The Top 5 Games to watch this week in Division 2 | Best matchups of week 9

Hello, Justin Berendzen (@jrberendzen on Twitter) with my top 5 division 2 matchups of week 9

1.University of West Georgia at Valdosta State University

Heavyweight battle here with 2 top 5 teams in the coaches poll going at it. For Valdosta State defensively you got to watch senior defensive back Cory Roberts who has 38 tackles and 4 PBUs. The West Georgia offense has senior wide receiver Mechane Slade who has 708 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. Defensively the Wolves have senior defensive lineman Derrick Shaw who has 16 tackles, 4 TFLs and 2 sacks. The Blazers offense has senior wide receiver Lio’undre Gallimore who has 514 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns. Should be a good showdown of 2 good teams.

2.University of Nebraska-Kearney at Northwest Missouri State University 

Battle of 2 teams with only 1 loss in this MIAA conference game. You can’t talk about the Bearcats offense without talking about senior running back Al McKeller who has 937 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns. On the Lopers defensive you have to watch out for redshirt junior defensive back Darius Swanson who has 62 tackles, 5 PBUs and 4 TFLs. Nebraska-Kearney offensively has a redshirt junior dual threat QB TJ Davis who can run and pass as he has 1,573 passing yards and 15 touchdown passes and 830 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns. Defensively the Bearcats have senior defensive lineman Samuel Roberts who has 28 tackles, 11 TFLs and 4 sacks.

3.Colorado Mesa University at Western Colorado University 

In another matchup that will be super competitive we have Colorado Mesa at Western Colorado. Western Colorado is led defensively by redshirt senior defensive lineman Will Lydle who has 36 tackles, 11.5 TFLs and 9.5 sacks and redshirt senior linebacker Lane Farris who has 44 tackles, 14 TFLs and 6.5 sacks. Offense of Colorado Mesa has redshirt freshman quarterback Karst Hunter who has an arm and good running capability has 1,710 passing yards and 14 pass tds and 334 rushing yards and 6 rushing touchdowns. The Mesa defense has redshirt senior defensive back Damar’ren Mitchell who has 55 tackles and 3 PBUs. The Western Colorado offense has redshirt sophomore running back Josh Cummings who has 922 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns.

4.Lenoir-Rhyne University at Wingate University 

This should be a good matchup based on Lenoir-Rhyne’s recent history and Wingate being ranked this season. Wingate’s offense has redshirt junior running back Nijere Peoples who has 526 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns. In People’s way for Lenoir-Rhyne will be grad defensive lineman Amari Houston who has 34 tackles, 11.5 TFLs and 5.5 sacks on the season. Lenoir-Rhyne’s offense is led by outstanding freshman running back Dwyane Mcgee who has 1,143 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. The Wingate Bulldogs defense is led by redshirt junior linebacker Jaquan Edwards who has 46 tackles, 6 TFLs and 4 PBUs. I would not be shocked if several NFL teams are in attendance for physical WR Dareke Young.

5.Ohio Dominican University at Tiffin University 

Should be a fun battle of 2 teams with the same record in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. The Dragons of Tiffin are led offensively by redshirt senior quarterback Nick Watson who has 1,878 passing yards and 18 touchdowns. For Ohio Dominican’s defense they have one of the best D2 tacklers in senior linebacker Dauson Dales who has 93 tackles, 6.5 TFLs and 3 PBUs. For the Panthers offense they have grad wide receiver David Turner who has 474 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns in 2021 so far. The Dragons defense has senior linebacker Landon Hall who has 51 tackles, 5.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks.