Rocky Mount, NC - The NCAA has released its 2007 Division III Football Championship bracket. Having received the first playoff berth in program history, North Carolina Wesleyan has learned it will travel to Pennsylvania's Washington & Jefferson College on Saturday for a 12:00 noon match-up with the Presidents. W&J was awarded a No. 1 seed after completing an undefeated regular season. The Blue & Gold were tabbed an 8th-seed after posting eight straight wins for an 8-2 overall mark.

The Presidents (10-0) completed the regular season undefeated for the ninth time in the 116-year history of the program. W&J is making its 19th appearance in the NCAA playoffs in the past 23 years and holds a 19-18 record in postseason play. Washington & Jefferson earned the Presidents’ Athletic Conference’s automatic bid after claiming its 22nd PAC title in history. 

North Carolina Wesleyan started the season with losses to NCAA playoff teams Wesley and Widener, but battled back to win eight consecutive games, including a 7-0 USA South Conference record. In just their fourth season of existence, the Bishops became the first team in conference history to post an undefeated record in league play, and in the process, earned an automatic berth. 

The Blue & Gold have one of the nation’s most balanced offenses as they average 226.8 yards rushing and 226.2 yards passing per game (453.0 ypg). Wesleyan has turned the ball over 25 times, but the defense has forced 39 turnovers, including 22 interceptions, which ranks third in Division III. 

The Presidents are led by junior quarterback Bobby Swallow, who has led all NCAA divisions in pass efficiency (197.0) for the past seven weeks. Swallow set W&J’s single-season passing touchdown record with 42, while only tossing three interceptions.

The winner of Saturday’s game will take on the winner of the Trinity-UMHB game on Nov. 24th in the second round. To view the complete championship bracket, visit the following link: http://www.ncaasports.com/football/mens/brackets/straight32_dyn/2007/DIII

Parts of this story are courtesy of W&J Sports Information...

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