Football earns first-round bye in NCAA Playoffs<br><i>Watch team's reaction to selection</i>
Lions to face NGU/Albany St. winner on Nov. 26
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The road to the 2011 Division II Football Championship is coming through Mars Hill, which earned the No. 2 seed in Super Region Two of the bracket. The 24-team field was announced on Sunday.
The Lions (8-2) receive a bye through the First Round and will face the winner of No. 3 North Greenville (9-2)/No. 6 Albany State (8-3). The Second Round game will be played at the Ammons Family Athletic Center and Meares Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 26. Kickoff time is set for 12 p.m.
Mars Hill defeated North Greenville, 38-28, on Sept. 24. The Lions are led by Harlon Hill Trophy candidate Jonas Randolph, who leads all NCAA divisions in rushing this season and is the active career leading rusher among all NCAA divisions.
Delta State (9-2) earned the top seed in Super Region Two and also receives a First Round bye. Delta State will face the winner of No. 4 West Alabama (8-3)/No. 5 North Alabama (8-2).
Mars Hill claimed the South Atlantic Conference Championship on Saturday with a 23-20 victory over Carson-Newman. The Lions share the title with Lenoir-Rhyne (7-3), as both teams posted identical 6-1 conference records.
Mars Hill last made a playoff run in 1980, when it was a member of the NAIA. The Lions lost to Kearney State (Neb.), 9-6.