NEWBERRY — The Newberry College Wolves football team (9-1) are the #3 seed in NCAA Division 2 Super Region 2 and will host #6 seed Kentucky State (9-2) Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. at Setzler Field in the first round of the NCAA Division 2 Championship.

It is the Wolves first appearance in the NCAA Division 2 playoffs since 2021 when they advanced to the second round, the first home game since 2016 and just the third home playoff game in program history.

This is Kentucky State’s first ever appearance in the NCAA Championships as the Thorobreds are enjoying their best season in 90 years and enter Saturday’s game on an eight-game winning streak, their longest since 1976.

Newberry is riding a seven-game winning streak and are 3-0 against teams ranked in last week’s Super Region 2 poll with victories over Wingate, Emory & Henry and Carson-Newman.

Kentucky State finished in a tie for second place in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with Benedict and one game behind league champion and Super Region 2 top seed Albany State.

The Wolves are led by quarterback Reed Charpia who enters Saturday’s game with 2,682 yards passing on the season with 23 touchdowns, just one interception and has completed 70 percent of his passes. His 227 completions are the second-best, his 2,682 yards passing are the third best and his 23 touchdowns are tied for the fourth best single season total in Newberry history, while accomplishing it in just 10 games.

The Newberry defense is spearheaded by Mikey Blandin who leads the team with 94 total tackles, 52 of them solo including 10 tackles for loss, 4.5 quarterback sacks, 7 quarterback hurries, two pass breakups and one forced fumble.

The Wolves have +10 turnover margin and are averaging 31.4 points per game, tied for the fourth highest scoring team in program history.

Kentucky State has the second highest scoring offense in the SIAC, averaging 35.3 points per game and possess the third best scoring defense at 20.6 points per game.

The Thorobreds have a +11-turnover margin, and their defense has intercepted 15 passes this season.

This will be the first ever meeting between the two teams and the first game for the Wolves against a team from the SIAC since defeating Allen 40-6 at Setzler Field in the 2022 season opener.

NEWBERRY COLLEGE POSTSEASON HISTORY (3-6)

Game| Round, Date & Opponent (Nby/Opp Seed) | Site, Result

Elks Bowl Dec. 11, 1954 vs. Appalachian State Raleigh, N.C. W 20-13

Palmetto Shrine Bowl Dec. 10, 1955 vs. Lenoir-Rhyne Columbia L 13-14

D2 First Round Nov. 18, 2006 Albany State (3/6) Newberry W 34-28

D2 Second Round Nov. 25, 2006 at North Alabama (3/2) Florence, Ala. L 20-38

D2 First Round Nov. 23, 2013 at Carson-Newman (5/4) Jefferson City, Tenn. L 27-37

D2 First Round Nov. 21, 2015 at North Alabama (7/2) Florence, Ala. L 7-50

D2 First Round Nov. 19, 2016 Tuskegee (2/7) Newberry L 33-35

D2 First Round Nov. 20, 2021 at #2 West Florida (6/3) Pensacola, Fla. W 33-30, OT

D2 Second Round Nov. 27, 2021 at #10 Bowie State (6/2) Bowie, Md. L, 10-13