Seton Hill earned a bid Sunday to the NCAA Division II football playoffs in its fourth year of existence and first year of eligibility.
Yet, even with such a lofty accomplishment, the Griffins say they're not satisfied, especially after dropping the regular-season finale Saturday at home to West Liberty State, 35-32.
The loss cost Seton Hill (9-2, 6-2) a share of what would have been its first West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title and marked the team's eighth game this season decided by single digits (7-1).
"That game stunk," first-year Seton Hill coach Joel Dolinski said.
The Griffins still earned the sixth seed in the Super 1 Region and will visit third-seeded American International (9-1) in a first-round game at noon Saturday in Springfield, Mass.
American International, the Northeast-10 Conference champion, ended its regular season with a 27-17 loss to fifth-seeded Southern Connecticut State.
"They're going to get our best effort," said Seton Hill senior defensive back Andrew DeMase, an Ellwood City High School product.
California (Pa.), the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference champion, is the second seed and the district's other playoff representative. The Vulcans (10-1), who lost to Valdosta State in the national semifinals a year ago, join top-seeded Bloomsburg with a first-round bye.
California will host the winner of the Seton Hill-American International game Nov. 22 in the second round.
Following yesterday's playoff field announcement, Dolinski and his coaching staff went back to work.
"I haven't enjoyed much of it all year," he said. "I'm sure afer the season's over, I'll sit back and say, 'Hey, we made the playoffs. That's great. We did something 120-some other schools didn't do."
For now, Dolinski said it's time to get ready for another game.
"If you're complacent," he said, "then you're not going to go out and compete."
Additional Information:For openers
Here is a look at the first-round pairings for the NCAA Division II football playoffs, which begin Saturday with eight games:
Albany St., Ga. (7-3) at Tusculum (8-3)
Carson-Newman (7-3) at Valdosta St. (8-2)
Central Washington (10-1) at West Texas A&M (10-1)
Minnesota St.-Mankato (9-2) at Ashland (8-3)
Nebraska-Omaha (7-3) at Pittsburg St., Kan. (10-1)
Seton Hill (9-2) at American International (9-1)
Southern Connecticut St. (8-2) at West Chester (8-3)
Wayne St., Neb. at Chadron St. (10-1)
Byes: Abilene Christian (10-0), Bloomsburg (10-1), California, Pa. (10-1) , Delta St. (9-1), Grand Valley St. (10-0), Minnesota-Duluth (11-0), North Alabama (10-1), NW Missouri St. (10-1).
