Road to McKinney (D-II Football Playoffs 2024)

[bonarae]

Field is set.

The first-round dates, sites and pairings are:

November 23 at Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania
New Haven (8-2) at Slippery Rock (9-1)

November 23 at Charleston, West Virginia
Ashland (8-3) at Charleston (West Virginia) (11-0)

November 23 at California, Pennsylvania
East Stroudsburg (10-1) at California (PA) (8-2)

November 23 at Fairfield, Alabama
Carson-Newman (9-2) at Miles (9-2)

November 23 at Wingate, North Carolina
Virginia Union (8-3) at Wingate (9-1)

November 23 at Livingston, Alabama
Lenoir-Rhyne (9-2) at West Alabama (9-1)

November 23 at Edmond, Oklahoma
Ouachita Baptist (10-1) at Central Oklahoma (10-1)

November 23 at Allendale, Michigan
Indianapolis (10-1) at Grand Valley State (10-1)

November 23 at Pittsburg, Kansas
Harding (10-1) at Pittsburg State (8-2)

November 23 at Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Minnesota State Mankato (8-3) at Augustana (South Dakota) (8-3)

November 23 at Gunnison, Colorado
Central Washington (8-3) at Western Colorado University (10-1)

November 23 at San Angelo, Texas
Bemidji State (8-3) at Angelo State (9-2)

The following institutions earned first-round byes in each super region and will host a second-round game on November 30, 2024.

Super Region One: 1. Kutztown (11-0)
Super Region Two: 1. Valdosta State (10-0)
Super Region Three: 1. Ferris State (10-1)
Super Region Four: 1. Colorado State University-Pueblo (10-1)

All contests shall start at 1 p.m. local time. Other times may be established if approved by the committee.

The championship game will be played December 21, at 2 p.m. Eastern time at McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas and will be broadcast live on ESPN2 HD.

[Laker]

Mavs made the playoffs despite dropping their last game for the second year in a row to UMD. The reward is going to Augustana for the second year in a row, to play a team that they lost to in the regular season two years in a row. I'm hoping for a different result this time, but there are a lot of things that have to be straightened out for that to happen. With as many injuries that they have had, I'm hoping that the MASH unit heals up. I wouldn't do any hitting all week- let them rest and recover both physically and mentally.

[CHIP72]

East Stroudsburg (the only of the three D2 teams I follow to make the playoffs) got the short end of the stick with their SR1 playoff positioning. Despite finishing with a 10-1 mark (their only loss was to SR1 #1 seed and overall PSAC champion Kutztown), the Warriors were not a top 4 Super Region seed, so they'll hit the road to play at California (PA), aka Cal U, in the first round. The Fighting Spocks, I mean Vulcans, were the PSAC West Division champs but lost in the PSAC State Game to Kutztown.

[bonarae]

First round: Saturday, Nov. 23

No. 4 Miles 14, Carson-Newman 13
No. 4 Slippery Rock 14, New Haven 7
Ashland 40, No. 2 Charleston (WV) 38
Minnesota State 20, No. 4 Augustana (SD) 19
No. 3 California (PA) 30, East Stroudsburg 27
Virginia Union 34, No. 2 Wingate 31
No. 2 Grand Valley State 24, UIndy 7
Harding 48, No. 3 Pittsburg State 3
Lenoir-Rhyne 37, No. 3 West Alabama 34
No. 4 Central Oklahoma 38, Ouachita Baptist 31
Bemidji State 24, No. 3 Angelo State 14
No. 2 Western Colorado 28, Central Washington 21

[CHIP72]

East Stroudsburg suffered a tough loss in the first round of the D2 playoffs, losing to host California (PA) 30-27 on a field goal on the last play of the game. The visiting Warriors held a 21-13 halftime lead, but Cal U scored on all three of their 2nd half possessions, including their game winning points after ESU doinked a FG attempt with less than 5 minutes left in regulation. That drive resulting in the missed field goal was the second and final time the Warriors had the ball in the final 30 minutes, and the only 2nd half possession in which the offensive team failed to score.

ESU finishes its season 10-2. Unlike last season however, at least the Warriors lost a close game in their first round playoff defeat.

[Laker]

Mavs were down by nine with about 3 minutes to play. Drove the field, scored a TD with a little over a minute. Got the onside, kicked a field goal as time expired for the second time this season to win 20-19. Augie dominated the statistics but only got field goals instead of putting them away. Vikings had owned the Mavs the last three games- two last year including a crushing playoff win, and earlier this year dominated in Mankato.

Also happy that Bemidji won at Angelo.

