November 29th, 2024 8:00pm
The First Round of the 2024 NCAA Super Region One Playoffs is in the books. Last Saturday’s games did not disappoint. All three games were decided by seven points or less and two ended with game winning field goals on the last play. From the PSAC, #3 Kutztown (11-0, 7-0 PSAC East) was idle in the First Round due to having a bye for being the Number One Seed. The Number Three Seed, #18 California (PA) (9-2, 6-0 PSAC West) beat #21 East Stroudsburg (10-2, 6-1 PSAC East) 30-27. Cal kicker Anthony Beitko hit a 29-yard field goal on the last play of the game to break the tie and give the Vulcans the win. #12 Slippery Rock (10-1, 5-1 PSAC West), the Number Four Seed, earned a hard-fought victory beating New Haven (NE10) 14-7. In a matchup with no PSAC teams, unseeded Ashland (GMAC) beat the Number Two Seed, #9 Charleston (WV) (MEC), 40-38. This was another game that ended with a game winning field goal as time expired. D2 National Columnist Chuck Bitner and I continued our Super Region One Playoffs Podcast series this week, recapping the aforementioned games and we previewed this week’s Round Two matchups. We will be back again next week to recap this week’s games and to preview next week’s Super Region One Championship Game. Playoff Podcasts for all four Super Regions can be found from the D2 crew for replay on the D2 website after the live shows. Keep reading below for my updated PSAC Power Ranking, this week’s Super Region One matchups, and my prediction of who will win each Super Region One game in Round Two.
PSAC Power Ranking (PPR) – After Round One of Playoffs:
The top three teams in the PSAC, those who are still in the NCAA Super Region One Playoffs, have a combined record of 30-3 (.909 winning percentage). The three combined losses of those top three teams are all to teams in the D2 Top 25 Poll and all those teams were in the NCAA Super Region One Playoffs. #12 Slippery Rock’s only loss is to #18 California (PA) 28-7, #18 California (PA) lost to #9 Charleston (WV) 23-19 early in the season and to #3 Kutztown 21-14 in the PSAC Championship Game.
Super Region One – Round Two – Saturday 11/30/24
#4 Seed - #12 Slippery Rock (PSAC West) 9-1 at #1 Seed - #3 Kutztown (PSAC East) 11-0
#4 Seed - #12 Slippery Rock won last week beating New Haven (NE10) 14-7.
#1 Seed - #3 Kutztown was idle last week after earning the bye in Round One as the #1 Seed.
Kickoff – 12 Noon
My Prediction: #1 Seed - #3 Kutztown goes 1-0 again this week, as they have all season, and moves on to the Super Region One Championship Game.
Ashland (GMAC) 9-3 at #3 Seed - #19 California (PA) (PSAC West) 9-2
Ashland won last week beating #2 Seed - #9 Charleston (WV) (MEC) 40-32
#3 Seed - #19 California (PA) won last week beating #21 East Stroudsburg 30-27.
Kickoff – 1 PM
My Prediction: #3 Seed - #19 California (PA) beats Ashland at home earning the opportunity to play in the Super Region One Championship Game.
As previously mentioned, Chuck and I will continue our Podcasts all the way through the Super Region One Championship Game. For all the PSAC football fans who follow my column, and for the fans now following along for the SR1 Playoffs, you can keep up on everything throughout the week by giving me a follow on X (Twitter) at @CaryMoyer.