2015 NAIA FCS First Round Preview
Nov 20, 2015
By Alan Grosbach, Manager of Communications and Sports Information
Game 2 – Point (Ga.) (8-2) at Baker (Kan.) (10-1)
Liston Stadium | Baldwin City, Kan. | 12 p.m. CST
Saturday marks the first-ever FCS meeting between these two clubs.
Baker (Kan.) returns to the FCS one-year after a 2014 season that saw the club lose three out of their last four and narrowly missing the playoffs. The Wildcats have appeared in the FCS 14 times and own a 12-13 record at the event. Baker’s most successful run in the playoffs came in 1986 when the club finished runner-up in Division II. The Wildcats received an automatic berth by winning the inaugural Heart of America Athletic Conference South Division title.
Point (Ga.), which qualified with an automatic spot after winning its first-ever The Sun Conference championship, is making its first-ever appearance in the FCS. The Skyhawks have won four-straight entering the event and are searching for their first-ever playoff win on Saturday.
Statistical Comparison (national rankings in parenthesis)
Game 3 – Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) (8-2) at Grand View (Iowa) (10-1)
Williams Stadium | Des Moines, Iowa | 12 p.m. CST
Saturday marks the first-ever FCS meeting between these two clubs.
Grand View (Iowa) has qualified for the FCS three-consecutive seasons and four overall. The Vikings are 5-2 in the event, including a national championship run in 2013. Grand View claimed an automatic berth into this year’s field by winning the inaugural Heart of America Athletic Conference North Division title. The Vikings enter the playoffs riding a 10-game winning streak, which is the longest active streak among the qualifying teams.
Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), which made its first-ever FCS appearance a season ago, boasts a 1-1 record all-time in the FCS. The Blue Raiders, who received the final at-large spot in this year’s field, are one of three teams in the FCS that represent the Mid-South Conference West Division – Campbellsville (Ky.) and Reinhardt (Ga.) are the others.
Statistical Comparison (national rankings in parenthesis)
Game 4 – Reinhardt (Ga.) (9-1) at Saint Francis (Ind.) (9-0)
Bishop John D’Arcy Stadium | Fort Wayne, Ind. | 12 p.m. EST
Saturday marks the first-ever FCS meeting between these two clubs.
Saint Francis (Ind.) is the only remaining unbeaten team in NAIA football. The Cougars own the most FCS victories among the qualifiers with a 21-14 record at the event, including a 12-2 all-time mark in the First Round. Saint Francis, which is riding a streak of 11-straight first round wins, last loss in the first round in 2001 against Campbellsville (Ky.), 42-21. The Cougars received the automatic berth out of the Mid-States Football Association Mideast League.
Reinhardt (Ga.) joins Point (Ga.) as a newcomer to the FCS. The Eagles, which are only in their third season of intercollegiate varsity football, ended the regular-season with a 9-1 record – good for second-place in the Mid-South Conference West Division. Reinhardt is one of three schools that represent the league – Campbellsville (Ky.) and Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) are the others.
Statistical Comparison (national rankings in parenthesis)
Game 5 – Dickinson State (N.D.) (8-2) at Montana Tech (9-1)
Alumni Coliseum | Butte, Mont. | 12 p.m. MST
Saturday is the second time in FCS history that Montana Tech and Dickinson State (N.D.) have met in the first round. The Blue Hawks won that inaugural meeting 30-13 in 2004.
Montana Tech enters the playoffs as one of the largest surprises in NAIA football this season, rebounding from a 1-9 campaign in 2014 to win the outright Frontier Conference championship and qualify for the FCS for the eighth time in program history – first since 2012. Montana Tech is 3-7 all-time in the FCS with its last victory coming in 2005 (24-17 vs. former member Azusa Pacific (Calif.) in the first round).
Dickinson State owns the most playoff appearances among the qualifiers with 16. The Blue Hawks, who qualified for the first time since 2010, are 5-15 all-time in the FCS and 5-10 in the first round. Dickinson State claimed an automatic berth after winning its first-ever North Star Athletic Association championship. The Blue Hawks have never advanced past the quarterfinals of the FCS.
Statistical Comparison (national rankings in parenthesis)
Game 6 – Campbellsville (Ky.) (8-2) at Marian (Ind.) (8-2)
St. Vincent Health Field | Indianapolis, Ind. | 1 p.m. EST
Saturday marks the first-ever FCS meeting between these two clubs.
