RFC Summer Semester--Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) Preview (NAIA)

Website

2011 Final Standings

Looking back: Ottawa overcame an 0-2 start to the 2011 season, winning nine straight games to win the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference championship.  The Braves were quickly eliminated from the NAIA playoffs, however, as Azusa Pacific ended their season with a 49-26 rout in round one.

Looking ahead: Ottawa enters the 2012 season as the likely team to beat in the KCAC.


2012 Predicted Order of Finish (2011 overall record in parentheses)

1. Ottawa (9-2):  The Braves are among a handful of teams that will open the 2012 season on August 25, at home against Baker.  Maybe they'll be able to start it at 2-0, instead of 0-2, like in the 2011 season.


2. Bethany (Kan.)--(8-3):  The Swedes are coming off a third place in the KCAC at 6-3.  A 38-30 loss to Southwestern likely cost them a shot at postseason play.  That's something they hope to change in 2012.


3. St. Mary (7-4):  After finishing 7-2 in KCAC action last season, the Spires hope that 2012 will be the year that they take that next step, and win a conference title.


4. Kansas Wesleyan (5-6):  The Coyotes are looking ahead to 2012 after an up and down 2011 season that nearly ended with a winning record, had it not been for a close loss to St. Mary in the season finale.


5.  Friends (5-5):  The Falcons also had a "Jekyll and Hyde" 2011 season in which they lost four of their games by 10 points or more.  The fifth loss came by forfeit, to St. Mary, of all teams.


6. Southwestern (5-6):  The Moundbuilders hope that a season-ending 38-30 upset win over Bethany will be a sign of things to come in 2012.


7. McPherson (4-7):  After back-to-back NAIA playoff appearances the last two years, the Bulldogs fell back to earth last season with a disappointing 4-5 mark in KCAC matches.  Still, 2011 ended on a winning note for them, as they defeated Sterling, 24-17, for the program's 300th win all-time.  Oh, and the Bulldogs have a new head coach as well in Pete Sterbick.


8. Tabor (3-7):  The Bluejays hope to soar high in 2012.


9. Bethel (Kan.)--(2-9):  The Threshers must find an interim head coach after the head coach they hired, Travis Graber, suddenly resigned recently.


10.  Sterling (1-10):  An award-winning media guide was likely the only bright spot in an otherwise dismal season for the Warriors, who hope to finish a winning record again in 2012 under ninth-year head coach Andy Lambert.