RFC Summer Semester: Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Preview (NAIA)

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2012 Final Standings

Looking back: Morningside was the leader of the GPAC (Great Plains Athletic Conference), finishing unbeaten in conference play at 9-0 last season.  The Mustangs reached the NAIA national championship at Rome, Georgia, losing a heartbreaker to Marian, 30-27, in overtime.

The only other team from the GPAC to advance to the NAIA playoffs was Northwestern (Iowa).  Unlike the Mustangs, however, the Red Raiders postseason run was "one-and-done", as they fell in the first round of the playoffs to, you guessed it, to eventual national champion, Marian.  The final score in that game was 42-32 in Marian's favor.

Looking ahead: Look for Morningside to again lead the way in the GPAC going into 2013.

Predicted order of finish (2012 overall record in parentheses)

1. Morningside (13-1):  After an agonizing loss to Marian in last year's title game, the Mustangs hope to use the sting of that setback to get back to this year's title game, and this time, win it all.

2. Northwestern (Iowa)--(9-4):  Coming off their first postseason appearance since 2006, the Red Raiders have higher aspirations going into 2013.

3. Doane (7-3):  With a three-game winning streak to end 2012, the Tigers and their faithful hope to take the next step in 2013, and advance to the NAIA playoffs.  But that would mean knocking off either Northwestern or Morningside above them to get there.

4. Nebraska Wesleyan (6-4):  The Prairie Wolves overcame a slow 1-4 start to end the 2012 season with five straight wins.  That's a run they hope will carry over into the 2013 season.

5. Hastings (6-4):  On the other hand, the Broncos will try to snap a four-game skid to end 2012.  That came after starting 6-1.

6. Dakota Wesleyan (6-4):  Fresh off of their best season since 2008 (7-3 overall), the Tigers will try to do something they haven't done since 1994: win a conference championship.

7. Concordia (Neb.)--(5-6):  At 5-4, the Bulldogs stood just one win away from a winning season.  But back-to-back losses to end 2012, by a combined score of 67-7, prevented that milestone from happening.  They hope to have a happier ending to 2013.

8. Midland (4-6):  The Warriors face a huge uphill battle going into 2013.

9. Briar Cliff (1-10):  A dramatic win over Dordt on September 29 was the lone bright spot in an otherwise dismal 2012 season for the Chargers.

10. Dordt (2-9):  Speaking of the Defenders, they did manage to win two games last year.  But none of them came within the GPAC.

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