Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, November 15, 1993 TAG: 9311150021
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
There will be no home-state advantage when the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl makes its Virginia debut Dec. 11 in Salem.
No Virginia colleges made the 16-team field that will compete for two berths in the NCAA Division III championship game at noon at Salem Stadium. The bracket was announced Sunday by James "Moose" Malmquist, chairman of the NCAA Division III Football Committee.
Four teams in each of four regions will begin competition at campus sites Saturday. In most cases, the No. 1 seed plays the No. 4 seed and No. 2 plays No. 3, however, the committee takes into account geographic proximity in the matchups.
Emory & Henry, which was tied for fourth in the South Region poll last week, had the best shot at representing Virginia. The Wasps saw their quest for a second consecutive playoff trip fizzle Saturday with a 29-28 loss at Maryville, Tenn.
The four semifinalists from last year's playoffs were seeded No. 1 in their respective regions, setting up a potential Stagg Bowl rematch. Defending champion Wisconsin-LaCrosse (10-0), a 16-12 winner over Washington & Jefferson last year in Bradenton, Fla., is the top seed in the West Region. The Eagles will be home Saturday against fourth-seeded Wartburg (9-1).
The nation's top offensive teams will face off in the other West Region game. Second-seeded St. John's, Minn. (10-0) will entertain No. 3 Coe (10-0). St. John's averages 63 points per game; Coe averages 48. Both teams average more than 500 yards total offense per game.
Washington & Jefferson (9-0), making its fifth consecutive playoff appearance, is seeded first in the South Region. The Presidents, the nation's top team in total defense and scoring defense, will be home against fourth-seeded Moravian (8-2). Washington & Jefferson is holding opponents to an average of 140 yards and six points per game.
Second-seeded Wilkes (10-0), the No. 2 team in the nation in scoring defense, will entertain third-seeded Frostburg State (9-1) in the other South Region game.
William Paterson (7-3) in the East Region was the surprise of the pairings. The only team with three losses, the Pioneers slipped in when five of the top eight teams in the East lost Saturday. William Paterson, which played a strong regular-season schedule, will make its first playoff appearance when the Pioneers visit second-seeded Union (9-0).
Rowan (8-1) is the top seed in the East Region and will be home against Buffalo State (7-2). The Profs advanced to last year's semifinals before losing 18-13 to Washington & Jefferson.
The North Region features three undefeated teams, including top-seeded Mount Union (10-0). The Raiders, who reached last year's semifinals before falling to Wisconsin-LaCrosse, will entertain Allegheny (9-1), the 1990 Stagg Bowl champion.
Also in the North Region, second-seeded Albion (9-0) will be home for a game against third-seeded Anderson (10-0).
More than 3,000 tickets have been sold for the Stagg Bowl, according to Carey Harveycutter, game director and Salem Civic Center manager. Salem Stadium seats 8,000.
Harveycutter said he didn't think the lack of a Virginia team in the playoff field would affect sales.
"We would have loved to have Emory & Henry [7-3] or Randolph-Macon [7-2-1] or Ferrum [5-4], but it would have been tough for any of those teams to advance to the championship anyway," he said. "You've got to take the best teams. Unfortunately, teams from Virginia weren't that strong this year."
Harveycutter said his committee would continue to bill the Stagg Bowl as a "true national championship," and said he expected supporters of participating schools to boost sales.
"It's good, quality football," he said. "We'd love to have a team like Mount Union [Ohio]. They had 9,000 for a home game a couple of weeks ago."
Tickets, which can be purchased at the Salem Civic Center box office, are $8 in advance and $10 on game day. Fans high school age and younger will be admitted for $5.
by CNB