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NCAA Division II playoffs: Chadron takes on Minnesota Duluth
DULUTH, Minn. -- Chadron State football coach Bill O'Boyle knows his team will be the underdog on Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs when the Eagles take on Minnesota Duluth on the shores of Lake Superior.
He likes it that way.
"This is the first time in a long time that we're not the favorite," O'Boyle said. "We're the underdog and I love that."
The second round game between Duluth and CSC kicks off at noon (CST). The game will also be available as a free webcast from the Northern Sun. More information about the webcast can be found at www.northernsun.tv.
Not only will the Eagles be tangling with one of the four remaining undefeated teams in Division II ranks but they'll also be playing without their exceptional quarterback, Joe McLain.
The senior from Chadron suffered a broken right collarbone while completing a pass late in the third period. He was knocked to the turf while throwing the ball and a Wayne State player landed on top of him.
Earlier in the game, which the Eagles won 23-17, McLain became the Eagles' single season leader for touchdown passes. He threw three of them Saturday, giving him a total of 28 during his spectacular career. He concludes his career as a college quarterback with a 38-4 record.
Sophomore Garrett Treffer will take over for McLain at quarterback. He has played sparingly the past two seasons, but has completed 24 of 31 passes for 137 yards and one touchdown this season. A year ago, he was 7 of 14 for 129 yards and two TDs. Treffer is yet to throw an interception in college.
The Scottsbluff product also showed that he can run on Saturday. He uncorked a 21-yard run for a first down late in the fourth quarter against Wayne State.
To be sure, Treffer has much more experience than McLain had when he took over as the CSC field general as a true freshman in 2005. He had never been on the field before when he got the call after Tyler Hidrogo suffered a shoulder injury at Fort Lewis College. In fact, McLain had seldom taken a snap from the starting center, Taylor Lewis, when he was rushed on to the field.
O'Boyle said he has confidence in Treffer.
"We'll have had three and a half days to work with him by the time the game kicks off," the coach noted. "He'll be fine."
Admittedly, the Eagles have a tough assignment, as is always the case as a team goes deeper into the playoffs.
Duluth is 11-0 this season and has breezed through its schedule with the greatest of ease.
The Bulldogs are averaging 46.2 points and giving up only 11.7 points a game. They have scored at least 38 points in each game and not given up more than 21. They were No. 6 in the final regular season Division II rankings and received a first-round bye on Saturday.
The make the pregame script even more imposing, Duluth has outscored its opponents 165-17 in the first quarter and 174-20 in the second period, giving the Bulldogs a whopping 339-37 margin at halftime of its 11 games.
O'Boyle said that because the Bulldogs were usually so far ahead at halftime, he and his staff haven't watched much of the second half films.
Both Wayne State and Duluth are members of the Northern Sun Conference, but they did not play one another this season. The Bulldogs were 4-7 last season.
Duluth was No. 6 in the final regular season Division II rankings and received a first-round bye on Saturday.
The winner between CSC and UMD will take on the winner of Saturday's the other Super Regional Three playoff matchup between Grand Valley of Michigan and Ashland College of Ohio.
The regional showdown will be on Saturday, Nov. 29. Ashland defeated Minnesota State-Mankato 27-18 this past Saturday while CSC was shading Wayne State 23-17.
Grand Valley, the No. 1 ranked DII team most of the season, has 22,000 students. Ashland has about 2,100.
Chadron State and Duluth opened the season by playing one another in both 2004 and 2005. The Bulldogs won both games.
They prevailed 35-21 in Duluth the first year and won 28-17 in Chadron in '05.
In the latter game, Duluth's freshman quarterback Ted Schlafke threw touchdown passes of 28 and 10 yards and ran four yards for another TD while making his first start.
He is now a senior, about to conclude his career.
This season, he has completed 163 of 234 passes for 2,452 yards and 28 touchdowns, the same number as McLain has thrown. He has been picked off five times.
Schlafke, who is 6-foot, 185 pounds, definitely has a favorite receiver. Freshman D.J. Winfield, who is just 5-8, 170, has caught 55 passes for 1,018 yards and 13 touchdowns. None of the other Bulldogs has more than 34 receptions.
Duluth can also run the ball. Tailback Isaac Odim, who is 6-0, 215, has carried 140 times for 1,127 yards and 21 touchdowns. His 8.1-yard rushing average is the best in Division II.
Schlafke ranks third in passing efficiency.
The Bulldogs also are third in total defense at 231.9 yards a game and third in scoring offense. Chadron State is sixth in total defense at 240.9 yards a game.
The Bulldogs have a big offensive line. Each of the starters is at least 6-3, 285 pounds.
The defense is led by inside linebacker Robbie Aurich, 5-11, 250, with 61 tackles.
Safety Tyler Yelk and outside linebacker Jake Comnick have 46 apiece.
"They are very disciplined and good at everything they do," O'Boyle said of the Bulldogs. "But we'll take our best up there. I know we'll play hard. We always do."