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Wednesday, October 30, 2002

By Phil Axelrod, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Washington and Jefferson has been getting an early jump on the playoffs. "We've been playing every game like it's the playoffs," Coach John Banaszak said. "We know we don't have any margin for error. It's one and out for us."

Banaszak means another loss will most likely eliminate the Presidents (6-1) from consideration for an at-large invitation to the NCAA Division III playoffs. That's the only route to the playoffs available for W&J because the six-team Presidents' Athletic Conference doesn't have the required seven members to qualify for an automatic bid.

W&J clinched its 16th league title in the past 17 seasons with a 28-21 victory against Waynesburg last week.

The 14th-ranked Presidents, whose final three games are against non-league opponents, face a major hurdle when they play at No. 7 Hanover (7-0) Saturday in Hanover, Ind.

"We probably have to win out," Banaszak said. "We know what we have to do."

So does IUP.

"We can't afford another loss," IUP Coach Frank Cignetti said. "We put ourselves in that position."

IUP, winner of eight consecutive games since a 37-34 loss to Findlay, can sew up its fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II playoffs with victories on the road Saturday against Shippensburg and Nov. 9 vs. Slippery Rock.

"We don't need help," Cignetti said. "It's up to us to get the job done."

IUP (8-1) is ranked ninth nationally and is fourth in the Northeast Region. The top four rated teams in the region advance to the playoffs.

The Indians will be bolstered by the return of senior quarterback Brian Eyerman, who holds almost all of the school's passing records. He is expected to start after missing a 31-14 victory against Lock Haven last week because of a concussion. Eyerman was replaced last week by Kevin Weidl, a redshirt freshman from Mt. Lebanon.

IUP can clinch at least a share of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Division title for the 14th time since 1984 by beating Shippensburg. The Indians have defeated the Red Raiders 14 consecutive times by an average score of 42-15.

Shippensburg has won five of six and is 5-3 and 3-1 in the PSAC West. The Red Raiders quarterback is Tyler Novak, the son of Woodland Hills Coach George Novak.

Unlike W&J and IUP, Duquesne's road to the postseason appears to be much smoother.

The Dukes (8-0), who have won 21 consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference games by an average of 31 points, finish the regular season with league games against Iona, Canisius and Fairfield. The Dukes are 5-0 in the MAAC, outscoring opponents, 176-17.

Duquesne is well on its way to a fourth consecutive MAAC title and a spot in the ECAC Bowl, Nov. 23 at the home of the Northeast Conference champion. The Dukes are eligible for the Division I-AA national playoffs, but a non-scholarship school such as Duquesne never has received one of the eight at-large invitations.

Dukes keep climbing

Duquesne (8-0), Montana (8-0) and Bethune-Cookman (8-0) are the only undefeated teams in Division I-AA. The Dukes moved up two spots to No. 32 in the ESPN/USA Today I-AA poll and three positions. to No. 33 in The Sports Network poll. Both polls include scholarship, partial scholarship and non-scholarship schools. Duquesne doesn't give athletic scholarships for football.

The rankings

Duquesne stayed No. 1 for the fifth consecutive week in the Sports Network NCAA Division I-AA Mid-Major poll. ... IUP moved up a notch to ninth in the American Football Coaches Association NCAA Division II poll.

Did you know?

St. Francis outgained an opponent for the first time in 27 consecutive games with 310 yards to 295 for Albany, but the Red Flash lost their 30th consecutive game, 49-21. St. Francis (0-7) leads Division I-AA in passing defense (91.3 yards per game) and is 13th in total defense (260.4 ypg). ... Robert Morris will try to avoid a four-game losing streak for the first time in school history when the Colonials play host Saturday to Albany. The Colonials set a number of school records in a 49-21 loss to Gannon -- most points allowed, fewest rushing yards (minus 23) and sacks allowed (nine).