While Georgia Southern and Furman waited for their playoff pairings, Appalachian State was simply hoping to hear its name when the field for the I-AA playoffs was announced Sunday.

There were plenty of cheers in Boone, N.C., when the Mountaineers were given an at-large bid and a home game against William & Mary on Saturday. Both teams are 8-3.

"There was never any guarantee," Mountaineers coach Jerry Moore told the Winston-Salem (N.C.) Journal.

Appalachian State will be making its fourth straight appearance in the I-AA playoffs, while William & Mary is in for the first time since 1996.

Georgia Southern (10-1), the two-time defending national champion, is seeded second in the playoffs. It plays Florida A&M, which won the automatic bid out of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, in a rematch of the 1997 first-round game won by Georgia Southern 52-37 in Statesboro, Ga.

Eagles coach Paul Johnson wants to avoid another high-scoring game. The Rattlers (7-3), who won the MEAC with a 7-1 record, are averaging 422.8 yards and 31.1 points.

"I hope this one doesn't (become a shootout),"Johnson told the Savannah (Ga.) Morning News. "I'm not sure we have the same shooters (as in 1997)."

Furman, which plays Western Kentucky, is seeded third in the playoffs. Only the top four teams in the 16-team bracket were seeded by the NCAA selection committee under a new format that emphasizes regional matchups.

The Paladins will be making their third straight trip to the playoffs and their 11th overall since the Southern Conference went from I-A to I-AA status in 1982. Last year, the Paladins lost to Hofstra 31-24 in a first-round game in Greenville, S.C. Furman won the I-AA national title in 1988 when it beat Georgia Southern.

"We are certainly pleased with the No. 3 seed because it gives us a chance to play at least two home games here if we win, and it's always better to play at home," Furman coach Bobby Johnson said. "We don't know very much about Western Kentucky other than the fact that they are a very fine football team. They are an option team like Wofford, and they are a very physical defensive team with a lot of great athletes like the ones we face in the Southern Conference."

All three SoCon teams are in the same half of the bracket. "We're in kind of the black-and-blue bracket," Moore told the Journal. "You're going to have to be a pretty physical football team to come out of that thing."

The Southland Football League also has three teams in the I-AA playoffs.

McNeese State received the automatic bid as SFL champion and plays Maine in a first-round game. Two years ago, Maine stunned the visiting Cowboys 35-7 in the playoffs. At the time, McNeese was considered a national contender and Maine was a huge underdog. It was one of the most bitter losses in the history of McNeese football.

This time, the game will be played at McNeese, which won its fifth SFL title in 11 years.

"We couldn't have asked for a better first-round opponent because we are familiar with Maine and we didn't have a very good experience when we went up there," McNeese coach Tommy Tate told the Lake Charles (La.) American Press. "A lot of our players will remember that trip very well."

Sam Houston State and Northwestern State, both 8-3, earned two of the eight at-large bids to the playoffs. Sam Houston State tied with McNeese State at 5-1 in the conference, but the Cowboys won the automatic bid by virtue of a 35-23 victory over the Bearkats on Oct. 27.

The Bearkats won their first SFL title since 1991.

Northwestern State faces a tall order when it plays at top-seeded Montana. The Demons tied for third in the SFL with a 4-2 record and went 8-3 overall. Their chances of making the field were helped by their strength of schedule. They played only four home games and won them all, beating Southern, TCU, Elon and Southwest Texas. Division I-A TCU beat No. 17 Louisville on Friday.

The Demons' losses were at Oklahoma State, Sam Houston State and McNeese State.

"The strength of our schedule was tremendous, but our young men answered the challenges and earned the opportunity to compete for the national championship," Demons coach Steve Roberts said. "Since 1990, four teams have entered the I-AA playoffs with 8-3 records and have gone on to win the national championship. We are very optimistic about our chances, but we realize we start with the No. 1 team in the nation and that's as tough a challenge as you can get."

Several bubble teams didn't make the field, including Youngstown State (8-3), Villanova (8-3) and Eastern Kentucky (8-2).

Notes, quotes, anecdotes

SOUTHERN CONFERENCE
APPALACHIAN STATE
In their two biggest games of the season, the Mountaineers came up short, losing to Furman and Georgia Southern on back-to-back weekends in October. Now the Mountaineers get a chance to redeem themselves in the I-AA playoffs. They have enough offense to make another run to the playoffs.

