Saturday’s small-college football playoff games

NCAA Division II

Harding (9-1) at Pittsburg State (10-1), 1 p.m. — The Gorillas, co-champions of the MIAA, are back in the playoffs for the first time since winning the national championship in 2011. Harding is the runner-up out of the Great American Conference. The schools have never met in football.

Pitt State senior quarterback Anthony Abenoja, the MIAA offensive player of the year, is 27-6 as a starter. The Gorillas have won four straight playoff games at home.

NAIA

Ottawa (9-2) at Morningside (9-1), 1 p.m. — Ottawa, the KCAC champion, travels to Sioux City, Iowa, to take on Great Plains Athletic Conference co-champion Morningside. This is the Braves’ eighth NAIA postseason appearance. Ottawa is 1-7, with the only win coming in 2009, against Hastings in the Braves’ only home playoff game.

MidAmerica Nazarene (9-1) at Southern Oregon (9-2), 6 p.m. — Southern Oregon, out of the Frontier Conference, is led by senior quarterback Austin Dodge, the NAIA’s career record holder in total yards (15,819), touchdown passes (140) and passing yards (15,590). Dodge leads the NAIA in total offense with 3,965 yards. MidAmerica, after its their first HOAA title since 2011, travel to Ashland, Ore., with arguably the nation’s best pass defense. MidAmerica has allowed seven passing touchdowns all season and its passing defense is fifth in the NAIA at 139.6 yards.

Tony Adame

This story was originally published November 20, 2014 at 9:36 PM with the headline "Saturday’s small-college football playoff games."