Hats off to Jack Ginn and the North Carolina Wesleyan Battling Bishops football team!
In only their fourth season, they will play in the NCAA Division III Football Championship playoffs beginning Saturday at Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, Pa - just south of Pittsburgh.
Below is a release from W&J's website:
WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Washington & Jefferson College was awarded a No. 1 seed for the NCAA Division III football playoffs and will host eighth-seeded North Carolina Wesleyan in a first-round matchup on Saturday at Cameron Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon.
The Presidents (10-0) completed the regular season undefeated for the ninth time in the 116-year history of the program. W&J is making its 19th appearance in the NCAA playoffs in the past 23 years and holds a 19-18 record in postseason play. Washington & Jefferson earned the Presidents’ Athletic Conference’s automatic bid after claiming its 22nd PAC title in history.
North Carolina Wesleyan (8-2) started the season with losses to NCAA playoff teams Wesley (34-31) and Widener (27-17), but has won eight consecutive games, including a 7-0 USA South Conference record. The Bishops became the first team in conference history to post an undefeated record in league play.
The Bishops have one of the nation’s most balanced offenses as they average 226.8 yards rushing and 226.2 yards passing per game (453.0 ypg). NC Wesleyan has turned the ball over 25 times, but the defense has forced 39 turnovers, including 22 interceptions which ranks third in Division III.
The NCW offense centers around senior quarterback Cedric Townsend (Kenansville, N.C./James Kenan), who ranks 35th in the nation in total offense (245.8 ypg). Townsend is a dual threat as he has completed 55 percent (138-251) of his passes for 1,980 yards and 20 touchdowns, while also rushing for 478 yards and 13 scores.
Senior linebacker Justin Augustin (Midway Park, N.C./White Oak) is the leader of the defense. He has collected 61 tackles, including 6.5 for a loss, and has forced and recovered three fumbles.
The Presidents are led by junior quarterback Bobby Swallow (Salem, Ohio/West Branch), who has led all NCAA divisions in pass efficiency (197.0) for the past seven weeks. Swallow set W&J’s single-season passing touchdown record with 42, while only tossing three interceptions. He has completed just under 70 percent (204-292) for 2,841 yards.
Junior linebacker David Gitlitz (Columbus, Ohio/Bexley) paces the defense with 94 tackles, including 14.5 for a loss.
Wesley (9-1) is the bracket’s No. 2 seed and will take on ODAC champion No. 7 Hampden-Sydney (8-2). Centennial Conference winner Muhlenberg (10-0) was awarded the No. 3 seed and hosts fifth-seeded Salisbury (9-1), while fourth-seeded Mary Hardin-Baylor (9-1) hosts No. 6 Trinity (Texas) in the final first-round game of the region.
The W&J-NCW winner will take on the winner of the Trinity-UMHB victor on Nov. 24th in the NCAA second round at the site of the highest remaining seed.
