SWC75
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(my last post in this series for the year)
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
NORTH DAKOTA STATE and Illinois State are both Missouri Valley teams but they didn’t’ play during the regular season because the Valley is too large a conference to play everybody and there is no championship game. But they turned out to be the two best teams in the conference and then turned out to be the two best teams in the country as well. This is news to Northern Iowa, who pinned the only defeat each team suffered on them and did it in consecutive weekends: They lost to Illinois State in a rematch in the tournament. So the Valley has established themselves as the premiere conference in the division, at least this year.
The Bison were going for an almost unprecedented achievement: winning their fourth consecutive national championship. Looking at the NCAA Guide, which lists national champions chosen by all the major selectors and approved math systems, etc. In the early years, college football was totally dominated by the Ivy League, largely because they were virtually the only ones playing it. Rutgers was a “co-national champion” in 1869, (they split two games with Princeton). No non-Ivy League team got even a share of the title until 1896 when Lafayette was co-champion with Princeton. No one else broke into the club until Michigan went undefeated from 1901-1904 and is listed by some sources as co-champion with the Ivy titlist in every one of those years. During this period Princeton won four consecutive titles from 1872-75 and five in arrow from 1877-81. Yale was listed as champion or co-champion, (with Princeton) nine times in a row from 1879-1888. They had another vie year stretch from 1891-95. And Michigan had its own four year stretch from 1901-04.
I tend to dismiss this era because the sport didn’t become the sport we know until the forward pass was legalized in 1906, the same year the NCAA was created to govern intercollegiate sports. By then the diaspora of Ivy leaguers to other colleges around the country was bringing the sport to all sections and the term “national championship began to have some kind of meaning. From that point on, runs of national championships were harder to put together.
California was picked by various selectors in every year from 1920-23. But they were the consensus champion only in 1920, being picked by 5 of the 7 selectors the NCAA recognizes. Cornell, Princeton and Illinois were the consensus champs in 1921-23. Minnesota was consensus national champions from 1934-36 but that’s only three years. Army was the consensus champ in 1944-45 and an also-ran to Notre Dame in 1946. The same thing happened to Oklahoma in 1955-57. They were 10-0-0 in 1954 but finished third in the polls behind co-champions Ohio State and UCLA. None of the NCAA selectors picked them. Notre Dame actually was undefeated for four straight years from 1946-49 but a tie in 1948 with USC prevented them from getting four straight titles. Michigan was recognized by every selector that year. The Irish were the consensus champs the other three years. Alabama was recognized by at least one selector in every year from 1961-1966 except 1963 and won polls in 1961 and 1964-65, although they were the consensus champs only in 1961. Ohio State got some recognition from 1968-70 but were the consensus champs only in the first year. Oklahoma was recognized from 1973-75 and would have bee consensus champs all three years except Notre Dame nipped them 6 selectors to 5. Nebraska was listed by two selectors in 1980, one in 1981, one in 1982 and seven in 1983, none of them enough to give them a consensus title. Miami had a six year run of being picked by somebody from 1986-1991. They were consensus in 1987 and 1989, although they won the writer’s poll in 1991. Flordia State had a run from 1992-94 but were consensus only in ’93. Nebraska was consensus in 1994, 95 and 97 but go no recognition in 1996. USC was recognized by three selectors in 2002, six in 2003 and everybody in 2004.If they’d won that classic from Texas after the 2005 season they could have claimed to have “won” four titles in a row but not really. The best thing since was Alabama, the BCS and consensus champs in 2009 and 2011-12. But that big comeback Auburn had at their place in 2010 spoiled the beautiful picture. So there’s never really been a major college that won four straight consensus national championships, since the sport became what it is and went national.
The NAIA playoffs began in 1956. Texas A&I had a great run from 1969-76 with five titles, the last three from 1974-76. They’d also won one back in ’59. (They are now Texas A&M-Kingsville). Linfield won in even years from 1982-86. Carson-Newman of Tennessee won five titles from 1983-89 in the NAIA’s Division 1. But they didn’t win in 1985 or 1987. Central Ohio won Division 1 in 1990, 1992 and 1995. But there is an NAIA team won four straight tiles: Carroll College of Montana did so, after the organization had lost many of their members to the NCAA and dropped the divisional set up, in 2002-05. Sioux Falls of North Dakota then won three of the next four, the only one they didn’t win when they lost to Carroll in the 2007 final.
