The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
John Carroll and Notre Dame made playoffs
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There were happy football players and coaches separated a few miles from each other in South Euclid and University Heights on Nov. 11.
At Notre Dame College, it was cause for some big-time celebration as the 11-0 Falcons earned their first-ever bid to the NCAA Division II playoffs. They did so in style by earning the No. 1 seed in Super Region One and a firstround bye.
The Falcons play the winner of No. 4 seed Kutztown and No. 5 seed Hillsdale at Mueller Field in South Euclid on Nov. 24.
A little more than a mile away at John Carroll, the 9-1 Blue Streaks learned they will be dancing when the NCAA D-III playoffs begin Nov. 17. JCU was the runner-up in the Ohio Athletic Conference to No. 1-ranked Mount Union, but a strong ranking in the North Region earned it an atlarge bid and a home game.
The Blue Streaks welcome Randolph Macon on Nov. 17 in first-round playoff at Don Shula Stadium at noon.
The Yellow Jackets (8-2) — located in Ashland, Va., are champions of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.
If JCU wins its firstround game, it would play the winner of the Delaware Valley-Muhlenberg game — most likely at Don Shula Stadium Nov. 24.
“Love playing at home,” said JCU quarterback Anthony Moeglin. “That homefield
advantage is something special.”
The top seed in JCU’s bracket is defending national champion Mount Union, and the teams would meet in an NCAA quarterfinal if they win their first two playoff games, but that’s nowhere near Finotti’s mind right now.
“We have a one-week season now, and we have to put everything we have into this,” he said.
Coach Mike Jacobs celebrated his team’s win on Nov. 10 at Seton Hill to secure an 11-0 regular season by spending time that evening watching Disney Jr. and eating macaroni and cheese with his 2-year-old son upon his team’s return
from Pennsylvania.
On Nov. 11, it was a bit more of a raucous celebration as the team watched the selection show on campus, and saw their school’s name on a top line for a first-round bye.
“The guys obviously went nuts, and the room went crazy,” said Jacobs. “We felt we did enough, but to finally see it on the screen after talking about winning a conference championship, making the playoffs in any capacity, it’s huge.
“Everyone is fired up, and for the players they’re excited as much for a few days off more than anything. And having a home game is a pretty special deal. This season has just
been special.”
With the bye week, the players will have their normal Monday off, then practice Nov. 13-15, with little to no contact and an emphasis on the fundamentals.
“We want to keep it as normal of a week for the players as we can,” said Jacobs.
The NDC coaching staff will also have the luxury of getting a head start on preparing for either Kutztown or Hillsdale.
“I just have a lot of pride in this program,” said Jacobs, who’s 28-5 in his third year as NDC head coach. “A lot of pride in the kids, and I’m grateful and fortunate to have such a good staff and good teachers.”