Saturday, June 13, 2015

RFC Small College Preview: Centennial Conference (CC)--(NCAA Division III)

Centennial Conference (CC)


2014 Centennial Conference Football Standings - Centennial Conference


Looking back: The Johns Hopkins University Blue Jays took home yet another Centennial Conference crown in 2014, which was their fourth straight conference championship, as well as their fifth title in the last six years. They advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs, where they were eliminated by Hobart on the road, 24-21.

The only other Centennial Conference team to advance to postseason play was Muhlenberg, whose Mules gave the Widener Pride all it could handle before falling 36-35, in the first round of the D-III playoffs.

Looking ahead: While Johns Hopkins is once again favored to win the Centennial Conference crown again this fall, don't count out Muhlenberg out of the mix either.

Predicted order of finish (2014 overall record in parentheses):

1. Johns Hopkins (12-1):  With a preseason ranking of No. 11 by The Sporting News, expect the Blue Jays to win yet another Centennial Conference crown.

2. Muhlenberg (9-2): But with just two sub-.500 seasons (3-7 overall in 2005 and 2009 respectively) dating back to 2000, don't be surprised if the Mules end up wresting the title away from the Blue Jays this fall.

3. Ursinus (7-3):  The Bears have had six straight winning seasons, as well as eight in the last nine years dating back to 2006. If they hope to make it seven it a row this season, they must rely on the services of rising seniors such as Nicholas Pulizzi at fullback, as well as James Roccograndi at linebacker.

4. Gettysburg (5-5): Head Coach Barry Streeter welcomes back 11 starters from last season, as the Bullets look to build on their 5-4 conference mark from 2014.

5. Franklin & Marshall (5-5):  The Diplomats were one of three teams in the Centennial Conference to finish in a three-way tie for fifth place (4-5) in league play last season

6. Juniata (5-5):  The Eagles enter the 2015 campaign looking to finish the season at .500 or better, as they finished 7-4 overall in 2013. 

7. Moravian (5-5):  The Greyhounds will look to improve on last year's 4-5 record in CC action last season, after finishing 2-8 overall for each of the previous three seasons (2011-2013).

8. Dickinson (3-7):  The Red Devils haven't had a winning season since 2009, when they finished 8-2. Since then, they've won just 17 games combined dating back to 2010.

9. Susquehanna (2-8):  The Crusaders begin a new era under rookie head coach Tom Perkovich this fall. He replaces Steve Briggs, who resigned after 27 years at the helm.

10. McDaniel (1-9):  The Green Terror face an uphill battle after going winless in conference play for the second time in the last three years.

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