RFC Summer Semester: Centennial Conference (CC) Preview (NCAA Division III)

Centennial Conference (CC)--NCAA Division III

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2013 Final Standings

Looking back: The Johns Hopkins University Blue Jays cruised through the Centennial Conference undefeated to complete the regular season at 9-0 in conference games last year.  But it was a "one-and-done" run in the NCAA Division III playoffs, as Wesley pulled off the 29-24 upset win in the first round.

Three other CC squads advanced to postseason play in 2013 as well, with Franklin & Marshall crushing Delaware Valley to win the ECAC Southeast Bowl, Juniata falling short against Albright in the ECAC Southwest Bowl, and Muhlenberg losing a heartbreaker to Salisbury in the ECAC South Atlantic Bowl.


Looking ahead: Expect the Blue Jays to be the "hunted" in the Centennial Conference again this season.

Predicted order of finish (2013 overall record in parentheses):

1. Johns Hopkins (10-1):  With a Top 10 preseason ranking by one magazine, as well as a Top 20 ranking in another publication, it's really no surprise why the Blue Jays once again might be the team to beat in the Centennial Conference going into 2014. If they can stay healthy, there's no reason why they can't make yet another deep postseason run come November.

2. Muhlenberg (8-3):  The Mules could very well give the Blue Jays a run for their money in 2014.  Believe it or not, they also have the second highest winning percentage in the CC over the past 14 years, second only to, you guessed it, Johns Hopkins.

3. Franklin & Marshall (7-4):  The Diplomats hope that last year's blowout win over Delaware Valley in the ECAC Southeast Bowl to end 2013 will be a springboard to bigger and better things in 2014.

4. Ursinus (7-3):  The Bears need to finish what they start if they hope to advance to postseason play in 2014.  They started 2013 at 5-0, only to lose three of the final five games.

5. Juniata (7-4):  The Eagles enjoyed their best season in 15 years, advancing to the ECAC Southwest Bowl before falling to Albright.  Now, after 10 straight sub-.500 seasons from 2003-2012, it will be interesting to see if that program can continue to move forward.

6. Gettysburg (4-6):  The Bullets hope to put a disappointing 2013 season behind them, losing all six games by 10 points or more.

7. Dickinson (3-7):  Talk about a tough 2014 schedule.  The Red Devils will face six teams that finished the 2013 season with a winning record, including two 10-win NCAA playoff teams in Hobart and Johns Hopkins.

8. McDaniel (2-8):  Wins have been hard to come by for the Green Terror in recent years, as they've won just four games over the past three seasons.

9. Moravian (2-8):  The Greyhounds will look to reserve an alarming trend that has seen them post three straight two-win seasons, and four in the last five years.  Just to be fair, though, they did finish 8-3 in 2008 and 7-4 in 2010.

10. Susquehanna (1-9):  A once proud program struggled mightily in 2013, with the Crusaders only win coming against the aforementioned Moravian on October 19.  Turning things around in 2014 won't be easy, as they face six that had winning records last season.

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