INDIANAPOLIS – Two weeks remain in the regular season as the playoff picture for several Great Midwest Athletic Conference programs will start to come into focus following Saturday’s outcomes of Week 10.
Postseason opportunities potentially await as either a participant in the NCAA Championship bracket or serving as the league’s representative in the second annual America’s Crossroads Bowl Game set for Dec. 4 in Hobart, Ind.
Looking at the weekend ahead, Tiffin and Findlay, both new teams in the second set of NCAA Super Region 1 rankings, are sharing the lead for first place in the standings at 4-1.
Three teams, Ashland, Hillsdale, and Ohio Dominican, are clustered up at 3-2, still fighting to make their way into the mix at the top with the window of opportunity closing in the conference schedule.
All three of those teams can improve to 4-2 with wins on Saturday. Some very tough matchups loom ahead with Ashland on the road at Findlay, Hillsdale hosting Kentucky Wesleyan and Ohio Dominican welcoming in Lake Erie.
Tiffin has won four straight and the Dragons will look to sustain their high level of play against Walsh on the road. Tiffin is ranked ninth in Super Region 1 with WR Anthony Lowe leading all position players with 10 touchdowns.
Lowe is dangerous in open space. Eight of his touchdowns have come in the passing game, but he has also delivered on special teams in the return game and has also rushed for a score.
Lake Erie QB Gerald Gardner has moved into the lead for completions (186) and shares the most passing touchdowns with Tiffin’s Nick Watson (20). He threw for over 350 yards in Week 9 and had four touchdowns, including two to former conference freshman of the year Nate Dantley Jr.
Kentucky Wesleyan’s secondary is full of ball hawks as DB’s Shedrick Kirk and Kishawn Walker both are tied for the league lead with five interceptions. The duo has also combined for 19 pass breakups so far in the season. WR David Florence is also tied for the conference lead with TU’s Lowe with eight receiving TD’s.
Hillsdale scored a flurry of 17 points late in the second half after being held off the scoreboard in the first two quarters. RB Logan VanEnkevort was able to find success on the ground with 65 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Ashland remained in the hunt with last week’s win over Hillsdale. It was a star-studded performance from DL Jeffrey Barnett while RB Larry Martin set the tone with his offensive line in a bruising run game. Martin churned out 6.6 yards per carry on 24 attempts in Week 9 to take over the league lead in rushing yards per game (over 80).
Findlay’s team defense swarmed Walsh while pitching a shutout. The Oilers forced three turnovers, including a fumble return brought back 99 yards. UF still drummed up over 400 yards of total offense and have a region ranking of No. 10 going into a showdown vs. Ashland at home.