The #3 Super Region 2 seeded Newberry College Wolves (9-1) host the #6 seeded Kentucky State Thorobreds (9-2) in the first round of the NCAA Division 2 playoffs at 1:00 p.m. at Setzler Field.

The game can be heard live on WKDK with the Voice of the Wolves, Jimmie Coggins, broadcasting his 462^nd consecutive Newberry College game.

The game can be seen live on ESPN Plus.

The Wolves are the champions of the South Atlantic Conference while the Thorobreds finished in a tie for second in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

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 are enjoying their longest since 1976.

The Wolves are led by quarterback and Harlon Hill Trophy candidate. 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.

Charpia has a streak of 183 passes without an interception, has the fewest interceptions of any player in the country that has thrown at least 300 passes, leads the SAC in passing yards per game (268.2 yards per game) and completion percentage (70.1%).

Keith Desaussure leads the SAC in receptions (76), receptions per game (7.8) is second in receiving yards per game (86.4 yards) and is tied for the most touchdown receptions (9).

His 76 receptions are second most (86, David Pressley, 2010, his 864 yards are fifth most and his 9 touchdown receptions are tied for sixth most in Newberry single season history.

Newberry has scored the decisive points on its final offensive possession four times this season.

Burke Nettles 27-yard field goal on the final play of the game gave the Wolves a 20-17 victory at Lenoir-Rhyne.  The Wolves trailed 10-7 in the third period.

After trailing 21-0, 35-28 and 42-35, Charpia connected with Keith Desaussure on a 7-yard touchdown pass and subsequent game ending two-point conversion pass for a 43-42 win over Wingate.

Jonah Norris scored on a one-yard touchdown run with 1:37 left in the game to break a 28-28 tie for a 35-28 win at Catawba.  That play capped a seven-play, 75-yard drive to win the game.  Newberry trailed 21-13 in the third quarter.

Backup H-back Keshon Washington turned a shot gain into a 70-yard touchdown pass with 1:48 remaining to give the Wolves a conference clinching 28-21 win over Carson-Newman.

The Wolves also rallied from a 21-7 second quarter deficit to defeat Emory & Henry 36-34 at Setzler Field.

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.