NCAA Notebook: Super Region 3 Preview

Super Regional Three
No. 5 Hillsdale (9-2) at No. 4 St. Cloud State (9-2), 12 p.m. CT
St. Cloud State posted its best record since 2005 to earn the Huskies’ first NCAA playoff berth since 2004 behind Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Offensive Newcomer of the Year Phillip Klaphake. The redshirt first-year quarterback leads the squad in both passing and rushing. Klaphake has thrown for 23 TDs and is the first Husky signal-caller to collect over 2,000 yards passing since 2004. St. Cloud State is making its third NCAA playoff appearance.

Hilldale will make its’ second consecutive postseason appearance after finishing the regular season on a three-game winning streak in which the Chargers compiled 97 total points. The last time the Chargers made back-to-back postseason trips was 1985-86 when they were an NAIA school. Hillsdale is led by the school’s all-time passing leader Troy Weatherhead, who tops the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in passing yards (255.91) and paces the nation in pass efficiency rating (173.97). Last year, the Chargers went on the road to Minnesota State-Mankato for the NCAA first round, and survived a 27-24 overtime battle to advance to the second round before ending their season against fellow GLIAC member Grand Valley State.

No. 6 Colorado School of Mines (9-2) at No. 3 Grand Valley State (10-1), 1 p.m. ET
The Orediggers are making their second NCAA playoff appearance, and first since 2004, after claiming the co-championship of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference with a thrilling 55-53 triple-overtime victory versus Nebraska-Kearney last weekend. CSM ranks sixth in the nation in passing offense with 360.64 yards per game led by quarterback Clay Garcia. The Orediggers won their first-ever NCAA playoff game in 2004 before falling to national runner-up Pittsburg State in second round action.

The Lakers have advanced to the NCAA playoffs for the 10th straight year – the only school in the nation to accomplish the feat after capturing their sixth consecutive GLIAC title. GVSU is making its’ 15th NCAA playoff appearance and has compiled a 28-10 mark all-time, and 27-5 record since 2001. The Lakers are 17-1 at home in NCAA playoff games since 2001. GVSU has won the NCAA title four times (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006), and finished as the national runner-up two other times, including last season. The Lakers are scoring 38.91 points per game, and rushing for 230 yards per game – both of which rank 10th in the nation.

Full Post by Amy Farnum