The NCAA split into three divisions in 1973, the top one having no playoff. In Division 3, nine different teams won the first ten titles. Then Augustana of Illinois won four in a row from 1983-86. Then we had eight different champions in nine years. Then came the Mount Union Dynasty. They’d won the 1993 titles, then came back to win three straight from 1996-98. After losing in the semi-final in 199, the then won another three in a row. They got beaten in the final by St. John’s of Minnesota in 2003 and lost in the semi-final in 2004. Then came the Mount Union-Whitewater State (Wisconsin) era, in which they have met for the tile nine times in tem years and Mount Union beat S t. Thomas of Minnesota in the other year. Mount Union won in 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2012. Whitewater in 2007, 2009-11 and 2013-14. But neither has won four in a row.
In Division 2, there had been polls from 1958 that declared the “National Small College Champion” Delaware won in 1963, 1971 and 1972, North Dakota State in 1965 and 1968-69. Sand Diego State won in 1966-68, then moved up to major college and went 11-0. They would surely have won a fourth straight title if they hadn’t gotten more ambitious. Then the playoffs began in ’73. Eight different teams won the first eight titles. Southwest Texas State, (now just Texas State) won in 1981-82, beating North Dakota State in ’81. The Bison came back to win two of their own in 1983-84 and again in 1985-86, 1988 and 1990. North Alabama won three straight titles in 1993-95. They didn’t even make the tournament the next year. They had been in the quarter-finals back in ’92. Grand Valley State of Michigan won four titles in five years from 2002-2006. They lost in the semi-finals in 2004. (Brian Kelly was their coach for the first two of those finals.) Northwest Missouri had an amazing run from 2005-2009. They lost in the finals the first four years in a row, then broke through to win in the last of those years. They’d earlier won title in 1998-99 and also won in 2013. We’ve had seven different D-2 champions in the last eight years.
Division 1AA was created in 1978 for Division 1 schools who had no real shot at the D-1 title. Instead, it has tended to be populated by former Division 2 schools. Six different schools won the first seven titles.
Georgia Southern won titles in 1985-86 and 1989-90. Then Youngstown State, (under Jim Tressel), won three in four years from 1991-94, losing by a field goal to Marshall in the 1992 final. They came back to win another in 1997. Georgia Southern was back in 1998-2000, losing a wild one to UMASS in the 1998 final, 43-55 and blowing our Youngstown 59-24 the next year and then beating Montana the following year. Paul Johnson was their coach. Appalachian State won three straight tiles, (and beat Michigan) from 2005-07, then lost in the quarter finals to eventual champ Richmond in 2008.
North Dakota State moved up to 1AA, now called the “Football Championship Subdivision” or FCS, (with the new playoff, will they have to call it something else?), in 2004. In 2011 they won the title, beating #1 ranked Sam Houston State 17-6. They were back the next year and so was Sam Houston. But this time the Bison beat them even worse, 39-13. Last year they took care of Towson State of Maryland, 35-7. Now they faced their own conference rival in their bid to win a fourth national championship in a row, meaning that their seniors would have won the national championship in every year they played for their school. If they did it, they would join Augustana in Division 3 and Carroll in the (depleted) NAIA as teams that have accomplished this feat.
But Illinois State was not impressed. They played in the same conference against many of the same opponents and had the same record. And they’d gotten a rematch against Northern Iowa and beaten them decisively. Before the final I made a study of their comparative scores:
Western Illinois: The Bison beat them 17-10, the Red Birds 37-34 Advantage Bison +4
Southern Illinois: The Bison beat them 38-10, the Red Birds 44-29 Advantage Bison +13
Indiana State: The Bison beat them 34-17, the Red Birds 20-18 Advantage Bison +15
South Dakota: The Bison beat them 47-7, the Red Birds 46-26 Advantage Bison +20
South Dakota State: The Bison beat them 37-17 and 27-24 in the playoffs, the Red Birds 45-10 Advantage Red Birds +12
Northern Iowa beat the Bison 3-23 and the red Birds 28-42 but then lost to the Red Birds in the playoffs, 41-21 Advantage Red Birds +14
Missouri State: The Bison beat them 45-10, the Red Birds 21-7 Advantage Bison +31
Youngstown State: The Bison beat them 38-14, the Red Birds 35-21 Advantage Bison + 10
Net Advantage to the Bison +67 vs. 8 opponents so I’ll favor the Bison by 8.