Marian (Ind.) enters the 2015 FCS looking to return to the title game for the second-straight season and third time in program history. The Knights boast five all-time appearances and are 10-3 all-time, including a perfect 4-0 record in the first round. Marian’s most successful run in the FCS came in 2012, as the Knights won the national championship over Morningside, 30-27. Marian enters Saturday riding a five-game winning streak.
Campbellsville earned its second-straight – fourth all-time – FCS appearance by winning the Mid-South Conference West Division for a second-consecutive season. The Tigers are 8-2 on the season and have won eight-straight since dropping back-to-back games to open the year. Campbellsville’s last two victories came against teams that were at the time ranked in the top 10. The Tigers are 1-3 all-time in the FCS.
Statistical Comparison (national rankings in parenthesis)
Game 7 – Kansas Wesleyan (10-1) at Southern Oregon (8-2)
Raider Stadium | Ashland, Ore. | 4 p.m. PST
Saturday marks the first-ever FCS meeting between these two clubs.
Defending national champion Southern Oregon enters the playoffs looking to become the first team to repeat as national champion since former member Sioux Falls (S.D.) accomplished the feat in 2008 and 2009. The Raiders, who finished in second-place in the Frontier Conference with an 8-2 record, are making their sixth all-time appearance in the FCS. Southern Oregon is 8-4 all-time in the playoffs and has never lost in the first round.
Kansas Wesleyan is one of the largest surprises in NAIA football this season. The Coyotes are 10-1 on the season, one year after winning only two games. Prior to this season, Kansas Wesleyan has made two FCS appearances, losing in the first round on both occasions.
Statistical Comparison (national rankings in parenthesis)
Game 8 – Doane (Neb.) (9-1) at Tabor (Kan.) (10-1)
Joel H. Wiens Stadium | Hillsboro, Kan. | 1 p.m. CST
Saturday marks the first-ever FCS meeting between these two clubs.
Tabor (Kan.) won the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference championship to receive an automatic berth into the 2015 FCS field. The Bluejays have made five all-time appearances in the event and own a 2-4 record. Tabor enters the first round riding a nine-game winning streak. The program’s last loss came on Sept. 5 against Northwestern (Iowa), 9-7.
Doane (Neb.) received an at-large berth into the FCS after finishing in second-place in the Great Plains Athletic Conference. The Tigers won nine-straight to open the season before falling to Morningside, 55-7, on the final regular-season weekend. Doane is making its first appearance since 1999, which snaps the longest drought among the qualifying teams with at least one previous trip. The Tigers are 3-4 all-time in the playoffs.
Statistical Comparison (national rankings in parenthesis)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – (FCS Schedule) First round action of the 2015 NAIA Football Championship Series (FCS) kicks off Saturday with eight games hosted at campus sites. The winners will advance to the quarterfinals, which will be played out on Saturday, Nov. 28. Quarterfinal pairings will be announced Sunday by 12 p.m. CST on www.NAIA.org.
Since the NAIA returned to one division in 1997, host schools own a 192-59 (.765) record in the FCS, including a 112-32 (.777) mark in the first round. Last season, home teams were a perfect 8-0. This was the first time that a road team failed to win since 2009.
The 60th annual NAIA Football National Championship, presented by Waste Pro, is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 19 in Daytona Beach, Fla. on ESPN3 at 6 p.m. EST. The City of Daytona Beach will host the event at Municipal Stadium for the second-straight season. For information on the NAIA’s partner hotels and details on the championship week schedule details, visit http://bit.ly/NAIARaceToDaytona2015.
2015 NAIA Football Championship Series – First Round Game Notes
Game 1 – Saint Xavier (Ill.) (7-3) at Morningside (Iowa) (10-1)
Elwood Olsen Stadium | Sioux City, Iowa | 1 p.m. CST
Two of recent history’s powerhouse programs do battle Saturday when Saint Xavier (Ill.) travels to Morningside (Iowa). The contest will mark the second time that these two squads have faced off in the FCS, with the first coming in the 2012 semifinals – a game that Morningside won 47-19.
The Mustangs are making their 12th all-time and 12th-consecutive appearance in the FCS this season, which is the longest active streak in the NAIA. Morningside is 14-11 all-time in the event, including a 9-2 mark in the first round. The program has reached at least the quarterfinals in nine of the last 11 seasons, including a national runner-up finish in 2012.