Joe Burchette, who led the SoCon in total offense with 200 yards per game, is as solid as any quarterback in the league, and Jimmy Watkins and Jerry Beard are talented tailbacks, both ranking among the league's top 10 rushers. Burchette has thrown at least one touchdown pass in seven straight games. The Mountaineers ranked second in total defense (270.3) and third in total offense (380.7 ypg). This is a team that no one wants to play in the postseason.

CHATTANOOGA
The Mocs finished the season with a 73-0 victory over Kentucky State, but that couldn't take the sting away from an injury-riddled season. Several key offensive players sustained season-ending injuries, including leading rusher Jason Ball, leading receiver Cos DeMatteo and Gantt Neal, one of the top offensive linemen.

First-year coach Donnie Kirkpatrick was supposed to work wonders with the offense but couldn't, largely because of the injuries. Kirkpatrick, however, never could settle on a quarterback, rotating Justin Barnes and Chuck Spearman early in the season.

That didn't work for the Mocs, who finished in the bottom third on the conference in scoring offense, averaging 14.4 points entering the season finale. Their final game boosted the total to 19.7 ppg, sixth in the league. They were eighth in total defense before the Kentucky State game and moved to seventh after the finale.

Kirkpatrick has some time to get the program going, but Mocs fans certainly weren't happy with the 3-8 season and were grumbling about sharing the SoCon cellar with VMI at 1-7.

THE CITADEL
For much of the season, the Bulldogs had one of the better defenses in the league, but it faltered at crucial times. They ranked sixth in the SoCon in total defense and eighth in total offense. The offense was spotty with a true freshman, Mazzie Drummond, starting at quarterback. Travis Stephens, a senior linebacker, will be an all-conference player, and the Bulldogs should improve under the guidance of Ellis Johnson, a '75 Citadel graduate.

Johnson has the program in his blood, and that's what it needs. Still, Johnson must replace his top back, Maurice Murphy, and several key defenders, including Stephens. After going 3-7 overall and finishing seventh in the league at 2-7, the Bulldogs seem headed in the right direction.

EAST TENNESSEE STATE
The Bucs pulled off the upset of the year by beating Georgia Southern, but a disappointing 24-3 loss to Wofford on Nov. 17 put a damper on an otherwise good season. With a 34-23 victory over VMI in the finale, the Bucs (6-5) salvaged a winning season and finished fifth in the league at 4-4.

Quarterback Matt Wilhjelm, who threw for 174 yards and rushed for 74 against VMI, must be replaced, but that won't be a problem with athletic junior Jatavis Sanders. The Bucs defense, however, must improve. It looked good at times, bad at times. Specifically, the Bucs were poor against the run, ranking eighth in rush defense (183.2) and fifth in total defense (333.5). But the Bucs were last in total offense (253.5).

FURMAN
The Paladins finished the regular season with a 47-28 victory over Division II Presbyterian. Louis Ivory rushed for 176 yards -- the 31st 100-yard game of his career -- and claimed his second straight SoCon rushing title. He finished the regular season with 1,492 rushing yards and a school-record 19 touchdowns.

With Billy Napier running the offense, the Paladins outgained Presbyterian 494-350 in total yards. Napier completed 13 of 23 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown. The Paladins pass defense was tested by Todd Cunningham, second among Division II players in career-passing yards with 10,937 (his stats include 111 touchdown passes). Cunningham threw for 346 yards and four touchdowns against Furman.

GEORGIA SOUTHERN
The Eagles (10-1, 7-1 SoCon) clinched a share of the SoCon title with a 48-10 victory over Wofford. It's a record fifth straight league championship for the Eagles, two-time defending I-AA national champions. Adrian Peterson, who rushed for 96 yards on 25 carries against Wofford, became the I-AA career leader in rushing with 6,559 yards, moving past Charles Roberts of Sacramento State (6,553 yards from 1997-2000).

The Eagles scored on their first four possessions and led 31-10 at halftime. J.R. Revere threw a 69-yard touchdown pass to Derrick Owens on the first play of the game.

