Sports

Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009

Choctaws headed to Division III playoffs

Mississippi College has earned the school’s first-ever NCAA Division III football playoff berth.

The No. 17 Choctaws (8-2) travel to Huntington (8-2) for a first-round showdown on Saturday at noon.

MC and Mary Hardin-Baylor shared the American Southwest Conference championship, but the Choctaws earned the conference’s automatic playoff bid with a 17-14 victory last month.

“It didn’t matter to me if we were at home or on the road,” Choctaws coach Norman Joseph said. “We’re excited to have an opportunity of being in the playoffs and represent our conference.

“This is a huge reward for our program and it didn’t happen overnight. We’ve had continuity on our coaching staff, which helped tremendously.’

The Choctaws won the ASC championship in 1997, but did not make the playoffs because the NCAA did not award playoff bids to the then newly-formed conference. MC’s last playoff berth came in 1991 at the Division II level.

Eight players with Coast ties are on the Choctaws’ roster. Linebacker Dale Meitzler (Picayune), wide receiver Tarkan Weston (St. Martin), tight end Ethan Eubanks (George County), wide receiver Caleb Mims (Stone), Kyle Prima (Ocean Springs), defensive lineman Adam Martino (Biloxi), punter Philip Geraci (Pearl River Central) and running back Qin Mobley (Moss Point).