SHIPPENSBURG UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL
November
7, 2004
DIVISION
II FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FIELD ANNOUNCED. SHIPPENSBURG RANKED NO. 1 IN
NORTHEAST REGION, RECEIVES FIRST ROUND BYE
INDIANAPOLIS,
Indiana---The NCAA Division II Football Committee announced today the field of
24 teams for the 2004 NCAA Division II Football Championship. Shippensburg
(10-1) was named as the number one ranked team in the Northeast Region, earning
a first round bye the weekend of November 13.
The
Red Raiders will host a second-round game on November 20 against the winner of
fourth ranked West Chester (8-3) and fifth ranked C.W. Post (8-2).
East
Stroudsburg (9-1) also received a first round bye as the second ranked team.
Third ranked Bentley (8-1) and sixth ranked Edinboro (8-2) will play in the
first round, with the winner facing East Stroudsburg in the second round.
The
Northeast Region title game will be held November 27, with the winner moving on
to face the winner of the Southeast Region in the semi-finals on December 4. The
NCAA Division II championship game will be played on December 11 in Florence,
Alabama.
Six
teams selected in each of the four regions make up the field of 24 teams. Teams
are ranked based on a number of factors, including strength of schedule,
overall won-loss record, record against ranked teams, record in regional
competition, and results against common opponents. No automatic bids are given.
Shippensburg
has faced two of the region finalists in the regular season. They defeated
Edinboro 17-10 at homecoming in the fifth week of the season. The Red Raiders
concluded the regular season by defeating West Chester 24-21 in overtime.
The
postseason berth marks the third time that Shippensburg has reached the NCAA
Playoffs. In 1981, the Red Raiders defeated Virginia Union 40-27 in the first
round before losing to North Dakota State 18-6 in the semi-finals.
1991
was Shippensburgıs last trip to the playoffs. The Red Raiders won in the first
round with a thrilling 34-33 victory over East Stroudsburg in overtime. They
lost to Indiana (Pa.), the eventual national semi-finalists, 52-7 in the
quarterfinals.
Game
times and ticket information will be released as it becomes available.
-Red Raider
Football-