Road to Houston (D-III Playoffs 2024)

[bonarae]

Forty teams now, believe it or not...

Conferences and teams receiving automatic qualification (28):
American Rivers Conference Wartburg
American Southwest Conference Hardin-Simmons
Centennial Conference Johns Hopkins
College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin North Central (Illinois)
Conference of New England Endicott
Eastern Collegiate Football Conference Alfred State
Empire 8 SUNY Cortland
Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Mount St. Joseph
Landmark Conference Susquehanna
Liberty League Hobart/William Smith
Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference Massachusetts Dartmouth
Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Hope
Middle Atlantic Conference King’s (Pennsylvania)
Midwest Conference Lake Forest
Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference St. Saint John’s (Minnesota)
New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference Springfield
New Jersey Athletic Conference Salisbury
North Coast Athletic Conference DePauw
Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Aurora
Northwest Conference Linfield
Ohio Athletic Conference Mount Union
Old Dominion Athletic Conference Randolph-Macon
Presidents' Athletic Conference Washington & Jefferson
Southern Athletic Association Berry
Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Pomona-Pitzer
Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Northwestern-St. Paul
USA South Athletic Conference Maryville (Tennessee)
Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Wisconsin-Platteville


At-Large Berths (12):


Bethel (MN)
Carnegie Mellon
Centre
Coe
Grove City
John Carroll
Mary Hardin-Baylor
Texas Lutheran
Trinity (Texas)
Ursinus
Whitworth
Wisconsin-La Crosse

The Division III Football Committee also announced the following 8 first-round sites:
La Crosse, Wisconsin – Wisconsin-La Crosse vs. Northwestern-St. Paul
Cedar Rapids, Iowa – Coe vs. Bethel (Minnesota)
Beverly, Massachusetts – Endicott vs. Alfred St.
Spokane, Washington – Whitworth vs. Pomona-Pitzer
San Antonio, Texas – Trinity (TX) vs. Mary Hardin-Baylor
Rome, Georgia – Berry vs. Maryville (TN)
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania – King’s (Pennsylvania) vs. Ursinus
University Heights, Ohio – John Carroll vs. Mt. St. Joseph
All games start at noon local time.


This year's Stagg Bowl will be at Texas Southern's stadium on January 5, 2025.

[Laker]

Local team St John's is the top ranked team. I've attended games there a number of times- it should be on every football fans list to see one there. Field is in a bowl surrounded by trees- big crowds that get into the action, lakes close by with impressive college buildings in a rural setting. And buy a loaf of Johnnie bread to take home!

[bonarae]

First round: Saturday, Nov. 23

Endicott 44, Alfred State 0
Maryville (TN) 20, Berry 16
King's (PA) 32, Ursinus 29
John Carroll 52, Mt. St. Joseph 7
Wisconsin-La Crosse 59, Northwestern-St. Paul 14
Bethel (MN) 31, Coe 26
Mary Hardin-Baylor 29, Trinity (TX) 22
Whitworth 21, Pomona-Pitzer 13

The Foresters, UChicago's conference's representative in the Road to Houston, will face the Bethel Royals on November 30, 1 PM EST. Carnegie Mellon, UChicago's opener for next season, also had a first round bye and will face Centre College, 12 PM EST on November 30.

[bonarae]

Lake Forest was out right away by losing to Bethel 48-21. Carnegie Mellon advances to the round of 16 by beating Centre 24-15. The Tartans now face Mount Union next on December 7.

Third round: Saturday, Dec. 7

Saint John's (MN) vs. Susquehanna
Wartburg vs. Bethel (MN)
Cortland vs. Springfield
Hope vs. North Central (IL)
Mary Hardin-Baylor vs. Linfield
Johns Hopkins vs. DePauw
Salisbury vs. Randolph-Macon
Carnegie Mellon vs. Mount Union

[bonarae]

Quarterfinals: Saturday, Dec. 14


Susquehanna vs. Bethel (MN) , TBA (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6348821)
Mary Hardin-Baylor vs. Johns Hopkins, TBA (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6348823)
Springfield vs. North Central (IL), TBA (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6348822)
Salisbury vs. Mount Union, TBA (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6348824)

[bonarae]

Quarterfinals: Saturday, Dec. 14

Susquehanna 24, Bethel (MN) 21
Johns Hopkins 17, Mary Hardin-Baylor 10
Mount Union 38, Salisbury 17
North Central (IL) 27, Springfield 3

Semifinals next week

Semifinals: Saturday, Dec. 21 on ESPN+

Susquehanna vs. North Central (IL), TBA
Johns Hopkins vs. Mount Union, TBA

[caribbeanhen]