VMI
The Keydets, who lost to ETSU 34-23 in the season finale Thursday, finished the season last in the SoCon in scoring offense (14.9) and scoring defense (40.5). They finished 1-10 overall and tied with Chattanooga in the SoCon cellar with a 1-7 record. If such a tiebreaker existed, the Keydets could claim not to be the cellar-dwellers because they beat Chattanooga.

The Keydets were last in the league in total defense (440.5 yards per game), allowing almost 100 more yards per game than eighth-place Wofford. Gene Cauthen finished with 710 rushing yards, which ranked ninth in the league. VMI quarterback Joey Gibson was inconsistent, and the Keydets ranked last in the league in pass efficiency.

WESTERN CAROLINA
It was a good year for the Catamounts (7-4), who posted their first seven-win season since 1992 and their second in the last 19 years. They were fourth in the league with a 5-3 record. Sophomore tailback Fred Boateng was third in the league in rushing, gaining 1,225 yards and averaging 5.3 yards per carry. He rushed for 12 touchdowns.

With the return of Boateng and sophomore quarterback Brian Gaither, the offense appears to be in good shape for the next couple of years. Gaither was fifth in the league in passing efficiency. The Catamounts were fourth in the league in total defense (303.1) and fourth in total offense (377.2).

WOFFORD
The Terriers ended the season by losing at home to Georgia Southern, 48-10. That left the Terriers (4-7) in sixth place in the league with a 3-5 record. Wofford coach Mike Ayers hoped for a higher finish, but his job is secure in Spartanburg, S.C., probably for as long as he wants it. Ayers has been able to field competitive teams at a school of high academic standards.

While the Terriers ranked fifth in the league in total offense (367.5), their defense ranked eighth (353.6). Junior Melvin Jones returns for his senior season in 2002 after finishing sixth in the league in rushing with 905 yards and 10 touchdowns. Also back next year is quarterback Travis Wilson.

SOUTHLAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE
JACKSONVILLE STATE
After a fast start, the Gamecocks wilted during the 2001 season. Their 31-21 loss to McNeese State in the season finale was their fifth straight loss and left them with a 5-6 overall record and fifth in the league at 2-4. The Gamecocks, who led the SFL in rushing offense (226.5) and were second in total offense (427.5), couldn't get it done on defense. They ranked last in the league in total defense (401), last in rushing defense (192.6) and next-to-last in passing defense (208.4).

Rondy Rogers, who led the league in rushing with 1,417 yards and 13 touchdowns, must be replaced, but starting quarterback Reggie Stancil returns for his senior season in 2002. He was fourth in the league in total offense (191.9) but only seventh in passing efficiency.

McNEESE STATE
The Cowboys rolled into the playoffs with a 31-21 victory over Jacksonville State in the regular-season finale. Varick King secured the victory and SFL co-championship when he scored on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter. King finished with 211 rushing yards. The Cowboys gained 345 rushing yards and 20 first downs and won even though QB Slade Nagle threw three interceptions.

NICHOLLS STATE
The Colonels ended an otherwise disappointing season on a positive note, beating Arkansas State 28-22. Sophomore Josh Son threw for 173 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 81 yards and a touchdown. The Colonels, who ranked last in the SFL in passing offense (99.8), were second in rushing offense (194.6). Son finished fourth in the league in rushing with 845 yards in 11 games. He scored 10 rushing touchdowns. Defensively, the Colonels were fifth in the league, allowing 374.2 yards per game. They struggled against the run, giving up 167.1 yards per game. Nicholls State finished 3-8 overall and sixth in the league at 1-5.

NORTHWESTERN STATE
The Demons had an open date and celebrated when they learned of their bid to the I-AA playoffs. After a three-day break for Thanksgiving, the Demons gathered for a brief practice Sunday. They have won four of their last five games, including a 31-17 victory over Stephen F. Austin on Nov. 17. Northwestern State went 8-3 overall and tied for third in the SFL with a 4-2 record.

SAM HOUSTON STATE
The Bearkats were hoping for a McNeese State loss but settled for the SFL co-championship when the Cowboys beat Jacksonville State. The Bearkats had the best overall record (9-2) and tied for first with a 5-1 record, but they didn't get the league's automatic bid because of a 35-23 loss to McNeese State on Oct. 27.