The Bison took the opening kick-off and marched into Red Bird territory but their 6-5 quarterback, Carson Wentz was hit hard after a 23 yard run and fumbled the ball away. The Bison forced a punt but Illinois State downed the ball at the 3. Two running plays and an incomplete pass forced a punt and I-State had the ball at the NDS 38. Six plays later Tre Robertson hit Jon-Marc Anderson for 13 yards and the opening score. ILLINOIS STATE 7 NORTH DAKOTA STATE 0 Somewhere, Scott Shafer was smiling.
The Bison drove to the Red Bird 14. But after Wentz was sacked, they had to settle for a 24 yard field goal. ISU 7 NDS 3. The first quarter came to an end with that score.
After a punt, the Bison drove 84 yards in 11 plays before Wentz hit Luke Albers with a 6 yard pass to make it NDS 10 ISU 7. The rest of the first half was an exchange of punts.
The Red Birds decided to catch the Bison chewing their cuds with an onside kick to open the second half but it didn’t work and resulted in a 41 yards field goal by Adam Keller to make it NDS 13 ISU 7.
After a punt and an incomplete pass, the Bison rambled 76 yards on 7 running plays, the biggest a 35 yarder by Wentz, (picture a 225 pound Cardelle Jones), and the last a 7 yard run by John Crockett, (their version of Zeke Elliott). The Bison were in control. NDS 20 ISU 7.
But not so fast. The Red Birds overcame a couple of penalties to score on a 41 yard pass from Tre Robertson to James O’Shaughnessy. NDS 20 ISU 14.
Wentz completed a 21 yard pass to Trevor Gebhardt, who fumbled at the Illinois State 44. On the last play of the third quarter. But the Bison recovered and pounded it to the ISU 6, where they had to settle for Keller’s third field goal. NDS 23 ISU 14.
Illinois State went 84 yards in 6 plays, the big one a 47 yard run by Robertson, who closed out the drive by tossing it to O’Shaughnessy from 3 yards out to close it to NDS 23 ISU 21 with 8:05 left in the game.
The Bison managed two first downs but had to punt. The ball went into the end zone for a touchback. Robertson threw four straight passes, two complete to get the ball to the Red Bird 42. He faked a handoff and bolted through a huge hole in the line, running untouched 58 yards to the go-ahead score. A two point conversion failed but it was ISU 27 NDS 23 with 1:38 left. Was the Bison dynasty about to fall?
No. Wentz calmly directed his team down the field from their own 22. A false start penalty pushed them back to the 17. At least they didn’t lose any time. Hope was revived when Wentz hit RJ Urzendowski for 32 yards to the NDS 49. He did the same for another 13 yards to the ISU 38. Then came two incomplete passes. Third and 10 with 57 seconds left. Wentz spotted Urzendowski running down the left sideline in single coverage. He was hit as he threw it but got it there and the defender fell down. Urzendowski had to come back for it a bit and when he turned around to run forward, he ran right into the arms of the fallen defender and was td at the 5. Wentz did the rest, finding a hole off tackle and running into the end zone. But the drama wasn’t over. Keller’s extra point was blocked. The Red birds managed to get control of the ball but the Bison managed to get control of the Red birds to prevent any dramatic run for 2 points. NDS 29 IDU 27 with 37 seconds left. A field goal could still win it for the Red Birds.
Anderson retuned the short kick-off to the ISU 17. Robertson threw to Lechein Neblett (yes, that’s his name) at the 41. They had 12 men on the field, (what a time for that!) and moved back to the 36. Robertson scrambled to the 44. Then he tried to thread the needle but Edsley Thornton, (yes, that’s his name), won a wrestling match for the ball and sprung to his feet waving it as the North Dakota State bench erupted. The refs called it an interception and the review backed him up. Wentz took a knee and the Bison had done it- four in a row! Thornton was one of those seniors who had never played on anything but a national championship team.
