Top 5 Division 3 First Round Playoff Match-ups | What games to watch this weekend?

It’s playoff time for division 3! I am Justin Berendzen (@jrberendzen on Twitter) with my top 5 matchups of the first round of the playoffs.

1.Trinity(TX) University at University of Mary Hardin-Baylor 

The Tigers and Crusaders are going to be in a battle on Saturday. Mary Hardin-Baylor’s offense has junior running back Aphonso Thomas who has 752 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Defensively for Trinity they have senior defensive back Jeremy Irving who has 23 tackles and 6 PBUs. The Tigers offense has junior quarterback Tucker Horn who has 2,288 passing yards and 33 touchdowns and sophomore running back Winston Hutchinson who has 612 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns. Mary Hardin-Baylor’s defense has senior defensive back Jefferson Fritz who has 38 tackles and 6 PBUs and senior Keith Gipson who has 35 tackles, 4 PBUs, and 4 interceptions.

2.Framingham State University at Muhlenberg College 

Framingham State is going to Muhlenberg in what should be a good one. The Mules offense has senior wide receiver Michael Feaster who has 1,008 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Framingham’s defense has senior defensive lineman Joshua Onujiogu who has 62 tackles, 23 TFLs and 12.5 sacks and junior defensive back Cully Curran who has 51 tackles and 8 PBUs. Offensively for the Rams they have Devaun Ford who has 805 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. The Muhlenberg defense has senior defensive back John Washington who has 39 tackles, 5 PBUs and 3 interceptions and senior linebacker Pat Palmer who has 37 tackles, 9 TFLs and 5.5 sacks.

3.Bethel(MN) University at Central (IA) College 

Bethel comes to Central to play in one of the more interesting playoff games this upcoming weekend. Central’s offense contains 5th year wide receiver Tanner Schminke who has 1,076 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. Defensively for the Royals they have freshman defensive back Nate Farm who has 66 tackles, 6 interceptions and 5 PBUs and junior defensive back Matt Feldick who has 65 tackles, 3 PBUs and 2 interceptions. Bethel’s offense has sophomore running back Bryce Kunkle who has 830 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. Defensively for Central they have senior defensive back Brayden Egli who has 54 tackles, 5 interceptions and 3 PBUs and junior defensive back Cameron Bannister who has 47 tackles, 5 PBUs and 3 interceptions.

4.University of Wisconsin-La Crosse at Albion College

Another one of the more interesting playoff matchups. Albion offensively has senior wide receiver Justin Thomas who has 1,048 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. Defensively for the Eagles they have senior defensive back Elijah Alt who has 70 tackles and 6 interceptions and sophomore linebacker Ryan Daines who has 67 tackles, 14 TFLs and 5 sacks. The Eagles offense has junior running back Joey Stutzman who has 1,173 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. Albion defensively has senior defensive end Mitch Arendsen who has 45 tackles, 17 TFLs and 10.5 sacks and junior linebacker Casmer Johnson who has 38 tackles, 10 TFLs and 3 PBUs.

5.John Hopkins University at Salisbury University 

Blue Jays versus Seagulls in a very fine matchup where we have 2 teams with bird names. Salisbury is led offensively by sophisticated running back Joey Bildstein who has 708 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns. The Blue Jays defense has grad defensive back Finn Zechman who has 41 tackles, 8 PBUs and 4 interceptions. Offensively John Hopkins has junior quarterback Ryan Stevens who has 3,136 passing yards and 27 touchdowns and senior wide receiver Harrison Wellman who has 1,053 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. The Seagulls defense has junior defensive back Aaron Jahnke who has 41 tackles and 6 PBUs and senior defensive back Sean Carroll who has 41 tackles, 4 PBUs and 3 interceptions.