Newberry College is gearing up for a pivotal showdown against Ferris State in the NCAA Division II football semifinals, set for Saturday. The Wolves, boasting an impressive 12-1 record, are currently on a ten-game winning streak and have already surpassed their previous record for wins in a single season. This milestone was achieved during the second round of the playoffs on November 29, when they secured a 24-17 victory over West Florida in Pensacola. The former record, held with 11 wins, dates back to 2006, a season in which current head coach Todd Knight served as the defensive coordinator.
As they approach this critical matchup, Newberry, the No. 4 national seed and champion of the South Atlantic Conference, has its eyes set on earning the program’s first national championship trophy to bring back to the Midlands. However, Coach Knight remains focused on the immediate task at hand. “Go 1-0 right now. Don’t worry about the record, don’t worry about the next game, don’t worry about anything other than going 1-0 this week. That’s been the message all year long,” he emphasized in a recent interview.
The Wolves face a considerable challenge as they travel to Big Rapids, Michigan, to take on the powerhouse Ferris State Bulldogs. The Bulldogs, undefeated at 14-0 and the defending national champions, hold the No. 1 national seed and have a 28-game winning streak to their name, having captured titles in 2021 and 2022.
Despite these daunting statistics, Coach Knight has confidence in his team’s capabilities. The Wolves have demonstrated remarkable resilience, boasting a perfect 9-0 record in one-score games this season. Their recent quarterfinal victory against Albany State was notable for being the third occasion this season that Newberry overcame a first-half deficit of 18 points or more. “This group of young men, they believe in each other more than any other group of young men I’ve ever had,” Knight stated. “You can be down by 21… They believe in each other so fiercely; there’s no score they don’t think they can’t come back from, and they’ve proven that.”
The weather in Big Rapids is expected to be quite cold, with predicted temperatures around 15 degrees and wind gusts reaching up to 29 miles per hour at kickoff. The winner of this semifinal will earn a spot in McKinney, Texas, for the Division II national championship, where they will face either Kutztown University (PA) or Harding University (AR). The game is set to kick off at noon and will be broadcast live on ESPN+. For those seeking more coverage, additional information is available through WISTV.com, as well as pre- and post-game commentary on air.
