MSFA goes 2-2 in NAIA First Round
 | #2 Marian 17, #13 Reinhardt (Ga.) 7BOX SCORE • FULL RECAP |  |
The #2 Marian defense held #13 Reinhardt (Ga.) to just 102 yards of total offense in inclement weather, as the Knights advance to the NAIA quarterfinals following a 17-7 home victory.
Reinhardt (9-3) opened the game with a 92-yard kick return touchdown, and held the lead throughout the first quarter, until Ethan Darter found Johnny William for an 18-yard TD pass to even the score. Matt Plesac's 20-yard field goal put the home team up 10-7 at the half, and Darter threw another late TD pass as the defense held the Eagles to just 1-for-12 on third-down opportunities.
Darter finished with 161 yards in the win, while the duo of Tristen Tonte and Charles Salary tallied 99 and 91 rushing yards, respectively. William was the star of the MU receiving corps, catching six passes for 105 yards.
MSFA Mideast League Defensive Player of the Year Nickai Poyser led the Knights with nine tackles on defense, including a team-high two tackles for loss. Mac Dutra made eight tackles and recovered a key fumble in the first quarter, when Reinhardt was near the goal line and pushing for a two-score lead. Bailey Bennett finished with eight tackles, and Ryley Pease had three tackles and an interception.
The Knights will host #10 Cumberlands (Ky.) next Saturday in the quarterfinal round.
 | #9 Saint Xavier 25, #8 Northwestern (Iowa) 20BOX SCORE • FULL RECAP |  |
#9 Saint Xavier forced three takeaways in the fourth quarter, as the Cougar defense held up a five-point lead in a 25-20 road win over #8 Northwestern (Iowa).
Holding on to a 22-20 lead after a Red Raider (9-2) touchdown early in the fourth quarter, the Cougars were held to a three-and-out. Driving for the potential go-ahead score, Northwestern was stopped when Jaleel Holloway forced and recovered a fumble for the Cougars (9-2).
After a 26-yard field goal from Kyle Hassert, Northwestern again looked to take a lead, but Peyton Nigro grabbed his second interception of the year near midfield. Saint Xavier ran more time off the clock but were unable to score, surrendering the ball again to the Red Raiders. Needing one final stop to secure the win, Ron Carroll swiped his fifth pick of the year to advance his team to the next round of the playoffs.
MSFA Midwest League Offensive Player of the Year Alex Martinez threw for 345 yards, his sixth consecutive 300-yard game, completing 37 of 58 passes in the win. Running back Vance McShane posted 93 yards on 25 carries, while wideout Nick Czeszewski made nine catches for 122 yards and a TD. Hassert, primarily the Cougars punter, was forced into placekicking duties due to injury, and stepped up when it mattered, hitting his first three field goals in an SXU uniform to give SXU the lead.
Defensively, Steven Meyer finished with 10 tackles, while Josh Hettiger made seven stops with one tackle for loss.
For the third year in a row, the Cougars will travel to Sioux City, Iowa and take on #1 Morningside (Iowa) for their NAIA quarterfinal matchup.
 | #6 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 30, #11 Saint Francis (Ind.) 26BOX SCORE |  |
A go-ahead TD with 47 seconds remaining denied #11 Saint Francis (Ind.) the upset bid, as the Cougars fell on the road at #6 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), 30-26.
Saint Francis (7-3) held a 26-16 lead going into the fourth quarter, but a pair of late TDs for the Blue Raiders (11-0) completed the comeback. The Cougars scored three unanswered TDs in the second and third quarters, including a 4-yard run from quarterback Matt Crable, a six-yard TD pass from Crable to Dan Ricksy, and finally a 38-yard TD run from P.J. Dean that put USF in front by ten.
Crable finished with 157 yards and one TD on the day, completing 12 of 24 passes. The trio of Eli Wallace, Crable, and Dean all rushed for one TD, and finished with 80, 76, and 66 rushing yards, respectively. Rocky James made five catches for the Cougars, totaling 95 yards.
Defensively Nick Lucas led USF with ten tackles, while Jalen Moss and nine stops and a pair of interceptions.
 | #4 Grand View (Iowa), 31 #12 Concordia 30BOX SCORE |  |
#12 Concordia cut the lead to one with just seconds remaining, but #4 Grand View (Iowa) would survive after blocking the extra point in a 31-30 thriller of a first round matchup.
The Cardinals (8-3) trailed 31-17 late in the third quarter, when Peter Morrison found Parker Graham for a 7-yard TD pass to cut the deficit in half. After both teams traded punts throughout the fourth quarter, Morrison converted a third-and-13 with a 21-yard TD pass to Luke Wilson, but the point after was blocked to keep the Vikings (12-0) clinging to a one-point lead. Grand View was able to run out the clock with eight runs and a pair of first downs to secure the win.
Morrison finished with 224 yards and three TDs, going 16 for 25 on the day. Roderick Dailey, Parker Graham, and Wilson all brought in a TD catch, while Omar Sinclair rushed 15 times for 51 yards.
Defensively, Reggie Thompson led Concordia with 11 tackles, while Ryan Fish, Alex Hinojosa, and Hunter Maynard all made eight tackles on the day. Andrew Fisher tallied four stops with one and a half sacks.
