HOW THEY DID IT - Division II Playoff Recaps
_ Delta State 17, Elizabeth City State 10
Delta State scored 17 unanswered third quarter points to wipe out a 10-0 halftime deficit en route to a its win over Elizabeth City State in a first round NCAA Div. II playoff game in Elizabeth City, N.C. ECSU kept DSU out of the end zone in the first half intercepting two Scott Eyster passes, one in the red zone late in the second quarter, and forcing a DSU fumble on the ECSU goal line that rolled thru the end zone for a touchback. ECSU (9-3) scored all its points in the second quarter on a blocked punt by Karl Wimberley returned 30 yards for a TD by Chris Shaw and Kevin Dodson's 29-yard field goal five minutes before halftime. Eyster (22-41-2, 290), a Harlon Hill candidate, was error-free in the second half and got DSU on the board with a six-yard pass to Eric Marshall on its first second-half possession. ECSU wideout Chris Carter fumbled after a reception on the Vikings' ensuing possession and DSU recovered on the ECSU 22. Three plays later DSU placekicker Sid Halladay tied the game at 10 on a 30-yard field goal. Following the kickoff ECSU went three-and-out and DSU took the lead for good following a 26-yard punt return and a 7-play, 39-yard drive culminating in Phillip Graves' two-yard TD. The ECSU offense was limited to 134 yards on the day while DSU racked up 369. ECSU QB Curtis Rich was 11 of 22 for 95 yards while RB Brandon Fields was held to 29 yards on 14 carries.
_ Newberry 34, Albany State 28
Newberry scored on all three of its third-quarter possessions to overcome a 14-7 halftime deficit and knock off Albany State in a first round NCAA Div. II game in Newberry, S.C. The Golden Rams (7-4) grabbed a 14-0 first-half lead on QB Kisan Flakes one-yard first quarter run and Jimtavis Walker's six-yard gallop early in the second quarter. Newberry got on the board five minutes before halftime on the first of three scoring aerials from QB Josh Stepp to WR Tymere Zimmerman, this one from 26 yards out. ASU kept Newberry from tying the score as DB Mike Pittman intercepted Stepp (17-34-1, 174) just before halftime in the end zone. Stepp's 8- and 19-yard third quarter scoring tosses to Zimmerman were preceded by his 12-yard hook-up with Chuck Huger that opened the second-half scoring. Marcus Jefferson's 69-yard kickoff return set ASU up with its only third quarter score, a 5-yard run by QB Terrance Ransom. The Golden Rams trailed 28-21 entering the fourth quarter. The teams traded fourth quarter TDs with Newberry scoring after Ransom was picked off at the ASU 15. ASU's final score came on a 12-play, 65-yard drive capped by QB Ksan Flakes' five-yard pass to Nick Kyles with three minutes left. ASU got the ball back with 1:59 left but the drive ended on a fumble on fourth down at the ASU 40.
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