The team’s star running backs performed well. John Crockett ran for 734 yards and a score for NDS. Marshaun Coprich ran to 101 yards ISU but did not score. . The Bison had 452 yards to 424. In the end it was about Wentz vs. Robertson. Robertson passed ran for 157 yards and 3 touchdowns and ran for 161 yards and that 58 yard beauty. Wentz ran for 87 yards and a score and passed for 237 and another TD.
It was everything you’d want in a championship game.
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
NORTH DAKOTA STATE and Illinois State are both Missouri Valley teams but they didn’t’ play during the regular season because the Valley is too large a conference to play everybody and there is no championship game. But they turned out to be the two best teams in the conference and then turned out to be the two best teams in the country as well. This is news to Northern Iowa, who pinned the only defeat each team suffered on them and did it in consecutive weekends: They lost to Illinois State in a rematch in the tournament. So the Valley has established themselves as the premiere conference in the division, at least this year.
The Bison were going for an almost unprecedented achievement: winning their fourth consecutive national championship. Looking at the NCAA Guide, which lists national champions chosen by all the major selectors and approved math systems, etc. In the early years, college football was totally dominated by the Ivy League, largely because they were virtually the only ones playing it. Rutgers was a “co-national champion” in 1869, (they split two games with Princeton). No non-Ivy League team got even a share of the title until 1896 when Lafayette was co-champion with Princeton. No one else broke into the club until Michigan went undefeated from 1901-1904 and is listed by some sources as co-champion with the Ivy titlist in every one of those years. During this period Princeton won four consecutive titles from 1872-75 and five in arrow from 1877-81. Yale was listed as champion or co-champion, (with Princeton) nine times in a row from 1879-1888. They had another vie year stretch from 1891-95. And Michigan had its own four year stretch from 1901-04.
I tend to dismiss this era because the sport didn’t become the sport we know until the forward pass was legalized in 1906, the same year the NCAA was created to govern intercollegiate sports. By then the diaspora of Ivy leaguers to other colleges around the country was bringing the sport to all sections and the term “national championship began to have some kind of meaning. From that point on, runs of national championships were harder to put together.
California was picked by various selectors in every year from 1920-23. But they were the consensus champion only in 1920, being picked by 5 of the 7 selectors the NCAA recognizes. Cornell, Princeton and Illinois were the consensus champs in 1921-23. Minnesota was consensus national champions from 1934-36 but that’s only three years. Army was the consensus champ in 1944-45 and an also-ran to Notre Dame in 1946. The same thing happened to Oklahoma in 1955-57. They were 10-0-0 in 1954 but finished third in the polls behind co-champions Ohio State and UCLA. None of the NCAA selectors picked them. Notre Dame actually was undefeated for four straight years from 1946-49 but a tie in 1948 with USC prevented them from getting four straight titles. Michigan was recognized by every selector that year. The Irish were the consensus champs the other three years. Alabama was recognized by at least one selector in every year from 1961-1966 except 1963 and won polls in 1961 and 1964-65, although they were the consensus champs only in 1961. Ohio State got some recognition from 1968-70 but were the consensus champs only in the first year. Oklahoma was recognized from 1973-75 and would have bee consensus champs all three years except Notre Dame nipped them 6 selectors to 5. Nebraska was listed by two selectors in 1980, one in 1981, one in 1982 and seven in 1983, none of them enough to give them a consensus title. Miami had a six year run of being picked by somebody from 1986-1991. They were consensus in 1987 and 1989, although they won the writer’s poll in 1991. Flordia State had a run from 1992-94 but were consensus only in ’93. Nebraska was consensus in 1994, 95 and 97 but go no recognition in 1996. USC was recognized by three selectors in 2002, six in 2003 and everybody in 2004.If they’d won that classic from Texas after the 2005 season they could have claimed to have “won” four titles in a row but not really. The best thing since was Alabama, the BCS and consensus champs in 2009 and 2011-12. But that big comeback Auburn had at their place in 2010 spoiled the beautiful picture. So there’s never really been a major college that won four straight consensus national championships, since the sport became what it is and went national.