The Bearkats led the SFL in total offense (437.4) and were third in total defense (321.4). Joe Rauls was fifth in the league in rushing with 748 yards, and Josh McCown led the league in passing yardage with 2,884 yards and touchdown passes with 29.

SOUTHWEST TEXAS
The Bobcats, who finished the regular season with a 35-13 loss to Stephen F. Austin on Nov. 17, struggled to score points all season. They were last in the league in scoring offense, averaging 17.1 points per game. They were sixth in total offense (315.1) and fourth in total defense (338.4).

Bronson Sanders was second in the league in rushing with 953 yards but must be replaced before the 2002 season. Cody McCauley returns as the starting quarterback. The Bobcats finished 4-7 overall and last in the SFL with an 0-6 record. It was a huge disappointment for the Bobcats, who were picked to finish second in preseason polls of SFL coaches and media.

STEPHEN F. AUSTIN
The Lumberjacks picked up a paycheck in their season finale, a 58-3 loss to Texas Tech. Picked to finish tied for third, the Lumberjacks finished right there, tied with Northwestern State with a 4-2 record. They went 5-5 overall.

Stephen F. Austin was fifth in the league in total offense (349.2), less than a yard per game behind Northwestern State, and was sixth in the league in total defense (374.5). Wes Page led the league in passing yards per game (262.6) and threw 19 touchdown passes. He was second in total offense (267.4).

SWAC
EASTERN DIVISION
ALABAMA A&M
It was a disappointing season for the Bulldogs, but at least they finished with a two-game winning streak. They beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff 35-0 on Nov. 17 and ended the season with a 40-22 victory over Mississippi Valley State on Saturday. Offense wasn't the Bulldogs' big problem this season; it was a porous defense that led to a 4-7 season. Their quarterback rotation of Chris Gunn and Jacob Wilson was fairly effective. Wilson threw for 136 yards and rushed for 139 in the season finale. The Bulldogs finished fourth in the division with a 3-6 record.

ALABAMA STATE
In a game that meant nothing in the SWAC, the Hornets lost to Tuskegee 31-27 in the regular-season finale. No problem. The Hornets will play Grambling on Dec. 1 in the SWAC Championship Game in Birmingham, Ala. Alabama State has perhaps the SWAC's best quarterback in Darnell Kennedy, who climbed into the top four among Division I-AA players in passing yardage and touchdown passes during his senior season. The Hornets, 8-3 overall and 6-2 in the SWAC, earned the berth in the championship game because they won the tiebreaker with Jackson State.

ALCORN STATE
Alcorn State finished with a 17-10 victory at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, but a loss to Jackson State the previous week proved costly as the Braves (6-5, 5-2 SWAC) finished a half-game out of first place in the division. Quarterback Donald Carrie led a potent passing attack, but the Braves' rushing game was inconsistent, at best, all season, and the defense was even less impressive.

Despite their third-place finish, it was a good season for the Braves, who went 0-11 in 2000 and were expected to finish no higher than fourth in the division. Not a bad showing for fourth-year coach Johnny Thomas, who secured his job with the winning season.

JACKSON STATE
All offense, not much defense -- that about sums up the Tigers' 2001 season. They finished the season with a 64-33 non-conference loss to Tennessee State, which had 22 first downs and 485 total yards. Quarterback Robert Kent threw three interceptions. His season was plagued by picks. It was another typical day for the Tigers -- they gained 28 first downs and 455 total yards and lost. They finished 7-4 and tied for first in the division with a 6-2 record but lost the tiebreaker with a head-to-head loss (61-58) to Alabama State.

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE
And the streak goes on. The Delta Devils weren't expected to be good, and they weren't. Their 40-22 loss to Alabama A&M in the regular-season finale was their 15th straight loss dating to last year. Fourth-year coach LaTraia Jones is on the hot season. The Delta Devils, who finished 0-11 overall and 0-8 in the SWAC, did little offensively this season, and their defense was weak. Look for some changes here.

EASTERN DIVISION
ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF
Picked to finish in the middle of the division, the Golden Lions finished a disappointing season with a 17-10 loss to Alcorn State. The Golden Lions, who have struggled to put together complete offensive games, had the same problems again, gaining only 13 first downs against Alcorn State. Despite gaining 340 total yards, the Golden Lions mustered only one touchdown.

