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| Freddy June threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in Brockport's come-from-behind win. Brockport athletics photo |
Brockport and Union had thrilling come-from-behind wins, while Muhlenberg and Salisbury each had shutout wins in the first round of the upper right-hand bracket of the NCAA Division III playoffs.
- Full first-round scoreboard
- Updated playoff bracket
- Follow the first round on the Bracket Blitz
- First-round wrapups: Wheaton bracket | UMHB | Mount Union | Salisbury
- Playoff team capsules: UMHB bracket | Mount Union | Salisbury | Wheaton
- Our playoff picks, surprises, disappointments
- Golden Bears look to take next step
- North Central: In playoff mode since October
Biggest playoff shutoutsSalisbury's 83-0 win against SUNY-Maritime was the biggest shutout in Division III football playoff history. It was the second shutout win by 70 points or more and the ninth by 60 points or more. The playoffs expanded to five rouns in 1999. 1976 semifinals: St. John's 61, Buena Vista 0 |
Western New England jumped out to a 14-6 lead, but the Brockport offense found itself in the second half and went on to win 33-28 at Western New England. The win marks the third consecutive season in which Brockport won a first-round playoff game.
Trailing 14-12 late in the second quarter, Brockport (9-2) missed a 29-yard field goal wide left. But Lawrence Jenkins intercepted Brendan Smith on the next play from scrimmage, and the Golden Eagles ground out a six-play, 25-yard drive behind runs from quarterback Freddy June and running back Jala Coad to give Brockport the 19-14 lead. After a three-and-out by Western New England (9-2), June busted out an 11-yard run and Coad followed with a 53-yarder to put Brockport up by two scores. Smith hit Adam Razza for two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but June also scored at the end of a 75-yard drive to keep the Golden Bears at bay.
"Our first mission is to always stop the run. Make them one-dimensional with the passing game," said senior linebacker Alex West about Brockport's defensive game plan. "Then we can get after the quarterback and get some sacks. Coach Fox (defensive coordinator) always has a great game plan."
Brockport more than doubled up the home team in time of possession, 41:36-18:24 in the contest. Their first two scoring drives of the day were both over seven minutes long. On the flip side, Western New England's first half scores came off of drives less than one minute.
Drew Saxton was efficient and effective for Case Western Reserve in the first half, hitting Colt Morgan twice for touchdowns to help the Spartans (9-2) build a 21-3 lead. But Saxton was sacked midway through the third quarter and came out and Ryan Coolidge, his backup, fumbled, giving Union the ball at the Case 31. Will Bellamy hit Griffin Beal two plays later for a 17-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 21-10.
Saxton returned and the Spartans had a drive sputter at the Union 40. Pinned on its own 4-yard line, Union (11-0), saw Bellamy complete seven of nine passes on the next drive, capped by a 16-yarder to Beal to cut the lead to 21-16. The Dutchmen blocked a Case field goal attempt on the ensuing drive and Bellamy led another drive, hitting Andre Ross Jr. for a 36-yard TD and capping it off with a two-point conversion pass to Beal. Union got two fourth-down stops to seal the 24-21 win. Saxton completed 15 of his first 17 passes but ended up 24-for-37 on the day, with Morgan catching 14 passes for 175 yards and two scores. Bellamy was 17-for-29 for 235 yards and three scores in the win, with all of the passes going to Beal (10-118-2) and Ross (7-117-1).
Salisbury rolled out to a 42-0 lead in the first quarter and led 63-0 at the half as the Sea Gulls ran all over SUNY-Maritime 83-0. It was the largest shutout in NCAA Division III football playoff history. Jack Lanham threw just three passes all afternoon, while 12 players got carries for the Sea Gulls (10-0). Lanham ran for three scores on his six carries, while Mike-Ryan Mofor ran for 103 yards and two scores on nine carries. The Privateers, the automatic qualifier from the ECFC, were held to 71 yards of total offense in falling to 5-6.
Fourth-ranked Muhlenberg started slow, punting on five of its first seven possessions and only led MIT 21-0 at the half, but the Mules put it away in the third quarter and cruised to a 38-0 win. Mike Hnatkowsky was 19-for-32 passing for 22 yards and three touchdowns in the win and the Mules defense limited MIT to 95 yards of total offense.
Union will play at Salisbury in the second round, and Muhlenberg will host Brockport, although the sites won't be made official by the NCAA until Sunday.