The NAIA playoffs began in 1956. Texas A&I had a great run from 1969-76 with five titles, the last three from 1974-76. They’d also won one back in ’59. (They are now Texas A&M-Kingsville). Linfield won in even years from 1982-86. Carson-Newman of Tennessee won five titles from 1983-89 in the NAIA’s Division 1. But they didn’t win in 1985 or 1987. Central Ohio won Division 1 in 1990, 1992 and 1995. But there is an NAIA team won four straight tiles: Carroll College of Montana did so, after the organization had lost many of their members to the NCAA and dropped the divisional set up, in 2002-05. Sioux Falls of North Dakota then won three of the next four, the only one they didn’t win when they lost to Carroll in the 2007 final.
The NCAA split into three divisions in 1973, the top one having no playoff. In Division 3, nine different teams won the first ten titles. Then Augustana of Illinois won four in a row from 1983-86. Then we had eight different champions in nine years. Then came the Mount Union Dynasty. They’d won the 1993 titles, then came back to win three straight from 1996-98. After losing in the semi-final in 199, the then won another three in a row. They got beaten in the final by St. John’s of Minnesota in 2003 and lost in the semi-final in 2004. Then came the Mount Union-Whitewater State (Wisconsin) era, in which they have met for the tile nine times in tem years and Mount Union beat S t. Thomas of Minnesota in the other year. Mount Union won in 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2012. Whitewater in 2007, 2009-11 and 2013-14. But neither has won four in a row.
In Division 2, there had been polls from 1958 that declared the “National Small College Champion” Delaware won in 1963, 1971 and 1972, North Dakota State in 1965 and 1968-69. Sand Diego State won in 1966-68, then moved up to major college and went 11-0. They would surely have won a fourth straight title if they hadn’t gotten more ambitious. Then the playoffs began in ’73. Eight different teams won the first eight titles. Southwest Texas State, (now just Texas State) won in 1981-82, beating North Dakota State in ’81. The Bison came back to win two of their own in 1983-84 and again in 1985-86, 1988 and 1990. North Alabama won three straight titles in 1993-95. They didn’t even make the tournament the next year. They had been in the quarter-finals back in ’92. Grand Valley State of Michigan won four titles in five years from 2002-2006. They lost in the semi-finals in 2004. (Brian Kelly was their coach for the first two of those finals.) Northwest Missouri had an amazing run from 2005-2009. They lost in the finals the first four years in a row, then broke through to win in the last of those years. They’d earlier won title in 1998-99 and also won in 2013. We’ve had seven different D-2 champions in the last eight years.
Division 1AA was created in 1978 for Division 1 schools who had no real shot at the D-1 title. Instead, it has tended to be populated by former Division 2 schools. Six different schools won the first seven titles.
Georgia Southern won titles in 1985-86 and 1989-90. Then Youngstown State, (under Jim Tressel), won three in four years from 1991-94, losing by a field goal to Marshall in the 1992 final. They came back to win another in 1997. Georgia Southern was back in 1998-2000, losing a wild one to UMASS in the 1998 final, 43-55 and blowing our Youngstown 59-24 the next year and then beating Montana the following year. Paul Johnson was their coach. Appalachian State won three straight tiles, (and beat Michigan) from 2005-07, then lost in the quarter finals to eventual champ Richmond in 2008.
North Dakota State moved up to 1AA, now called the “Football Championship Subdivision” or FCS, (with the new playoff, will they have to call it something else?), in 2004. In 2011 they won the title, beating #1 ranked Sam Houston State 17-6. They were back the next year and so was Sam Houston. But this time the Bison beat them even worse, 39-13. Last year they took care of Towson State of Maryland, 35-7. Now they faced their own conference rival in their bid to win a fourth national championship in a row, meaning that their seniors would have won the national championship in every year they played for their school. If they did it, they would join Augustana in Division 3 and Carroll in the (depleted) NAIA as teams that have accomplished this feat.
