NCAA DIVISION III Semifinals
Bethel (12-1) at Mount Union, Ohio (13-0), 11 a.m.: Bethel has reached the national semifinals for the second time in four seasons, while Mount Union is in the semifinals for the 16th consecutive season. Mount Union has 10 national titles, but only one -- in 2008 -- in the past three seasons, sandwiched between championship-game losses to Wisconsin-Whitewater. Those two teams have met for the Division III title for five consecutive years. UW-Whitewater plays at Wesley (Del.) in the other national semifinal Saturday.
An upset, of course, is what Bethel is hoping for. Royals players know how difficult it will be to pull that off, having lost at Mount Union 61-14 in the 2007 national semifinals. A number of current Bethel players were freshmen in that game, and on paper the Royals do appear better prepared to give Mount Union a test this time. Bethel averages 257.15 yards rushing per game, which ranks No. 12 nationally in Division III. Something has to give, because Mount Union is No. 8 in rushing defense, allowing only 68.85 yards a game. Mount Union leads the nation in scoring defense, at 6.85 points a game. Bethel's defense, at least statistically, is a match. The Royals are No. 4 in scoring defense (11.23 ppg) and No. 9 in rushing defense (71.54 yards per game).
Larry Kehres is in his 25th season as Mount Union coach, and has a 302-22-3 (.927) record at the school. The game will match several of the top players in Division III. Bethel running back Logan Flannery became the MIAC's all-time rushing leader with 5,253 yards after gaining 200 in last week's 12-7 upset of St. Thomas. Mount Union senior wide receiver Cecil Shorts III has 13 TDs in the past four weeks after missing a month. He has a school-record 248 career receptions for 4,450 yards and 61 TDs in 53 game.
NCAA DIVISION II SEMIFINALS
Northwest Missouri State (12-1) at Minnesota Duluth (13-0), 5 p.m.
One thing is certain in this matchup of the past two NCAA champions: It's going to be cold -- providing the game is even played. NCAA officials were scheduled to confer Friday night to decide whether to postpone the game because of the frigid weather. Temperatures in Duluth are expected to be low single digits when the game starts and to dip below zero into the evening. And the prediction is for 5 to 8 inches of snow throughout Saturday. UMD's run-oriented offense figures to be a perfect match for the conditions. The Bulldogs, ranked No. 1 nationally, ran the ball 61 times for 247 yards and passed only nine times in last week's 24-13 quarterfinal victory against Augustana in the first-ever December game at James S. Malosky Stadium. Expect more of the same in December Game No. 2, whenever it's played. NW Missouri State, the reigning Division II champ, has passed for roughly twice as many yards as it has gained on the ground (287.9 ypg passing, 145 ypg rushing), so cold conditions could be a negative factor. Quarterback Blake Boles threw for three TDs and 226 yards in last week's 30-27 victory over Central Missouri State. NW Missouri State has played in the past five Division II championship games. UMD beat NW Missouri State 21-14 for the 2008 title.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Brian Hanson, UMD, running back The senior came off the bench to rush for 124 yards and one TD in 25 carries in the quarterfinal victory over Augustana. The Proctor HS alum has rushed for 467 yards and seven TDs on the season, his time increasing since the loss of All-America Isaac Odim to a knee injury.
