2014 NCAA Division 2 Football Playoffs Semifinals Schedule
After wild upsets in the second round, the Quarterfinals were wide open in the 2014 NCAA Division 2 playoffs. The four games played on Saturday left only four teams standings. The matchups for the 2014 NCAA Division 2 Football Playoffs Semifinals can be found at the bottom of this posting.
Super Regional 1
#2 Bloomsburg came back from 21 point deficit, but could not finish it. #1 Concord fended off Bloomsburg with a 32-26 win at home.
Both teams got on the board early. Concord got a touchdown when Brian Novak hit Ryan Stewart for an 8 yard touchdown, but the extra point was blocked and returned for two points. Concord led 6-2 and would go up 23-2 following a field goal and two more touchdowns, one via the special teams game and one via the ground game. Bloomsburg got a late touchdown in the first half to make it 23-9 at the break.
Bloomsburg tied the game at 23 in the third quarter with a Tim Kelly touchdown run and then a pass. Concord responded right away to take a 29-23 lead before a Bloomsburg field goal made it 29-26. It became a 6 point game at 32-26 with 9:15 left in the game, but Bloomsburg was unable to score on fourth and 11 from the Concord 12 yard line. A late interception by Concord sealed the game.
Super Regional 2
#6 West Georgia continue their unlikely run after beating #5 Valdosta State on the road 31-17.
West Georgia got out to a 14-0 lead midway through the first quarter thanks to a 3 yard touchdown run from Seth Hinsley and a 54 yard touchdown pass from Dallas Dickey to Walter Hibbler. Valdosta State was able to make it 14-7 at the end of the first quarter. It was 14-10 after a field goal and then Hinsley ran for his second touchdown to give West Georgia a 21-10 lead. Valdosta State made it 21-17 before the half and their defense stopped West Georgia from taking a bigger lead with an interception of Dickey.
Valdosta State threw an interception late in the third quarter inside West Georgia’s red zone, but neither team put up points in the third quarter. West Georgia took a 24-17 lead before Valdosta State’s next possession ended with a punt. That punt was returned 59 yards for a touchdown by Denarius Appling to make it 31-17. Another interception late in the game sealed it for West Georgia.
Super Regional 3
The battle of Minnesota went to #2 Minnesota State-Mankato in an emphatic victory. Mankato won 44-17 over #4 Minnesota-Duluth in an excellent second half performance.
An early Duluth interception was turned into a touchdown from Ricky Lloyd to Austin Rieder for 14 yards. The next Mankato drive ended with a field goal and a 10-0 lead. Duluth was able to get a field goal midway through the second quarter after Mankato failed to convert a fourth and 1 at the Duluth 12 yard line. Duluth tied the game at 10 shortly before halftime with Drew Bauer ran for a 3 yard touchdown.
Mankato opened up with a field goal in the third quarter and forced a fumble to get the ball back in Duluth territory. That fumble was turned into a touchdown and their next drive was also a fumble as the game was solidly in Mankato’s pocket with a 27-10 lead. Duluth came back to score a touchdown on Bauer’s 20 yard pass to Taylor Grant. Mankato came back with a field goal before making it a 37-17 lead on Connor Thomas‘ two yard run. Mankato capped the scoring by intercepting a Bauer pass and bringing it back to the 2 yard line. Chad Zastrow scored it from there for a 44-17 final.
Super Regional 4
#2 Colorado State Pueblo held off #5 Ohio Dominican at home 31-28 to move on to the 2014 NCAA Division 2 Football Playoffs Semifinals.
Pueblo took a 3-0 lead early before making it 10-0 on a 23 yard touchdown pass from Chris Bonner to Paul Browning. Pueblo made it 17-0 with a touchdown run early in second quarter and things got worse for Ohio Dominican. A lost fumble was turned into another Bonner touchdown pass and a 24-0 lead. Ohio Dominican was able to get two scores before the half. First was a 42 yard touchdown pass from Mark Miller to JT McFarland. The second touchdown came when ODU blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown to make it 24-14 at halftime.
ODU made it 24-21 on their first drive of the second half when Ronald McCloud ran for a 3 yard touchdown. Pueblo missed a 40 field goal on the ensuing drive to keep it a three point game, which is how the third quarter ended. Pueblo did have another chance for points on ODU 10 yard line, but lost the ball. They forced a punt and that was returned 83 yards for a touchdown by Daniel Wise. It took a few drives, but ODU made it 31-28 after Miller connected with Dez Stewart for a 15 yard score. ODU had two more drives to get at least a field goal, but failed to get past midfield and Pueblo was able to hold on for the victory.
2014 NCAA Division 2 Football Playoffs Semifinals Schedule
Concord (13-0) at Minnesota State-Mankato (13-0) – 3 PM ET on ESPN3
West Georgia (12-2) at Colorado State Pueblo (12-1) – 6:30 PM ET on ESPN3.
Both games will be played on Saturday, December 13.