UWF football makes NCAA history with playoff bid in second season

The University of West Florida’s second season of college football isn’t done yet.

The Argos (7-3) rode a late season surge of stunning upsets to claim the first postseason berth in program history on Sunday afternoon as the No. 6 seed in Super Region 2.

UWF's playoff bid made NCAA history as the Argos are the fastest program in Division II history to go from startup to a playoff bid.

The Argos beat out head coach Pete Shinnick's previous school UNC-Pembroke and CSU-Pueblo, which earned playoff bids in their third season.

“It’s nuts. A testament to the whole team, coaches, players… to everyone,” UWF quarterback Mike Beaudry said. “Looking back on this season, if we don’t have the guys on this team that have this kind of character we’re not in this position.”

The Argos will open the NCAA Division II Football Playoffs at No. 3 Wingate (9-1) on Saturday in Wingate, N.C.

UWF knocked off reigning national runner-up North Alabama and No. 24 West Georgia (8-3) in the final two weeks of the season to surge into postseason contention.

Even with the wins, however, UWF got little help from outside as most of the region's other playoff contenders picked up wins.

“We knew we did what we could do in winning that game and from there it was out of our hands,” Beaudry said. “Looking at the other scores from around the region, it wasn’t looking good for us but you can’t lose hope. It’s awesome, it’s unreal.”

Despite their season-finale loss to UWF on Saturday, the Wolves hung on and claimed the No. 7 seed in the Super Region 2. The Wolves will face No. 2 Virginia State (9-0) in the opening round.

Gulf South Conference foe West Alabama (9-1) claimed the No. 1 seed in Super Region 2 and will have an opening-round bye. UWF lost to West Alabama 35-18 on Oct. 28.

Other opening round matchups include No. 4 Bowie State (9-1) and No. 5 Delta State (8-3), whom UWF lost to 28-25 at Blue Wahoos Stadium on Oct. 14.

The Argos upset No. 24 West Georgia on Saturday, 34-29, and ended up being one of four teams from the Gulf South Conference to earn NCAA Division II playoff bids.

It's just the second year of football for UWF and head coach Pete Shinnick, who was hired in February 2014 to start up football at the school for the first time.

“It’s so cool. Growing with these guys through the first year when we were playing nobody but ourselves," Beaudry said. "Growing from that in our first season to now, it’s just unreal.

“It’s so special being with the same guys that fit in so well. It’s so cool to see us grow as a team and accomplish so many things.”

Reach Eric Wallace at ejwallace@pnj.com or 850-525-5087.