Nov. 10, 2005

Anything can happen on the final Saturday of a football season, and this Saturday is no different for NAIA teams.  Key games may decide the fate of some, while other teams may need a little help to move into playoff position.  The NAIA Football Championship Series (FCS) pairings will be released on Sunday, November 13.

Saturday actually started Thursday as #10 Azusa Pacific (Calif.) (7-3) traveled to #18 Valley City State (N.D.) (7-3) for a 34-31 non-conference victory.  Valley City needed a win to keep their hopes alive for an at-large selection after tying with Dickinson State University (N.D.) for the conference title.  Dickinson State gets the automatic nod with a 13-6 victory against VCSU on October 1.

Last year runner-up #2 St. Francis (Ind.) (9-0) has barely been tested this season.  The final game may be the best challenge yet as the Cougars travel to face #11 Walsh (Ohio) (8-2).  For the fifth-straight year, Walsh has to face St. Francis in the finale.  The two teams will battle for the Mid-States Football Association- Mid East title and the automatic berth to the FCS, but Walsh has more on its mind as the Cavaliers are gunning for their first-ever playoff berth.  The task will be tough, as St. Francis has not lost a conference game since 2001.  St. Francis holds a 6-1 lead in the all-time series.

#12 Cumberlands (Ky.) (8-2) is coming off an upset loss to unranked Union (Ky.) and needs a win to secure a chance to make the FCS.  #5 Georgetown will take its 7-2 record on the road against Cumberlands (Ky.).  Georgetown is in sole possesion of first place in the Mid-South Conference East division and has won its last six games.

The saying goes, "If IF's and BUT's were candy and nuts, we'd all have a Merry Christmas.  This weekend's Heart of America Athletic Conference games are all about the IF's. The HAAC has a three-way tie for first place. #9 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) (7-2) travels to #16 Graceland (Iowa) (8-2) and those two are in a deadlock with Evangel for the conference title and the automatic berth.  Evangel plays Central Methodist for its final game.  IF MNU and Evangel win, MNU wins the tiebreaker with the head-to-head win against Evangel.  IF Graceland wins and Evangel win, then Evangel takes the crown on head-to-head competition.  Clear as mud?

Click here to check out all of this week's games.