They run the ball for over 300 yards and hit on a few passes here and there to allow the defense play their bend but don't break style of football. Jack Lanham averages more than 100 yards passing per game, plus he is one of the six players who average between 30 and 70 yards on the ground.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
The defense allows long pass plays and the offense fumbles the ball away. Lanham has only fumbled once, as have each of the other five ball-carriers, but an option offense always runs the risk of putting the ball on the ground.
This season's turning point:
Holding Wesley to a 20-yd field goal with 9:27 left to keep a one-possession lead. The Sea Gulls' offense scored on the next drive to put the game, and the Wolverines' chances of winning the NJAC, out of reach.
Strength of schedule (rank):
.488 (159)
Rushing/passing yards per game:
327.8/131.2
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
75.9/205.2
Yards per play/allowed per play:
7.7/4.7
How far can they go?
Salisbury can go as far as they can go while holding onto the football. Over the past 20 years, option teams have topped out at the national quarterfinals, and Salisbury knows this, but the Sea Gulls can throw the ball a little more than they, or Springfield teams of the past can handle.
Their defense is on the sideline. The Mules defense held opponents to just 26.5% conversion rate on third downs, while their offense ranks fourth in the nation, converting 55.9% of its third down attempts. When Muhlenberg's defense is on the field, it is often in the opponent's backfield. Led by Frankie Feaster's 11.5, the Mules tallied 40 sacks this season.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
The offense can't find balance. The only time the Mules struggled this year was in a Week 3 overtime victory over Susquehanna. The River Hawks held the Mules to 89 yards rushing on 2.5 yards per carry. An effective ground game makes quarterback Michael Hnatkowsky and his receivers nearly unstoppable. James Diggs and Mark Riggio lead a rushing attack that averaged 165.1 yards per game in the Mules' other nine contests.
This season's turning point:
The aforementioned victory over Susquehanna. Surviving that game led to the Mules' conference championship and ultimately kept the River Hawks out of the playoffs. No other team came within 15 points of the Mules, who won their games by an average of 30 points this season.
Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year Ike Irabor is running the ball well and helping the Dutchmen control the clock, while the defense is producing quick three-and-outs.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
The secondary gets beat deep and quarterback Will Bellamy can't get into a rhythm with key wide receiver Andre Ross, Jr.
This season's turning point:
After a relatively soft out-of-conference slate, the Dutchmen dominated and beat then-No. 21 and 4-0 Hobart behind Irabor's 191 rushing yards and a pick-six on defense.
Strength of schedule (rank):
.508 (116)
Rushing/passing yards per game:
191.7/212.5
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
73.5/196.3
Yards per play/allowed per play:
6.1/4.1
How far can they go?
Irabor is a pretty special running back, and that's a huge weapon to have in your back pocket in November and December. But if they advance to the second round, they'll be trying to do all of that at a much higher level, and that will be a tough level to reach.
Quarterback Alec Coleman is scoring touchdowns via the run, pass or catch. Coleman's TD reception came from wide receiver Adam Razzar in Week 11 against Husson. Coleman has thrown for 1,994 yards in eight games this season.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
The defense can't get off the field on third down or is struggling to stop the run. Playing Brockport won't quite be like playing Stetson, which is a D-I FCS non-scholarship school that is currently 6-4, 3-4 in the non-scholarship Pioneer League. But it could be close. Stetson converted nine of 14 third downs and held the ball for 34 minutes.
This season's turning point:
Ricky Montalvo intercepted a Salve Regina pass in Golden Bear territory with 1:32 left in the game and WNEU held on for a 38-31 victory. Nobody in the final four weeks of the season played WNEU to less than an 11-point defeat, and Endicott only got there on a TD with 1:17 left to lose 42-31.
Strength of schedule (rank):
.491 (156)
Rushing/passing yards per game:
199.2/288.0
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
153.5/230.8
Yards per play/allowed per play:
6.9/5.0
How far can they go?
A home game is great, but this is probably not a year where WNEU advances.
The offensive line is opening running lanes for Jala Coad and the defense is shutting down the run and scoring points off of turnovers.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
The offensive game plan has to rely on passing. The once high-flying Golden Eagles air attack has only mustered seven passing TDs this season.
This season's turning point:
After an ugly opening loss to Hobart, Brockport defensive back Raylens Boutin scored on 11 and 58 yard pick-sixes to give the Golden Eagles a 14-0 win over Framingham State. Brockport didn't look back and won its third consecutive Empire 8 title.
Strength of schedule (rank):
.532 (51)
Rushing/passing yards per game:
223.3/183.0
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
28.3/194.5
Yards per play/allowed per play:
5.5/3.8
How far can they go?
Depends quite a bit on whether Freddy June is available to play quarterback, which he hasn't done since the Cortland game.
They are efficient on offense, play four full quarters of defense and don't give up late scores.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
Quarterback Drew Saxton is struggling. He completed 62.1 percent of his passes through the first seven games, throwing 19 TDs and seven interceptions. In the final three games, he completed 56% of his passes, threw five TDs and five picks.
This season's turning point:
Case's 43-yard field goal attempt hit the crossbar as time expired in Week 11 against Carnegie Mellon, handing the Spartans a loss one week after a three-point win against a 1-9 team.
Strength of schedule (rank):
.466 (192)
Rushing/passing yards per game:
116.6/273.3
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
119.1/179.6
Yards per play/allowed per play:
5.7/4.6
How far can they go?
As far as Drew Saxton can carry them, which is further if he is at his best.
The defense is causing turnovers and quarterback Chris Mauck is able to find his receivers for gains of 20 yards or more.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
It gets to fourth down. MIT is not only in the bottom 20 in terms of fourth-down conversion percentage, they're also one of the worst in terms of stopping opponents on fourth down.
This season's turning point:
An 11-yard Ashton Robinson touchdown run with under a minute to go gave MIT a much-needed 22-16 win over Coast Guard and boost of confidence going into a must-win matchup against then-unbeaten WPI. The plucky (Cambridge) Engineers had to comeback in their final four conference games to win the NEWMAC.
Strength of schedule (rank):
.514 (99)
Rushing/passing yards per game:
153.9/179.7
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
117.0/174.4
Yards per play/allowed per play:
4.8/4.6
How far can they go?
This is another instance where MIT will be overmatched in the first round.
The Privateers running backs rush for more than 100 yards and the quarterback doesn't throw interceptions. Jack Lynn was in the lineup for the last three games and completed 45 of 87 passes.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
The defense struggles to get off the field and forces the offense to play from behind.
This season's turning point:
Lynn's first start at quarterback was against Gallaudet in what effectively ended up being a winner-take-automatic-bid contest. Lynn led the offense well, passing for 114 yards and handing the ball off to his running backs 43 times in the 24-13 win.
Strength of schedule (rank):
.376 (232nd of 237)
Rushing/passing yards per game:
152.3/123.3
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
173.6/153.7
Yards per play/allowed per play:
4.2/5.6
How far can they go?
It's the second-place team in the lowest-ranked conference in Division III. Shocking the world is unlikely.
Salisbury Sea Gulls
Muhlenberg Mules
Union Dutchmen
Western New England Golden Bears
Brockport Golden Eagles
Case Western Reserve Spartans
MIT Engineers
SUNY-Maritime Privateers