Wingate Football hosts Morehouse (Ga.) Saturday in NCAA first round contest

Indianapolis, Ind.----The NCAA Division II Football Committee announced today the field of 24 teams for the 2010 NCAA Division II Football Championship. For the first time in school history, Wingate University (8-2 overall) qualifies for the NCAA post-season. The Bulldogs will host Morehouse (Ga.) College (8-2 overall) Saturday, Nov. 20 at 12 noon. The contest will be played in Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field on the Wingate campus.

Eight first-round games will be conducted on the campus of one of the competing institutions. In addition, two teams per super regional have earned first-round byes. The first-round winners will all advance to face a bye team in their super regional in the second round on the campus of one of the competing institutions. Second-round winners will meet in the quarterfinals at various campus sites. Quarterfinal winners will advance to play in the semifinals on the campus of one of the competing institutions. Six teams selected per super regional make up the field of 24 teams.

Tickets for the Wingate versus Morehouse game are $12 for reserved seats, $10 for general admission and $8 for students (kindergarten through college) with a valid ID. The Bulldogs and the Maroon Tigers will meet for the first time Saturday.

The first-round dates, sites and pairings are:
Nov. 20 at St. Cloud, Minn.
Hillsdale (Mich.) College (9-2) vs. *St. Cloud State (Minn.) University (9-2)

Nov. 20 at Allendale, Mich.
Colorado School of Mines (9-2) vs. *Grand Valley State (Mich.) University (10-1)

Nov. 20 at Warrensburg, Mo.
West Texas A&M University (8-3) vs. *University of Central Missouri (9-2)

Nov. 20 at Maryville, Mo.
Missouri Western State University (8-3) vs. *Northwest Missouri State University (9-1)

Nov. 20 at Wingate, N.C.
Morehouse College (8-2) vs. *Wingate University (8-2)

Nov. 20 at Valdosta, Ga.
University of North Alabama (8-3) vs. *Valdosta State University (8-2)

Nov. 20 at Shepherdstown, W.Va.
Shaw University (9-2) vs. *Shepherd (W.Va.) University (9-1)

Nov. 20 at California, Pa.
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania (9-2) vs. *California University of Pennsylvania (10-1)

*Denotes host institution

The following institutions earned first-round byes in each super regional and also will host a second-round game on Nov. 27, 2010.

Super Regional One:                                                  
1.  Kutztown University of Pennsylvania (10-1)          
2.  Mercyhurst (Pa.) College (9-2)                                                      

Super Regional Two:
1.  Albany State (Ga.) University (10-0)
2.  Delta State (Miss.) University (8-3)

Super Regional Three:                                                
1.  University of Minnesota Duluth (11-0)                                
2.  Augustana (S.D.) College (10-1)              

Super Regional Four:
1.  Abilene Christian (Texas) University (11-0)
2.  Texas A&M University-Kingsville (10-1)

All contests shall start at noon local time. Other times may be established if approved by the committee. Northwest Missouri State University defeated Grand Valley State (Mich.) University in the 2009 national championship game to claim the NCAA title.

The championship game will be played Dec. 18, at 11 a.m. Eastern time at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Ala. and will be broadcast live on ESPN2 HD/ESPN3.com. The 2010 championship will mark 25 consecutive years that the Division II championship game has been played in Florence. In addition, both semifinal games will be played on Saturday, Dec. 11. Kick-off will be at either 2 p.m. or 6 p.m. Eastern time on CBS College HD/NCAA.com.