Saint Xavier has seen similar success. The Cougars are 15-8 all-time in the playoffs in 10 all-time trips. Saint Xavier’s highlight season came in 2011 when it won its first-ever national championship, defeating Carroll (Mont.), 24-20, in Rome, Ga. Last season, the Cougars reached the semifinals before falling to eventual national champion Southern Oregon.
Statistical Comparison (national rankings in parenthesis)| Category | Saint Xavier (Ill.) | Morningside (Iowa) |
| Final Coaches’ Poll Ranking | No. 16 | No. 1 |
| Scoring per Game | 26.2 (46th) | 61.1 (1st) |
| Total Offense per Game | 390.7 (38th) | 606.3 (1st) |
| Rushing per Game | 121.8 (NR) | 252.1 (11th) |
| Passing per Game | 268.9 (14th) | 354.2 (3rd) |
| Scoring Defense per Game | 27.3 (42nd) | 12.9 (2nd) |
| Total Defense per Game | 410.1 (NR) | 252.3 (3rd) |
| Rushing Defense per Game | 159.9 (31st) | 109.5 (11th) |
| Passing Defense per Game | 250.2 (NR) | 142.8 (5th) |
Game 2 – Point (Ga.) (8-2) at Baker (Kan.) (10-1)
Liston Stadium | Baldwin City, Kan. | 12 p.m. CST
Saturday marks the first-ever FCS meeting between these two clubs.
Baker (Kan.) returns to the FCS one-year after a 2014 season that saw the club lose three out of their last four and narrowly missing the playoffs. The Wildcats have appeared in the FCS 14 times and own a 12-13 record at the event. Baker’s most successful run in the playoffs came in 1986 when the club finished runner-up in Division II. The Wildcats received an automatic berth by winning the inaugural Heart of America Athletic Conference South Division title.
Point (Ga.), which qualified with an automatic spot after winning its first-ever The Sun Conference championship, is making its first-ever appearance in the FCS. The Skyhawks have won four-straight entering the event and are searching for their first-ever playoff win on Saturday.
Statistical Comparison (national rankings in parenthesis)
| Category | Point (Ga.) | Baker (Kan.) |
| Final Coaches’ Poll Ranking | No. 17 | No. 2 |
| Scoring per Game | 41.6 (8th) | 38.9 (13th) |
| Total Offense per Game | 450.1 (14th) | 434.5 (20th) |
| Rushing per Game | 178.6 (38th) | 153.8 (50th) |
| Passing per Game | 271.5 (11th) | 280.7 (10th) |
| Scoring Defense per Game | 30.0 (NR) | 16.6 (8th) |
| Total Defense per Game | 415.1 (NR) | 298.7 (9th) |
| Rushing Defense per Game | 216.5 (NR) | 125.4 (20th) |
| Passing Defense per Game | 198.6 (33rd) | 173.4 (16th) |
Game 3 – Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) (8-2) at Grand View (Iowa) (10-1)
Williams Stadium | Des Moines, Iowa | 12 p.m. CST
Saturday marks the first-ever FCS meeting between these two clubs.
Grand View (Iowa) has qualified for the FCS three-consecutive seasons and four overall. The Vikings are 5-2 in the event, including a national championship run in 2013. Grand View claimed an automatic berth into this year’s field by winning the inaugural Heart of America Athletic Conference North Division title. The Vikings enter the playoffs riding a 10-game winning streak, which is the longest active streak among the qualifying teams.
Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), which made its first-ever FCS appearance a season ago, boasts a 1-1 record all-time in the FCS. The Blue Raiders, who received the final at-large spot in this year’s field, are one of three teams in the FCS that represent the Mid-South Conference West Division – Campbellsville (Ky.) and Reinhardt (Ga.) are the others.
Statistical Comparison (national rankings in parenthesis)
| Category | Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) | Grand View (Iowa) |
| Final Coaches’ Poll Ranking | No. 13 | No. 3 |
| Scoring per Game | 36.5 (18th) | 37.0 (17th) |
| Total Offense per Game | 424.5 (22nd) | 415.4 (26th) |
| Rushing per Game | 153.1 (NR) | 227.4 (18th) |
| Passing per Game | 271.4 (12th) | 188.0 (NR) |
| Scoring Defense per Game | 20.8 (20th) | 12.5 (1st) |
| Total Defense per Game | 414.4 (NR) | 228.9 (1st) |
| Rushing Defense per Game | 190.2 (NR) | 86.5 (2nd) |
| Passing Defense per Game | 224.2 (NR) | 142.4 (4th) |
Game 4 – Reinhardt (Ga.) (9-1) at Saint Francis (Ind.) (9-0)
Bishop John D’Arcy Stadium | Fort Wayne, Ind. | 12 p.m. EST
Saturday marks the first-ever FCS meeting between these two clubs.
