As we all know Appalachian State started the season by shocking everyone in the college football world when they upset Michigan, but they wanted to finish the season winning their third straight FCS Division championship. Delaware, led by two former University of Pittsburgh players, tried to put a stop to it, but could not do it. ASU had control of the entire game to win their third title in 3 years, 49-21.

The Division II game was probably the best game of the weekend. Valdosta State scored with under 30 seconds to go in the game to win the championship over Northwest Missouri State 25-20.

For the third time in 3 years, Mount Union played UW-Whitewater in the Division III championship. But for the first time in that time frame UW-Whitewater came out on top. The Raiders made a game of it in the second half, but UW-Whitewater pulled away to win 31-21.

Congratulations to Appalachian State, Valdosta State, and UW-Whitewater.

For the first time in three seasons, the Division II Championship will not include Grand Valley State. Northwest Missouri used its homefield advantage to beat GVSU 34-16. That loss snapped the Lakers’ 40 game winning streak. In the other semifinal, California (PA) had a chance to win the game late, but threw an interception in the endzone which sealed the victory for Valdosta State, 28-24. Valdosta State will face Northwest Missouri, kickoff for Saturday’s Championship Game is set for 11:00 AM at Braly Municipal Stadium. The game will be televised nationally by ESPN2.

In the one Division III semifinal, the Purple Raiders of Mt. Union continued their reign of dominance by beating Bethel 62-14. Mt Union was leading at the half, 41-0. Standing in the way of the Purple Raiders’ third consecutive title will be their familiar foe, UW-Whitewater. They held on to beat Mary Hardin-Baylor 16-7. The game between Mt. Union and UW-Whitewater will be a rematch of the 2005 and 2006 game where Mt. Union won them both. The 35th Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl is set for Saturday, December 15, at Salem Stadium in Salem, Virginia. Game time is set for 4:00 p.m. and will be televised live on ESPN.

Grand Valley State takes one step closer to winning their third Division II title in a row. Next week they will host NW Missouri State, while the other semifinal will showcase California (PA) and Valdosta State.

Northwest Region
Central Washington 21 at Grand Valley State 41

Southwest Region
NW Missouri State 26 at Chadron State 13

Northeast Region
Shepherd 38 at California (PA) 58

Southeast Region
North Alabama 23 at Valdosta State 37

Semifinals
NW Missouri State at Grand Valley State
Valdosta State vs California (PA)

Central Washington pulls the upset of the tourney so far beating the #1 overall seed Nebraska-Omaha, while Grand Valley State beats the last team to beat them two years ago. Another #1 seed, Chadron State needed 3 overtimes to defeat Abilene Christina.

Northwest Region
Central Washington 20 at Nebraska-Omaha 17
North Dakota 14 at Grand Valley State 21

Central Washington plays at Grand Valley State

Southwest Region
Abilene Christina 73 at Chadron State 76 3OT
West Texas A&M 28 at NW Missouri State 56

NW Missouri State plays at Chadron State

Northeast Region
Southern Connecticut State 7 at California (PA) 43
Indiana (PA) 34 at Shepherd 41

Shepherd plays at California (PA)

Southeast Region
Catawba 29 at Valdosta State 55
Delta State 17 at North Alabama 20

North Alabama plays at Valdosta State

The Division II playoffs started yesterday with 16 teams in action. The scores are listed by Region and the winners move on to play next Saturday in the second round.

Northwest Region
Central Washington 40 Ashland 24
North Dakota 44 Winona State 2

Central Washington plays at Nebraska-Omaha.
North Dakota plays at Grand Valley State.

Southwest Region
Abilene Christian 56 Mesa State 12
West Texas A&M 40 Washburn 39

Abilene Christina plays at Chadron State
West Texas A&M plays at NW Missouri State.

Northeast Region
Southern Connecticut State 45 Bryant 28
Indiana (PA) 45 West Chester 35

Southern Connecticut State plays at California (PA).
Indiana (PA) plays at Shepherd.

Southeast Region
Catawba 66 Albany State 35
Delta State 45 Shaw 7

Catawba plays at Valdosta State.
Delta State plays at North Alabama.

The 24 team Division II football bracket was released today. Play starts next week and will continue until the champion is crowned on December 15 2007. The defending champion is Grand Valley State. The brackets are below.

Northwest Region
5. Ashland (8-1) at 4. Central Washington (8-2)
Winner plays 1. Nebraska-Omaha (10-0)

6. Winona State (10-1) at 3. North Dakota (9-1)
Winner plays 2. Grand Valley State (10-0)

Southwest Region
5. Mesa State (10-1) at 4. Abilene Christian (9-2)
Winner plays 1. Chadron State (11-0)

6. Washburn (8-3) at 3. West Texas A&M (11-0)
Winner plays 2. NW Missouri State (9-1)

Northeast Region
5. Bryant (8-2) at 4. Southern Connecticut State (8-3)
Winner plays 1. California (PA) (11-0)

6. Indiana (PA) (8-2) at 3. West Chester (9-2)
Winner plays 2. Shepherd (9-1)

Southeast Region
5. Albany State (GA) (8-2) at 4. Catawba (10-1)
Winner plays 1. Valdosta State (9-1)

6. Shaw (8-3) at 3. Delta State (9-1)
Winner plays 2. North Alabama (9-1)

The winner of the Northwest Region will play the winner of the Southwest Region while the Norteast and Southeast region winners will play each other in the semifinals. In The Bleachers will have the weekly results and bracket update, so keep checking back.

Rank
1 Grand Valley State (25)
2 Northwest Missouri State (2)
3 North Dakota (1)
4 North Alabama
5 Chadron State
6 Valdosta State
7 Pittsburg State
8 Shepherd
9 Bloomsburg
10 South Dakota
11 Abilene Christian
12 Delta State
13 Nebraska-Omaha
14 Northwood
15 Carson-Newman
16 Newberry
17 West Chester
18 Southeastern Oklahoma
19 Bemidji State
20 Albany State
21 Elizabeth City State
22 California (Pa.)
23 Midwestern State
24 West Texas A&M
25 Washburn 86

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.), 79; Tiffin (Ohio), 70; Missouri Western St., 59; Southern Connecticut St., 53; Indiana (Pa.), 36; Tuskegee (Ala.), 36; Southwestern Oklahoma St., 26; Winona St. (Minn.), 26; St. Augustine’s (N.C.), 25; Tarleton St. (Texas), 22; Humboldt St. (Calif.), 20; Nebraska-Kearney, 12; C.W. Post (N.Y.), 9; Catawba (N.C.), 9; Fayetteville St. (N.C.), 9; Central Washington, 8; Ferris St. (Mich.), 7; Wingate (N.C.), 7; Arkansas Tech, 5; Bowie St. (Md.), 5; Mary (N.D.), 5; Henderson St. (Ark.), 4; North Greenville (S.C.), 3; Western Washington, 3; Kentucky St., 2; Minnesota-Duluth, 2; Lane (Tenn.), 1; Merrimack (Mass.), 1; Texas A&M-Kingsville, 1.

Grand Valley State 49 vs Delta State 30
NW Missouri State 33 vs Bloomsburg 3

Grand Valley State will defend their Division II title against NW Missouri State on December 16 at noon on ESPN2 at Florence, Alabama.