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ATN Podcast 423: Three weeks to settle it

Week 8 in Division III football had no games matching Top 25 teams against each other, but it still delivered late rallies, record-setting performances and conference races that are getting increasingly complicated.

Amherst scored twice in the fourth quarter to rally past Wesleyan, Trinity (Conn.) survived a low-scoring test from Bowdoin, and the SAA suddenly has four teams tied in the loss column. Carnegie Mellon now stands alone atop the Centennial, but its final three games come against the three teams directly behind it.

Montclair State coach Mike Palazzo joins us after the Red Hawks’ first win against a ranked opponent since 2018. He explains what Montclair learned from facing Merchant Marine’s option, how those lessons helped against Salisbury and why one running back’s remarkable game-day journey made the victory especially memorable.

Who earned game balls after a thriller and a four-touchdown performance? Which player arrived just in time for pregame after a life-changing morning? How did Alvernia dominate possession with only 32 rushing yards? And how did Grinnell reach a milestone that once seemed a long way off?

Logan Hansen’s Analytics 301 sorts through the likely top eight seeds, conferences positioned for multiple bids and the Week 9 games that could become virtual playoff-clinching or elimination contests.

Then we go region by region: WPI’s Nathan Napier connects from 53 and 55 yards, RPI intercepts seven passes and returns three for touchdowns, Jalen Lackey posts a second consecutive 200-yard receiving game, Rose-Hulman takes control of the HCAC race, St. Norbert wins with a last-minute field goal and pick-six, and Nebraska Wesleyan finally breaks into the win column with 69 points.

We also look ahead to Rowan at Christopher Newport, John Carroll at DePauw, Wheaton at Augustana, LaGrange at Huntingdon and what might be the biggest home game in Lewis & Clark history against Linfield.

Plus, we go to the mailbag, to discuss: Why is the Centennial viewed differently this season? How should OAC coaches handle a possible three-way tie? Who has the inside track in the MAC? And which Week 9 games are worth making part of your Saturday schedule?

Patrick and Greg cover it all in Around the Nation Podcast No. 423.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.

You can subscribe to the Around the Nation Podcast in Apple Podcasts, and many other places. You can also get this and any of our future Around the Nation podcasts automatically by subscribing to this RSS feed: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?feed=podcast

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Photos: @adamcreated for Utica athletics, Montclair State and Trinity (Texas) athletics file photos

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ATN Podcast 420: No consensus, plenty of contenders

UW-Whitewater found a freshman-sized answer to a championship-sized challenge, while St. John’s turned shovel passes into an avalanche against Bethel and WashU broke through with the first top 10 victory in program history. Across Division III, defenses joined the scoring spree, long field goals delivered big wins and the playoff picture got a whole lot more interesting.

Which two defenses each produced three pick-sixes on the same Saturday? Which quarterback ran for three fourth-quarter touchdowns on just four carries? Which offense somehow scored 335 points on 336 plays? Oh yes, we did the math.

Who came up with the key defensive plays to get a game ball in Trinity’s revenge win against Berry? Who became a one-man Falcon wrecking machine in Whitewater? Who hit from 54 yards to give Luther a win, and who earned the nickname “Patty Ice” while kicking St. Olaf to a win?

Plus, WashU coach Aaron Keen joins us for Fast Five, the analytics say what they’re going to say, and Dickinson produces a third quarter unlike just about anything we’ve seen. Who survived an even longer delay than the one at St. John’s? Who scored three touchdowns before the opponent even recorded a first down? And who finally got to see the St. John’s tailgate?

And looking ahead: Can Whitewater follow its biggest win of the season by winning at UW-La Crosse? Will Rowan’s defensive prowess continue at Salisbury? Might Howard Payne make a statement at Mary Hardin-Baylor? Can Ohio Northern throw a great big … bear paw … into the OAC race? And most importantly, what happens when No. 1 North Central and No. 2 Wheaton meet for the Little Brass Bell?

Patrick and Greg tackle all this, plus your mailbag questions, in the latest edition of the D3football.com Around the Nation podcast.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.

You can subscribe to the Around the Nation Podcast in Apple Podcasts, and many other places. You can also get this and any of our future Around the Nation podcasts automatically by subscribing to this RSS feed: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?feed=podcast

Here’s how to find us on some of the major podcasting apps:

Photos: Semanco Media for WashU athletics; Evan Laserstein for UW-Whitewater athletics, Ella Carlson for St. John’s athletics

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ATN Podcast 419: The Captains, the goat cheese, the Pride

Christopher Newport struck the biggest blow this week among ranked teams, with the Captains coming up with six takeaways and shutting out Susquehanna on the road, while the Goat and the Cheese Bowl got some time in the spotlight (mmm, goat cheese) and Springfield survived in a rain-swept defensive battle.

Which conference gave us a huge Act 1 finale this weekend? Which punter came up with a huge game in his team’s win? Which broadcast team shouted out Pat Coleman on the air, and got him to answer? Oh yes, we’re listening.

Who came up with the key defensive plays to get a game ball in a shutout win? Who got the special teams play his team desperately needed on a day where the offense was struggling? Who finally bookended a win in a rivalry game?

Plus, Christopher Newport coach Paul Crowley joins us for Fast Five, the analytics say what they’re going to say, and St. Francis finally gets out of the queue and onto the field. How many people played quarterback for Texas Lutheran? Who opened the door in Region 4?

And over-under: How many yards for Wash U against John Carroll this upcoming week? How many points will the winning team end up scoring in the Berry-Trinity (Texas) game? How many yards will Tyler Szalkowski throw for for Utica against Cortland? How many points do we really expect Baldwin Wallace and Heidelberg to put up on Saturday? And lastly, how many people will cram in the gates at Whitewater and St. John’s this weekend for their top 10 clashes?

Patrick and Greg answer these, plus your mailbag questions, in the latest edition of the D3football.com Around the Nation podcast.

Hit play, or subscribe to get this podcast on your mobile device.

You can subscribe to the Around the Nation Podcast in Apple Podcasts, and many other places. You can also get this and any of our future Around the Nation podcasts automatically by subscribing to this RSS feed: http://www.d3blogs.com/d3football/?feed=podcast

Here’s how to find us on some of the major podcasting apps:

Photo: @leary_kell38655