Andrew Skalman sat in a classroom, foot up resting on the chair in front.

Surrounded by his Washington (Mo.) teammates, his focus was steadfast on the screen at the front of the room as various Division III teams were read off.

A quick yell was short-lived as the name "Washington" was read, only to be followed by "and Jefferson," for the school located further East.

Two of the three teams that earned non-automatic bids to the Division III football tournament from Pool B were read, putting the 8-2 Bearcats on life support, when the unthinkable happened.

The Washington Bears logo appeared on the screen. They were in the tournament for just the second time in school history.

Pandemonium ensued.

"Everybody just went crazy," said Skalman, one of two starting cornerbacks from Hawaii on the team. "It’s a great honor."

"I didn’t think we had a chance," fellow defensive back Quincy Marting added. "In fact, I still don’t think it has completely sunk in yet."

Skalman jumped out of his seat into the front of the class, pumping his fist in the air as teammates embraced.

After starting the season 1-2, the Bears won their last seven games to win the four-team University Athletic Association Conference.

They will play 20th-ranked Franklin (Ind.) College in the first round on Saturday at 7 a.m. Hawaii time. It’s the first appearance in the tourney for the Bears since 1999.

"I think it’s crazy, (the seniors) came in (after starting 1-2) saying we were going to do this and now we’re here," said Marting, a 2012 Punahou graduate. "It was such a rush of emotion (to see our named called)."

For Skalman, a 2010 ‘Iolani alumnus, hearing his team’s name read meant his career isn’t over just yet.

The three-year starter has played in 32 games for the Bears as the first player from Hawaii recruited to Washington University under head coach Larry Kindbom in his 25 years of coaching.

Marting joined Skalman at the university two years later and the total count is up to three with the addition of freshman Josiah Situmeang this year from ‘Iolani.

"It’s cool to kind of help bring a little recognition to Hawaii about how good of a school Wash U is," Skalman said.

There’s only one downfall to having both starting corners from Hawaii.

Both Skalman and Marting hear the same joke over and over again.

"People always tell us as cornerbacks from Hawaii we must be used to living on an island," Skalman said.

To make the playoffs this year, Washington had to win its final seven games. Two of its wins came on goal-line stands with the opposing team getting the ball to the 1-yard line in one-possession games without scoring.

Another victory came on a game-winning 45-yard field goal with eight seconds left.

"We ran the table with probably the most bizarre set of wins we’ve ever had," Skalman said.

Marting said the team didn’t panic despite knowing it had to win out.

"Our coach likes to schedule hard opponents early on, and even though we lost two of our first three games I felt we were in both games, we were close and the outcome of the game could have been very different," Marting said. "So I don’t think as a team we were really worried after that. It more so gave us motivation that we win out if we want a chance at playoffs."

Washington’s last win came last Saturday in a 17-7 victory over the University of Chicago on senior day.

Marting had six tackles and an interception as Chicago threw his way most of the game, staying away from Skalman, who broke up one of the only passes he saw.

"The coaches did a great job of breaking things down and we knew they liked to throw the ball to one receiver that kept coming my way," Marting said. "It felt good. I had a lot of opportunities to make plays."

Skalman was just happy to play a game in front of his parents.

As a freshman, he pulled a hamstring just prior to his parents’ arrival to see his first game.

When mom and dad came to visit the next year, he suffered a concussion the week earlier and again had to sit out.

They finally saw him play live in a game as a junior when they visited for the season opener.

Last Saturday was the final time they’d be in the stands to see their son play.

"Honestly, when you can only play in front of your parents pretty much once a season, it makes it a lot more special," Skalman said. "The fact that my parents were at the last regular season game for my senior day, that meant a lot."