Saint Francis (Ind.) is the only remaining unbeaten team in NAIA football. The Cougars own the most FCS victories among the qualifiers with a 21-14 record at the event, including a 12-2 all-time mark in the First Round. Saint Francis, which is riding a streak of 11-straight first round wins, last loss in the first round in 2001 against Campbellsville (Ky.), 42-21. The Cougars received the automatic berth out of the Mid-States Football Association Mideast League.
Reinhardt (Ga.) joins Point (Ga.) as a newcomer to the FCS. The Eagles, which are only in their third season of intercollegiate varsity football, ended the regular-season with a 9-1 record – good for second-place in the Mid-South Conference West Division. Reinhardt is one of three schools that represent the league – Campbellsville (Ky.) and Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) are the others.
Statistical Comparison (national rankings in parenthesis)
| Category | Reinhardt (Ga.) | Saint Francis (Ind.) |
| Final Coaches’ Poll Ranking | No. 12 | No. 4 |
| Scoring per Game | 54.5 (2nd) | 52.2 (3rd) |
| Total Offense per Game | 570.8 (2nd) | 516.3 (5th) |
| Rushing per Game | 360.6 (1st) | 184.9 (31st) |
| Passing per Game | 210.2 (37th) | 331.4 (5th) |
| Scoring Defense per Game | 26.6 (38th) | 20.3 (18th) |
| Total Defense per Game | 421.6 (NR) | 329.2 (19th) |
| Rushing Defense per Game | 173.5 (43rd) | 97.3 (5th) |
| Passing Defense per Game | 248.1 (NR) | 231.9 (NR) |
Game 5 – Dickinson State (N.D.) (8-2) at Montana Tech (9-1)
Alumni Coliseum | Butte, Mont. | 12 p.m. MST
Saturday is the second time in FCS history that Montana Tech and Dickinson State (N.D.) have met in the first round. The Blue Hawks won that inaugural meeting 30-13 in 2004.
Montana Tech enters the playoffs as one of the largest surprises in NAIA football this season, rebounding from a 1-9 campaign in 2014 to win the outright Frontier Conference championship and qualify for the FCS for the eighth time in program history – first since 2012. Montana Tech is 3-7 all-time in the FCS with its last victory coming in 2005 (24-17 vs. former member Azusa Pacific (Calif.) in the first round).
Dickinson State owns the most playoff appearances among the qualifiers with 16. The Blue Hawks, who qualified for the first time since 2010, are 5-15 all-time in the FCS and 5-10 in the first round. Dickinson State claimed an automatic berth after winning its first-ever North Star Athletic Association championship. The Blue Hawks have never advanced past the quarterfinals of the FCS.
Statistical Comparison (national rankings in parenthesis)
| Category | Dickinson State (N.D.) | Montana Tech |
| Final Coaches’ Poll Ranking | No. 18 | No. 5 |
| Scoring per Game | 31.5 (31st) | 33.2 (25th) |
| Total Offense per Game | 380.6 (42nd) | 452.8 (11th) |
| Rushing per Game | 236.5 (14th) | 283.5 (4th) |
| Passing per Game | 144.1 (NR) | 169.3 (NR) |
| Scoring Defense per Game | 17.9 (14th) | 16.4 (7th) |
| Total Defense per Game | 304.8 (10th) | 305.7 (11th) |
| Rushing Defense per Game | 164.4 (32nd) | 105.8 (9th) |
| Passing Defense per Game | 140.4 (3rd) | 199.9 (37th) |
Game 6 – Campbellsville (Ky.) (8-2) at Marian (Ind.) (8-2)
St. Vincent Health Field | Indianapolis, Ind. | 1 p.m. EST
Saturday marks the first-ever FCS meeting between these two clubs.
Marian (Ind.) enters the 2015 FCS looking to return to the title game for the second-straight season and third time in program history. The Knights boast five all-time appearances and are 10-3 all-time, including a perfect 4-0 record in the first round. Marian’s most successful run in the FCS came in 2012, as the Knights won the national championship over Morningside, 30-27. Marian enters Saturday riding a five-game winning streak.