Local team St John's is the top ranked team. I've attended games there a number of times- it should be on every football fans list to see one there. Field is in a bowl surrounded by trees- big crowds that get into the action, lakes close by with impressive college buildings in a rural setting. And buy a loaf of Johnnie bread to take home!

watching some Bethel Mn at Susquehanna.... noticed the Bethel QB Cooper Drews is second in Div 3 passing yards

also a First team Delaware all state RB named Rashann Le Mons I wanted to see, he's a freshman that was third in Div 3 rushing yards

[Laker]

watching some Bethel Mn at Susquehanna.... noticed the Bethel QB Cooper Drews is second in Div 3 passing yards

also a First team Delaware all state RB named Rashann Le Mons I wanted to see, he's a freshman that was third in Div 3 rushing yards

I was in Valdosta to watch the Mavs lose in the D2 semis on Saturday in 70 degree weather. I get back and read complaints about officiating from Bethel fans. Can't find the replays but they mentioned at least two plays at the end. What happened?

[caribbeanhen]

I was in Valdosta to watch the Mavs lose in the D2 semis on Saturday in 70 degree weather. I get back and read complaints about officiating from Bethel fans. Can't find the replays but they mentioned at least two plays at the end. What happened?

not sure Laker, I’ll check

[caribbeanhen]

I was in Valdosta to watch the Mavs lose in the D2 semis on Saturday in 70 degree weather. I get back and read complaints about officiating from Bethel fans. Can't find the replays but they mentioned at least two plays at the end. What happened?

So Bethel is up 21-17 with 5 minutes left in the 4th and Sasquatch gets the ball back pinned inside their own 10
on a 3rd and 1 they hand off to Le Mons and he was stopped very close to first down but no measurement, Ref just gives him a nice spot and it's a first down around the 40 yard line

drive continues and Susquehanna gets a first and goal on the 4 with about a minute left, on 4th and goal from the one the ref gives the Susquehanna QB the TD on a very close call, bad angle but I didn't see him cross the goal line so its 24-21 and Bethel gets ball back after the kick off on the 25 with 35 seconds left

Bethel QB, who is pretty good, drives em down the field and as time expires hits for a TD pass from the 30 with :00 on the clock... game over? not so fast the refs decide to call holding on Bethel so no TD.... game over after one last hook and ladder play that ended up losing 60 yards

[POD Knows]

So Bethel is up 21-17 with 5 minutes left in the 4th and Sasquatch gets the ball back pinned inside their own 10
on a 3rd and 1 they hand off to Le Mons and he was stopped very close to first down but no measurement, Ref just gives him a nice spot and it's a first down around the 40 yard line

drive continues and Bethel gets a first and goal on the 4 with about a minute left, on 4th and 1 they give the Susquehanna QB the TD on a very close call, bad angle but I didn't see him cross the goal line so its 24-21 and Bethel gets ball back on the 25 with 35 seconds left

Their QB, who is pretty good, drives em down the field and as time expires hits for a TD pass from the 30 with :00 on the clock... game over? not so fast the refs decide to call holding on Bethel so no TD.... game over
Is it just me or are these first two paragraphs confusing as hell.

[caribbeanhen]

Is it just me or are these first two paragraphs confusing as hell.

it was confusing as all hell, I edited it and bolded Susquehanna because before it said Bethel

I should of just pasted the drive summary

I understand why these Bethel parents are pizzed

[bonarae]

Mount Union vs. North Central in the Stagg Bowl.

The oligarchy is alive and well?

[Laker]

Mount Union vs. North Central in the Stagg Bowl.

The oligarchy is alive and well?

Unfortunately, it seems to be the same old same old.

[ysubigred]

Mount Union vs. North Central in the Stagg Bowl.

The oligarchy is alive and well?

Go Raiders!! Crazy how successful they are just a few miles away from YSU. A few years ago, their fans called for a YSU matchup.. laughable then but the way the Guins have played recently flightless birds might want to stay away LOL..

[bonarae]

North Central beats Mount Union, 41-25.

[Laker]

North Central beats Mount Union, 41-25.

I was surprised at the point difference. I thought it was huge when MU failed to get off the field goal attempt at the end of the half. That mental mistake really cost them.

[OhioHen]

Unfortunately, it seems to be the same old same old.
Not unlike NDSU in Frisco every year.

Back in the day, Dayton seemed to be in the Stagg Bowl every year and the whining led to the "all-sports have to play at or above the level of football" rule and eventually the Pioneer League.