It was the second straight loss for the Golden Lions, who were held to only three first downs in a 35-0 loss to Alabama A&M a week earlier. If the Golden Lions were looking for some positives at the end of the season, they didn't find them. They finished last in the division with a 2-7 record and were 4-7 overall.

GRAMBLING
Doug Williams continues to work the magic with the Tigers' program. Williams led Grambling to a 30-20 victory over Southern and back into the SWAC Championship Game. Their success this season is largely because of a solid defense and the leadership of quarterback Randy Hymes, who threw for 330 yards and a touchdown Saturday and ran for another score.

Grambling, which plays Alabama State in the SWAC Championship, finished the regular season 9-1 overall and 7-1 in the league. Grambling likely will try to keep Williams, the former Grambling and Washington Redskins quarterback, for quite some time by signing him to a long-term contract.

PRAIRIE VIEW
It wasn't a great season for the Panthers, but considering the expectations it wasn't bad, either. The Panthers, who completed the season with a 43-28 loss to Southern on Nov. 17, were picked by many to finish last in the division but went 3-7 overall and 2-5 in the conference for third place. And they were playing some of their best ball at the end of the season. They put a scare into Southern on Nov. 17 and didn't play badly against Jackson State the previous week, falling behind 28-0 early in the game before rallying. Jamaal Foster was adequate at quarterback, and he had a big-time receiver in Deontay Wilson.

SOUTHERN
After a lackluster victory over Prairie View on Nov. 17, the Jaguars stumbled to a 30-20 loss to Grambling and lost their bid for the SWAC Championship Game. Despite the disappointing finish, the Jaguars could be considered over-achievers after being picked to finish fourth in some preseason predictions.

The Jaguars, who finished 7-4 overall and second in the division at 6-2, used a two-quarterback system with Quincy Richard and Terrance Levy for much of the season. Richard was the main man in Saturday's loss to Grambling, throwing for 127 yards and two touchdowns. Levy threw two interceptions.

Defense, or a lack thereof, was a problem for the Jaguars. With the title game on the line, the Jaguars defense had another letdown, giving up 544 total yards and 21 first downs to Grambling.

TEXAS SOUTHERN
Many expected the Tigers to contend for the division title. Wrong. They failed to play up to expectations, finishing 3-7 overall and fourth in the division with a 2-6 record. The offense sputtered late in the season, as evidenced by a 7-6 loss to Southern on Nov. 10. Quarterback Adam Lamb and receiver Cortez Hankton were a good run-and-catch combination, but they didn't have enough threats around them, and the defense was average at times.

INDEPENDENTS

CHARLESTON SOUTHERN
With their second straight five-win season, the Buccaneers are in good shape under the leadership of David Dowd. Dowd, the only coach in the program's history, has a huge void to replace with the departure of senior quarterback Jake Sills, a transfer from Oklahoma. Sills established 14 single-season and career records at Charleston Southern during the 2001 season. He finished the year with 2,297 passing yards and 12 touchdowns and completed 56.5 percent of his passes.

The Bucs finished the season with 4,120 total yards, a school record. Freshman running back Travis Mays, who rushed for a career-high 102 yards in the season finale against West Virginia State, should have a bright career.

FLORIDA ATLANTIC
The Owls finished their inaugural season with a 4-6 record under the leadership of veteran coach Howard Schnellenberger. This likely will be his last coaching stop. All of the Owls' skill players return, and most were freshmen. Both quarterbacks, Jared Allen and Garrett Jahn, were freshmen. Allen completed 44.5 percent of his passes for six touchdowns, and Jahn completed 47 percent and threw three touchdown passes.

Leading rusher Doug Parker, who rushed for 572 yards and eight touchdowns, was a freshman and so was Dekolan James, second on the team with 283 yards. Doug Parker also tied for the team high in catches with 22. Lary Taylor, who had 22 catches for 398 yards, also is a freshman.

MORRIS BROWN
The Wolverines join the SWAC next season after a successful season in 2001. They went 2-0 against SWAC members. Most of the key players return.