Campbellsville earned its second-straight – fourth all-time – FCS appearance by winning the Mid-South Conference West Division for a second-consecutive season. The Tigers are 8-2 on the season and have won eight-straight since dropping back-to-back games to open the year. Campbellsville’s last two victories came against teams that were at the time ranked in the top 10. The Tigers are 1-3 all-time in the FCS.
Statistical Comparison (national rankings in parenthesis)
| Category | Campbellsville (Ky.) | Marian (Ind.) |
| Final Coaches’ Poll Ranking | No. 11 | No. 6 |
| Scoring per Game | 43.3 (5th) | 43.4 (4th) |
| Total Offense per Game | 542.3 (3rd) | 513.2 (6th) |
| Rushing per Game | 171.9 (40th) | 217.7 (22nd) |
| Passing per Game | 370.4 (2nd) | 295.5 (7th) |
| Scoring Defense per Game | 30.2 (NR) | 16.3 (6th) |
| Total Defense per Game | 384.4 (45th) | 262.5 (4th) |
| Rushing Defense per Game | 213.3 (NR) | 81.7 (1st) |
| Passing Defense per Game | 171.1 (14th) | 180.8 (18th) |
Game 7 – Kansas Wesleyan (10-1) at Southern Oregon (8-2)
Raider Stadium | Ashland, Ore. | 4 p.m. PST
Saturday marks the first-ever FCS meeting between these two clubs.
Defending national champion Southern Oregon enters the playoffs looking to become the first team to repeat as national champion since former member Sioux Falls (S.D.) accomplished the feat in 2008 and 2009. The Raiders, who finished in second-place in the Frontier Conference with an 8-2 record, are making their sixth all-time appearance in the FCS. Southern Oregon is 8-4 all-time in the playoffs and has never lost in the first round.
Kansas Wesleyan is one of the largest surprises in NAIA football this season. The Coyotes are 10-1 on the season, one year after winning only two games. Prior to this season, Kansas Wesleyan has made two FCS appearances, losing in the first round on both occasions.
Statistical Comparison (national rankings in parenthesis)
| Category | Kansas Wesleyan | Southern Oregon |
| Final Coaches’ Poll Ranking | No. 10 | No. 7 |
| Scoring per Game | 39.8 (12th) | 43.1 (6th) |
| Total Offense per Game | 518.4 (4th) | 483.0 (8th) |
| Rushing per Game | 189.5 (29th) | 231.3 (16th) |
| Passing per Game | 328.9 (6th) | 251.7 (18th) |
| Scoring Defense per Game | 16.7 (9th) | 24.3 (26th) |
| Total Defense per Game | 339.2 (21st) | 387.4 (48th) |
| Rushing Defense per Game | 157.7 (29th) | 179.8 (48th) |
| Passing Defense per Game | 181.5 (20th) | 207.6 (45th) |
Game 8 – Doane (Neb.) (9-1) at Tabor (Kan.) (10-1)
Joel H. Wiens Stadium | Hillsboro, Kan. | 1 p.m. CST
Saturday marks the first-ever FCS meeting between these two clubs.
Tabor (Kan.) won the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference championship to receive an automatic berth into the 2015 FCS field. The Bluejays have made five all-time appearances in the event and own a 2-4 record. Tabor enters the first round riding a nine-game winning streak. The program’s last loss came on Sept. 5 against Northwestern (Iowa), 9-7.
Doane (Neb.) received an at-large berth into the FCS after finishing in second-place in the Great Plains Athletic Conference. The Tigers won nine-straight to open the season before falling to Morningside, 55-7, on the final regular-season weekend. Doane is making its first appearance since 1999, which snaps the longest drought among the qualifying teams with at least one previous trip. The Tigers are 3-4 all-time in the playoffs.
Statistical Comparison (national rankings in parenthesis)
| Category | Doane (Neb.) | Tabor (Kan.) |
| Final Coaches’ Poll Ranking | No. 10 | No. 7 |
| Scoring per Game | 36.4 (20th) | 36.5 (18th) |
| Total Offense per Game | 408.4 (30th) | 406.0 (31st) |
| Rushing per Game | 218.4 (20th) | 274.6 (7th) |
| Passing per Game | 190.0 (49th) | 131.4 (NR) |
| Scoring Defense per Game | 16.0 (5th) | 13.1 (3rd) |
| Total Defense per Game | 294.3 (8th) | 271.8 (5th) |
| Rushing Defense per Game | 92.5 (3rd) | 99.9 (7th) |
| Passing Defense per Game | 201.8 (39th) | 171.9 (15th) |