[JacksFan40]

Mavs were down by nine with about 3 minutes to play. Drove the field, scored a TD with a little over a minute. Got the onside, kicked a field goal as time expired for the second time this season to win 20-19. Augie dominated the statistics but only got field goals instead of putting them away. Vikings had owned the Mavs the last three games- two last year including a crushing playoff win, and earlier this year dominated in Mankato.

Also happy that Bemidji won at Angelo.
Classic Augie, can’t deliver when the lights are bright. Feels like that program should be way better than it is.

[Bisonoline]

Mavs were down by nine with about 3 minutes to play. Drove the field, scored a TD with a little over a minute. Got the onside, kicked a field goal as time expired for the second time this season to win 20-19. Augie dominated the statistics but only got field goals instead of putting them away. Vikings had owned the Mavs the last three games- two last year including a crushing playoff win, and earlier this year dominated in Mankato.

Also happy that Bemidji won at Angelo.

So where do the Mavs go now?

[Laker]

So where do the Mavs go now?

Sorry, didn't see this until now. They went to CSU-Pueblo. Were down late by ten. Scored a TD, got the onside for the second week in a row, then tied it up in the last minute. Picked off a pass and kicked the game winner with one second to go. Since Bemidji won by a point at Western Colorado, the Beavers come to Kato next Saturday. I was going to see the 17th game in person but woke up sick on Friday. Hope I am ready for the next game. Mavs beat the Beavers by two on the last play in Game Two in Kato. Great back and forth game. Bemidji's defense is stout and their QB can run and pass.

[bonarae]

Full list of quarterfinal games:

Quarterfinals: Saturday, Dec. 7

No. 3 California (PA) vs. No. 4 Slippery Rock, TBA
No. 1 Valdosta St. vs. Virginia Union, TBA
No. 1 Ferris State vs. Harding, TBA
Minnesota State vs. Bemidji State, TBA

[Laker]

Full list of quarterfinal games:

Quarterfinals: Saturday, Dec. 7

No. 3 California (PA) vs. No. 4 Slippery Rock, TBA
No. 1 Valdosta St. vs. Virginia Union, TBA
No. 1 Ferris State vs. Harding, TBA
Minnesota State vs. Bemidji State, TBA

Mavs are hosting the Beavers at 2 PM since the women's soccer team is hosting Grand Valley State in the Elite 8 at noon. Fortunately, not on the same grass field. But the Minnesota State grounds crew has done an outstanding job on both of those fields.

[bonarae]

Semifinals: Saturday, Dec. 14 on ESPN+


Valdosta State vs. Minnesota State, 12 p.m. ET
Ferris State vs. Slippery Rock, 3:30 p.m. ET

[Laker]

Watched the women's soccer team beat Grand Valley in a shootout- they were introduced on the football field at halftime. Saw the Mavs hold on to win by four with the Beavers down to the three when the last pass was knocked away on fourth down with seconds to go. Two exciting Elite 8 games at home on the same day!

[Chalupa Batman]

Watched the women's soccer team beat Grand Valley in a shootout- they were introduced on the football field at halftime. Saw the Mavs hold on to win by four with the Beavers down to the three when the last pass was knocked away on fourth down with seconds to go. Two exciting Elite 8 games at home on the same day!

Caught the end of this game, yet another exciting finish for the Mavs! Now it's time to go down to Valdosta and repay the favor from when they came up and beat MSU (I think) 12 years ago.

[bonarae]

Valdosta vs. Ferris for the D-II football championship next week in McKinney.

Semifinals: Saturday, Dec. 14 on ESPN+

Valdosta State 35, Minnesota State 21
Ferris State 48, Slippery Rock 38

[Laker]

Caught the end of this game, yet another exciting finish for the Mavs! Now it's time to go down to Valdosta and repay the favor from when they came up and beat MSU (I think) 12 years ago.

Mavs played pretty well- Blazers played almost perfect. You could see the difference in speed. Have to hand it to VSU, Mavs had their chances but they played better. I did enjoy being in the sunny 70 degree weather there.

[bonarae]

Ferris State dominated Valdosta State 49-14 to win their yet another D-II football title.

[Laker]

Ferris State dominated Valdosta State 49-14 to win their yet another D-II football title.

News that the Valdosta State head coach was heading to Prairie View A&M was leaked. Not sure if it was before the game or once it started, but the news had gotten out early.

[ysubigred]

Valdosta vs. Ferris for the D-II football championship next week in McKinney.

Semifinals: Saturday, Dec. 14 on ESPN+

Valdosta State 35, Minnesota State 21
Ferris State 48, Slippery Rock 38

SRU another annual YSU whipping boy now looking strong as heck!