FOOTBALL EARNS NCAA DIVISION II PLAYOFF BERTH, WILL PLAY HOST IN FIRST ROUND TO UNC PEMBROKE

        RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – Arkansas Tech Football was rewarded for its 8-2 overall record and its second-place finish in the Gulf South Conference on Sunday afternoon as the Wonder Boys were one of 24 teams selected to play in this year’s NCAA Division II Playoffs.

Tech earned the No. 4 seed out of Super Regional Two and will open the playoffs by playing host to No. 5 seed, the University of North Carolina at Pembroke on Saturday, Nov. 14 in Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field. Kickoff for Saturday’s playoff game is set for 12 p.m. CST.

“I’m pleased that we able to get a home playoff game. It is certainly exciting for our players and our fans,” Tech Head Coach and Athletic Director Steve Mullins said on Sunday after the selection show on ESPN News. “We have been strong at home all season and hopefully we can continue that on Saturday against UNC-Pembroke.”

It will be the Wonder Boys third trip to the NCAA Division II Playoffs in the last 10 years and its first since the 2004 season when Tech finished with a 10-2 overall record. In 2004, Tech became the first Arkansas school to host and win a first round NCAA D-II Playoff game as the Wonder Boys defeated Catawba, 24-20, before falling 42-24 at Albany State in the second round.

Tech’s opponent, UNC Pembroke, enters the game sporting a 9-1 overall record and is ranked 10th in the latest AFCA D-II Top 25 Coaches’ Poll. The Braves, who are an NCAA D-II Independent and are making its first-ever playoff appearance, enter the postseason having won six straight games since suffering its only loss, 35-22 at Carson-Newman on Sept. 19. Over the past two seasons, UNCP has posted an 18-2 record.

“We don’t know a lot about Pembroke as we speak, but I’m sure by the end of day we’ll have some film and learn more about them,” the 13th-year Tech coach said. “We’re just excited to still be one of the 24 teams left playing this season.”

Entering the NCAA D-II Playoffs, UNCP is averaged 35.6 points and 427.4 yards of offense per game. The Braves are averaging 237.6 rushing yards and 189.8 passing yards per contest. On defense, UNCP is allowing its foes to score just 12.5 points and 244.7 yards per game. In fact, the Braves have held its last six opponents to a total of 43 points.

In addition to Tech, the other first round match-up in Super Regional Two on Saturday has No. 3 seed Albany State (8-2) playing host to No. 6 seed West Alabama (7-4). The Tigers earned its playoff berth after picking up a 31-28 four-overtime upset victory on Saturday at No. 1 ranked North Alabama. The top two seeds in Super Regional Two are North Alabama (10-1) and Carson-Newman (9-2) and they both receive first-round byes.  

Tech is 1-2 all-time in the NCAA Playoffs as they went 0-1 in 1999 and 1-1 in 2004.

2009 NCAA Division II Football Playoff Bracket  

-- Tech Athletics --