RFC Small College Preview: Centennial Conference (CC)

Centennial Conference (CC)

2015 Football Standings - Centennial Conference

Looking back: The Johns Hopkins University Blue Jays ruled the roost in the Centennial Conference (CC) once again at the end of the 2015 season. They finished unbeaten in league play yet again, finishing 9-0 in conference games last fall (11-1 overall), while also going 10-0 at the end of regular season action. JHU advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs, where they fell to eventual national quarterfinalist, Wesley, 42-37.

Looking ahead: Expect Johns Hopkins to win another Centennial Conference crown this season. The Blue Jays have lost only one league game over the last five years.

Predicted order of finish (2015 overall record in parentheses):

1. Johns Hopkins (11-1): With the return of presesason All-Americans--quarterback Jonathan Germano and safety Jack Toner for their respective senior seasons--the Blue Jays hope to extend their streak of consecutive seasons with 10 or more wins to six straight, dating back to 2011.

2. Muhlenberg (8-3): The Mules hope that 2015 will be their year, as they'll look to win at least a share of their first CC championship since 2010. Not only that, they also hope to earn their second trip to the D-III dance in three seasons too.

3. Moravian (8-3): The Greyhounds had one of their best seasons in recent memory, finishing in a two-way tie for second place at 7-2 last fall. They hope to have that sudden success carry over into this fall.

4. Gettysburg (7-3): The Bullets will leave the state of Pennsylvania only once in 2016, but it will likely be a critical contest, as they'll travel to Baltimore to do battle with Johns Hopkins in a night game on October 21.

5. Franklin & Marshall (6-4): Despite clinching their fifth winning season in the last seven years, the 2015 season didn't end well for the Diplomats, losing their final two games of the year. They hope that the 2016 season will have a much happier ending.

Bonus Coverage: Franklin & Marshall Program History

6. Susquehanna (5-5): Just slightly on the flip side, the Crusaders won their final two games of 2015 to finish at .500 or better for the third time in the last five years. They had won just three games combined in 2013 and 2014, respectively.

7. Dickinson (3-7): The Red Devils will look to snap a streak of six straight losing seasons dating back to 2010.

8. Juniata (3-7): The Eagles hope to return to their 2013 (7-4 overall) form after slipping to 2-7 in conference play in 2015.

9. Ursinus (3-7): After back-to-back 7-3 seasons, the Bears hope to bounce back after taking several steps backwards last season, losing four games by seven points or less.  

10. McDaniel (0-10): The Green Terror will look to snap a 19-game skid that dates back to September 5, 2014. They rallied to knock off Catholic, 34-31, that afternoon.

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