in the pocket, and the defense can't do the same to his counterpart.
This season's turning point:
Trailing Illinois College in the MWC title game, Macalester was facing a second-and-15 at its own 30 and caught a break when a pass was tipped by a defender and into the hands of the Scots' Tre Nowaczynski, who had an easy run for a game-tying 70-yard TD.
UW-Whitewater Warhawks
Wartburg Knights
St. John's Johnnies
Wabash Little Giants
Franklin Grizzlies
St. Thomas Tommies
St. Scholastica Saints
Macalester Scots