1999 Playoffs: PLU rolls in Salem

Despite giving up 70 pounds, PLU senior linebacker Tim Lax brought down Rowan tight end David Sadowski en route to nine total tackles and three for loss.
Photo by Pat Coleman, D3football.com

The Lutes traveled halfway around the world to get there and rolled up 42 points as they upended Rowan 42-13 in Stagg Bowl XXVII. We also take a look at the feel-good Lutes and the kids who buy into head coach Frosty Westering's system.

Take a look back at preview information and see which of our experts picked Pacific Lutheran to win.

Bracket projections: Oct. 21 | Oct. 28 | Nov. 4 | Nov. 10 | Nov. 13

Playoff roundup

Quarterfinals
West seventh-seeded Pacific Lutheran rallied with 13 unanswered second-half points to defeat St. John's 19-9 and earn a trip to San Antonio and become the first-ever seven seed to reach the national semifinals. OK, it's the first year of seven-team brackets, but that's still impressive. Hardin-Simmons drove from their 35-yard line to the Trinity 15 with five seconds left but was unable to get the ball in the end zone and falls to the top-seeded Tigers 40-33. The Cowboys again suffered from turnovers, coughing up the ball eight times. Ohio Northern's Cinderella season came to a shocking conclusion, as Mount Union pulled off another second-half rout in winning 56-31. The Polar Bears had led 16-14 at the half before the machine scored four third-quarter touchdowns. And Rowan put together a Mount Union-like burst of its own with 21 fourth-quarter points to put Montclair State away 42-13. All the final scores, plus game stories.

Second-round action
Two No. 1 seeds went one-and-out Saturday afternoon, as Western Connecticut lost to Montclair State 32-24 and Pacific Lutheran blew out Wartburg 49-14. That sets up PLU at St. John's next week in the West final, and Rowan at Montclair State in the East. In the North, Ohio Northern romped past Wittenberg 58-24, setting up a rematch at Mount Union, while it's an all-Texas final in the South, with Hardin-Simmons at Trinity. All the scores, including game stories as well as updated pairings. Plus, Western Connecticut doesn't file the paperwork to host a third-round game and only avoids an embarrassing road trip to New Jersey by losing.

First round: Wisconsin ousted
For all the talk about Wisconsin power, the Badger State went 0-3 in opening-week playoff action. UW-La Crosse lost 38-17, UW-Stevens Point lost 23-10 and St. Norbert lost 39-32. Washington & Jefferson recorded the first big upset of the postseason as it toppled Lycoming 14-7. Did we say the key was defense? Also advancing: Pacific Lutheran, Hardin-Simmons, Rowan, Montclair State, Ursinus, Central, Wittenberg, Ohio Northern, Augustana, St. John's and Western Maryland.