SELINSGROVE, PA - For the Susquehanna Football community, the wait is almost over as the #9/10 River Hawks return to the NCAA Division III Football Championships with an opening-round matchup hosting #16/18 Grove City. Kickoff is 12 noon, as is all other NCAA football playoff games happening Saturday local time. 

Susquehanna comes in after raising the inaugural Landmark Conference banner with a 6-0 league mark and 10-0 overall record. Combined with last year's 10-0 unbeaten regular season, head coach Tom Perkovich's team has a new school record 21 consecutive regular season wins. Despite an in-state and relatively local trip for the Wolverines, this will be the first time both teams square off since 1975, with SU holding a 4-2-1 lead in the all-time series. Grove City makes their first-ever NCAA playoff appearance after also clearing a 10-0 perfect season on their way to the Presidents Athletic Conference (PAC) title, doing so against formidable competition such as Carnegie Mellon, Washington & Jefferson, Case Western Reserve, and Westminster.

QUICK LINKS: TICKETS | WHAT TO KNOW COMING TO SU |  VIDEO | LIVE STATS | RADIO (WQSU 88.9 FM, TALENT: JACK BURNS)

GAME NOTES: SUSQUEHANNA | GROVE CITY TEAM PAGE

SUSQUEHANNA'S MISSION: SAME TIME, SAME PLACE, DIFFERENT OUTCOME.
Some would argue that Susquehanna Football has been waiting for this day since this time last year after a disappointing 17-10 defeat hosting Utica in the opening round of the NCAA Championships. With a new conference came new opportunities for head coach Tom Perkovich and company to work their way back into contention. They made a bold statement in non-conference play to start the year at 4-0, including nail-biting, come-from-behind victories at strongholds SUNY Brockport and SUNY Cortland, with the latter potentially in the wings for a rematch in next week's second-round games. But to the River Hawks, defeating Grove City Saturday is the only thing on their minds. Both teams come in at 10-0 and conference champions, with the visiting Wolverines securing the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) title at 10-0 (10-0). All NCAA Division III football games today will kick off at 12 noon local time.

On the other end of the bracket, the aforementioned Cortland Red Dragons, winners of the Empire 8, head up to Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) champs Endicott for their opening-round game, with the winner facing off against the winner of Susquehanna-Grove City. Host site to be determined. Despite this matchup's intrastate nature, this will be the first time since 1975 that Susquehanna and Grove City will face off against each other, with SU holding a 4-2-1 lead in in the all-time series and having the last laugh with a 14-7 win 48 years ago.

HAWKS GAIN STAGG HAT TROPHY, LANDMARK TITLE, #9/10 RANKINGS BEATING LYCOMING
It was only fitting that Susquehanna and Lycoming's first conference matchup in 15 years would serve as the Landmark Conference championship game entering the regular season finalse last Saturday. It looked to be a longshot with the Warriors ranked seventh in the conference's preseason poll and an 0-5 start. The persevered with four straight Landmark wins and a 4-1 record to stand in the way of the 5-0 River Hawks from running away with the league title. But on this day, Susquehanna controlled the flow of the game with a touchdown on the opening possession, then disarming the Warriors on their opening drive with a fumble recovery that set up another touchdown and an early 14-0 lead towards a 49-10 rout. Earning the conference title and the Stagg Hat Trophy was perhaps not as impressive as SU sliding up the D3football.com and AFCA national rankings at nine and ten, respectively, a program best.

Kyle Howes scored three total touchdowns on the day with two receiving on a day where he caught four passes for 70 yards, while turning in his only rush on a sweep play for nine yards and six points. Howes' 58 receptions this year is sixth-most all-time at SU. Tommy Grabowski turned in his seventh 100-yard game of the season with 110 gained and one touchdown on 21 carries. Grabowski is closing in on becoming the tenth 1000-yard season rusher in school history with 963 yards gained on the ground. The River Hawks ground game, bolstered by the work of the offensive line and top rusher Grabowski, Josh Ehrlich, Matt Surtz and DK Wyche, have scorched for 2,444 yards and a new school record 33 rushing touchdowns.