RFC Summer Semester: Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Preview (NCAA Division III)

Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC)--NCAA Division III

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2013 Final Standings


Looking back: The University of Redlands Bulldogs rode a regular season-ending seven-game winning streak--including a stunning upset win over Chapman on the road--to claim the 2013 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) championship.  That came after the Bulldogs finished unbeaten in SCIAC play at 7-0. As for the Panthers, they found themselves sitting at home for the postseason despite an excellent 8-1 overall record.

Speaking of postseason play, the Bulldogs run in the NCAA Division III playoffs was all too brief, as Mary Hardin-Baylor cruised to an easy 35-7 win in the first round.

Looking ahead: Don't be surprised if Redlands runs the table again the SCIAC this season.  But there will be plenty of challengers ready to step up if the Bulldogs do falter this fall.

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

1. Redlands (7-3):  Despite decent preseason national rankings from two different magazines, the Bulldogs will still face a tough early-season schedule, as they take on a Mary Hardin-Baylor team that beat them twice last season, as well as an always tough Linfield squad, in the early portion of their 2014 schedule.

2. Chapman (8-1):  Yes, they might have lost only one game all of last season.  But it was that one loss that proved costly to the Panthers playoff loss, as the loss to the Bulldogs also denied them an unbeaten regular season. It's something that will hopefully used as a motivational tool for 2014, with six All-Americans being placed on the preseason USA College Football Division III team. 

3. Cal Lutheran (4-5):  The Kingsmen took a tremendous step back in 2013 after winning four straight SCIAC titles. They hope to bounce back in a big way in 2014.

4. Occidental (5-4):  The Tigers enter the 2014 season with cautious optimism after having one of their better seasons in recent memory--finishing tied for third place in the SCIAC at 4-3 at the end of the 2013 season.  

5. Pomona-Pitzer (2-7):  The Sagehens will open their 2014 season with a rare cross-country trip to New England to face MIT.

6. La Verne (3-6):  The Leopards will look to leap forward in the SCIAC standings after a disapppointing 2-5 finish in conference play.

7. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (3-6):  The Stags also face an uphill battle after finishing in a tie for sixth place with La Verne at 2-5 in SCIAC action last season.

8. Whittier (1-8):  The Poets hope to move in the right direction under third-year head coach Todd Stratton.

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