SAMFORD
After the forced resignation of coach Pete Hurt at midseason, the Bulldogs settled down under interim coach Bill Gray. The team went 4-1 under Gray and finished 5-5. Gray will be a top candidate for the job. Whoever is hired, he will have a good building block with the return of freshman QB Ramon Nelson, chosen the I-AA offensive player of the week after throwing for 403 yards and four touchdowns in the season finale against VMI. After splitting time with Josh Kellett in the first five games, Nelson took over the starting job the last five games and finished with 1,466 passing yards.

SAVANNAH STATE
After winning only four games the last two seasons, the Tigers are likely to undergo some changes. With a 34-14 loss to Gardner-Webb on Nov. 10, the Tigers finished a disappointing 2-7. Several key players return, but the Tigers might seek new leadership for the 2002 season. Coach Bill Davis never settled on a starting quarterback, even playing tight end Marrio Belton behind center. Early in the season, QBs Jermaine Brooks and Mario Spencer cost the Tigers potential wins with critical fumbles against Albany State and Norfolk State.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"I don't think anyone will realize for a while how special this is (five straight SoCon titles). It's an incredible run in what I believe is the toughest I-AA conference in the country." -- Georgia Southern coach Paul Johnson.

ODDS AND ENDS
Chattanooga set a school record for touchdown passes in a game with seven against Kentucky State; the Mocs' Justin Barnes threw six TD passes, tying the mark held by Chris Sanders (2000) and Kenyon Earl (1993). ... Presbyterian was intent on beating Furman with the pass. Todd Cunningham threw for 346 yards, and Presbyterian ran the ball only 10 times for 4 net yards. The Blue Hose gained just 91 total yards after halftime. ... Jacksonville State's Rondy Rogers was the only player in the SFL to rush for more than 1,000 yards. He had 1,417. ... Southwest Texas' Bronson Sanders gained 953 rushing yards in nine games. ... Three SoCon players posted 1,000-yard rushing seasons: Furman's Louis Ivory (1,492), Georgia Southern's Adrian Peterson (1,459) and Western Carolina's Fred Boateng (1,225).

Strategy and personnel

GAME OF THE WEEK
Grambling 30, Southern 20 -- Both teams had reason to feel good after this one. Grambling is going back to the SWAC Championship game, and Southern almost got there after being picked to finish fourth.

TOP QB PERFORMANCES
Randy Hymes, Grambling, 17 of 34, 330 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT -- Threw three touchdown passes vs. Southern, tied for the team high in rushing with 78 yards on 10 carries and scored on a 61-yard run for a 7-0 lead.

Justin Barnes, Chattanooga, 12 of 16, 325, 6 TDs, 0 INT -- His six touchdown passes in the Moc' 73-0 romp over Kentucky State tied a school record.

TOP RB PERFORMANCES
Louis Ivory, Furman, 34-176-4 -- Ivory claimed his second straight SoCon rushing title while leading the Paladins to a 47-28 victory over Presbyterian.

Charles McNeill, Chattanooga, 25-235-4 -- Scored on TD runs of 55, 37, 4 and 70 yards and set school records for rushing yards in a game and all-purpose yards (328).

Varick King, McNeese State, 26-211-2 -- His 1-yard run in the fourth quarter secured the victory over Jacksonville State.

TOP WR PERFORMANCES
B.J. Tiger, Alabama State, 11-150 -- Tiger didn't catch a touchdown pass, but he often put Alabama State in position to score in the loss to Tuskegee.

Levi Washington, Grambling, 5-128-2 -- Caught touchdown passes of 20 and 49 yards in Grambling's 30-20 victory over Southern.

TOP DEFENSIVE PERFORMANCE
Josh Cain, Chattanooga -- Cain, a senior linebacker, had 16 tackles (four for losses), three sacks and returned an interception 20 yards for a touchdown in the Mocs' 73-0 victory over Kentucky State, the Mocs' first shutout in 28 games.

INJURY IMPACT
Georgia Southern receiver Derrick Owens returned to action Saturday against Wofford after missing the two previous games with a knee strain. ... Northwestern State defensive end Jeremy Hebert should be close to full speed for the playoff game after returning on a limited basis in the Nov. 17 regular-season finale against Stephen F. Austin. He was out for seven weeks with torn ligaments in his elbow.

-- Dave Link/The Sports Xchange
Copyright (C) 2001 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.