The Cru defense is taking the ball away and giving the offense short fields to work with. Exceptional defense is a Crusader calling card and UMHB is second nationally with 31 takeaways.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
The offense is struggling on third down. In their two low output games this year, the Cru converted just seven of 24 third downs and managed to score just enough to win.
This season's turning point:
Anthony Avila's 43-yard walk off field goal against Hardin-Simmons. The Cru never led in this game until the clock hit all zeroes. The close call seems to have given life to this team as the Cru have won by an average of 61 points in the three games since.
Strength of schedule (rank):
.483 (163)
Rushing/passing yards per game:
214.7/206.8
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
68.3/145.7
Yards per play/allowed per play:
7.0 /3.3
How far can they go?
The early-season blip seems to be past them, giving the Cru a good shot at making this year their fourth in a row to end at the Stagg Bowl.
They do what they've always done when successful: Pound the rock, run the ball and wear down the opposition. Alex Peete, Jarrod Ware, and on occasion Ronny Ponnick, all average between 34 and 75 yards per game.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
Zach Oles throws interceptions, perhaps many of them, consecutively. The Warhawks can't convert within the red zone and the opposing quarterback has time to throw.
This season's turning point:
Getting by on the road in September against a highly ranked NAIA team after its starting quarterback was knocked out on the first play from scrimmage. St. Xavier ended up 8-2 and is in the NAIA playoffs.
Strength of schedule (rank):
.575 (9)
Rushing/passing yards per game:
188.5/192.4
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
73.4/219.2
Yards per play/allowed per play:
5.5/4.2
How far can they go?
No. 7 seems a better ranking than No. 3 overall for a team that has not put opponents away as readily as it has done in national title years. But UW-Whitewater will still be a formidable opponent in this bracket.
The clock is winding, the offense is clicking, and the defense is rotating fresh bodies in (and getting results). Mason Opple, the dual-threat quarterback, keeps the offense moving and is a tough, hard runner to bring down.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
They turn the ball over or commit penalties. While that might sound cliche, Hope has turned the ball over three times all season and has not thrown an interception, best in Division III. The Flying Dutchmen average just 3.5 penalties per game as well, seventh-best in D-III.
This season's turning point:
After splitting their first two games, Hope tacked on a touchdown with 1:10 left against Aurora, giving them a nine-point cushion so that when the Spartans scored on a hook-and-ladder play 17 seconds later, Hope could just recover the onside kick and kneel out the clock.
Strength of schedule (rank):
.529 (60)
Rushing/passing yards per game:
288.0/151.7
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
103.7/217.3
Yards per play/allowed per play:
6.5/5.0
How far can they go?
Seedings say first-round win, but it will be a battle to get past Wartburg.
Quarterback Nathan Martinez is accurate and efficient. Martinez has been outstanding in each of Redlands' nine wins. In their lone loss, Chapman harassed Martinez into an 8-18 performance and intercepted him twice.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
The Bulldog ground game struggles. The Bulldogs utilize a two-headed rushing attack with Kai Thompson and Mason Carvalho. Carvalho has been the more explosive runner of the two, but has missed the last two games.
This season's turning point:
A 27-19 win over Linfield on Sep. 21. Not only was this Mike Maynard's 200th career win, but this win singularly buoyed Redlands in the regional rankings and essentially assured their spot in these playoffs as a Pool C invitee.
Strength of schedule (rank):
.548 (27)
Rushing/passing yards per game:
224.3/208.3
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
51.5/204.4
Yards per play/allowed per play:
6.3/4.1
How far can they go?
They're playing well, but it will take a lot more than that to advance with such an inappropriate first-round draw.
Bennett Goettsch and Mason Carter are clicking along on the ground, providing quarterback Noah Dodd (21 touchdowns, two interceptions) with a legitimate running threat. The defense, secondary especially, comes away with turnovers.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
The defenders are getting beaten over the top, the quarterback is able to run the ball and they can't get the ball into the hands of JoJo McNair on offense or defense.
This season's turning point:
When the regional rankings came out after the loss to Central and Wartburg still had a shot at an at-large bid.
Strength of schedule (rank):
.573 (10)
Rushing/passing yards per game:
185.1/271.7
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
135.7/205.3
Yards per play/allowed per play:
6.5/4.9
How far can they go?
Maximum one win, unless 2014 comes walking through that door.
Mason Kinsey is catching passes and Isaiah Dawson is taking handoffs and all is right with the world on offense, while the defense is taking away the home-run threat.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
A team that likes to run gets out and runs all over them, and there's not nearly enough offense to make up for that.
This season's turning point:
Trinity (Texas) bottled up Birmingham-Southern and standout running back Robert Shufford, beating the Panthers 20-10 and putting Berry back in control of its own destiny in the SAA race with a week to play.
The defense gets the offense some short fields to work with and makes it possible for the offense to convert early possessions into points.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
The passing game can't move the ball and the defense, which shone against some of the teams near the bottom of the MWC standings, can't replicate that success against an NCAA playoff team.
This season's turning point:
Freshman Carter Boyer came off the bench with 55 seconds left in the season and went 5-for-5 for 76 yards and a touchdown to lift Monmouth past St. Norbert 10-7 in the Midwest Conference title game.
Otis Porter gets the ball early and often and has room to make something of it. In a three-game stretch of October against some of the best teams in the USA South, he caught 27 passes for 370 yards and six touchdowns, which ended up being about half of his output for the season.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
They can't get the defense off the field. Huntingdon lost three games this season, but the most problematic was a conference loss to N.C. Wesleyan in which the Battling Bishops were able to convert 11 of 16 third downs. The Hawks only had the ball a little over 20 minutes.
This season's turning point:
Rattling off a run of five consecutive wins, including victories against conference contenders Brevard and Averett, after starting the season 1-2. That included a 44-14 loss at UW-Oshkosh.
Strength of schedule (rank):
.511 (105)
Rushing/passing yards per game:
211.7/208.8
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
146.6/206.7
Yards per play/allowed per play:
6.1/5.4
How far can they go?
The Hawks are simply not playing consistently enough for us to suggest they can get past the first round.
Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders
UW-Whitewater Warhawks
Hope Flying Dutchmen
Redlands Bulldogs
Wartburg Knights
Berry Vikings
Monmouth Scots
Huntingdon Hawks