Bears finished 9-2 and will play Illinois State (6-5) at home Saturday. If they win, they go to Eastern Washington, which gets a first round bye. So they would be in the quarterfinals before they play a playoff game on green grass. Photo is the EWU stadium, and we know about the purple and gray in Conway.
UCA probably got a pretty good draw. The guys on the selection show said IllState was probably the most questionable playoff team.
Harding won in the first round of the DII playoffs yesterday. First time in school history. The head coach has a son that had a pretty good career at UA.
I think since the Arkansas schools got into Division II, only two of them have won a playoff game – Henderson last year, and Harding yesterday. But Henderson then got hammered at home in the second round. Hope the Bisons fare better at Sioux Falls.
Bisons win 27-24 in OT at Sioux Falls
UCA just scored to go ahead 21-17 with about 10 minutes left. They were down 17-7, blocked a punt and returned it for the score in the fourth quarter, then drove down to take the lead. Then after the go-ahead score, UCA onside kicked and recovered it.
Illinois State is only 6-5 but they did beat a Big Ten team; won at Northwestern 9-7 in September.
ISU threw a long TD pass, now tied 24-24, about 3:30 left in regulation. Bears just punted them down to the ISU 1.
UCA scored with 2 minutes left, won 31-24. Playing on the red turf at EWU next Saturday. EWU beat Washington State in the opening game this year, by the way.