But Illinois State was not impressed. They played in the same conference against many of the same opponents and had the same record. And they’d gotten a rematch against Northern Iowa and beaten them decisively. Before the final I made a study of their comparative scores:
Western Illinois: The Bison beat them 17-10, the Red Birds 37-34 Advantage Bison +4
Southern Illinois: The Bison beat them 38-10, the Red Birds 44-29 Advantage Bison +13
Indiana State: The Bison beat them 34-17, the Red Birds 20-18 Advantage Bison +15
South Dakota: The Bison beat them 47-7, the Red Birds 46-26 Advantage Bison +20
South Dakota State: The Bison beat them 37-17 and 27-24 in the playoffs, the Red Birds 45-10 Advantage Red Birds +12
Northern Iowa beat the Bison 3-23 and the red Birds 28-42 but then lost to the Red Birds in the playoffs, 41-21 Advantage Red Birds +14
Missouri State: The Bison beat them 45-10, the Red Birds 21-7 Advantage Bison +31
Youngstown State: The Bison beat them 38-14, the Red Birds 35-21 Advantage Bison + 10
Net Advantage to the Bison +67 vs. 8 opponents so I’ll favor the Bison by 8.
The Bison took the opening kick-off and marched into Red Bird territory but their 6-5 quarterback, Carson Wentz was hit hard after a 23 yard run and fumbled the ball away. The Bison forced a punt but Illinois State downed the ball at the 3. Two running plays and an incomplete pass forced a punt and I-State had the ball at the NDS 38. Six plays later Tre Robertson hit Jon-Marc Anderson for 13 yards and the opening score. ILLINOIS STATE 7 NORTH DAKOTA STATE 0 Somewhere, Scott Shafer was smiling.
The Bison drove to the Red Bird 14. But after Wentz was sacked, they had to settle for a 24 yard field goal. ISU 7 NDS 3. The first quarter came to an end with that score.
After a punt, the Bison drove 84 yards in 11 plays before Wentz hit Luke Albers with a 6 yard pass to make it NDS 10 ISU 7. The rest of the first half was an exchange of punts.
The Red Birds decided to catch the Bison chewing their cuds with an onside kick to open the second half but it didn’t work and resulted in a 41 yards field goal by Adam Keller to make it NDS 13 ISU 7.
After a punt and an incomplete pass, the Bison rambled 76 yards on 7 running plays, the biggest a 35 yarder by Wentz, (picture a 225 pound Cardelle Jones), and the last a 7 yard run by John Crockett, (their version of Zeke Elliott). The Bison were in control. NDS 20 ISU 7.
But not so fast. The Red Birds overcame a couple of penalties to score on a 41 yard pass from Tre Robertson to James O’Shaughnessy. NDS 20 ISU 14.
Wentz completed a 21 yard pass to Trevor Gebhardt, who fumbled at the Illinois State 44. On the last play of the third quarter. But the Bison recovered and pounded it to the ISU 6, where they had to settle for Keller’s third field goal. NDS 23 ISU 14.
Illinois State went 84 yards in 6 plays, the big one a 47 yard run by Robertson, who closed out the drive by tossing it to O’Shaughnessy from 3 yards out to close it to NDS 23 ISU 21 with 8:05 left in the game.
The Bison managed two first downs but had to punt. The ball went into the end zone for a touchback. Robertson threw four straight passes, two complete to get the ball to the Red Bird 42. He faked a handoff and bolted through a huge hole in the line, running untouched 58 yards to the go-ahead score. A two point conversion failed but it was ISU 27 NDS 23 with 1:38 left. Was the Bison dynasty about to fall?
No. Wentz calmly directed his team down the field from their own 22. A false start penalty pushed them back to the 17. At least they didn’t lose any time. Hope was revived when Wentz hit RJ Urzendowski for 32 yards to the NDS 49. He did the same for another 13 yards to the ISU 38. Then came two incomplete passes. Third and 10 with 57 seconds left. Wentz spotted Urzendowski running down the left sideline in single coverage. He was hit as he threw it but got it there and the defender fell down. Urzendowski had to come back for it a bit and when he turned around to run forward, he ran right into the arms of the fallen defender and was td at the 5. Wentz did the rest, finding a hole off tackle and running into the end zone. But the drama wasn’t over. Keller’s extra point was blocked. The Red birds managed to get control of the ball but the Bison managed to get control of the Red birds to prevent any dramatic run for 2 points. NDS 29 IDU 27 with 37 seconds left. A field goal could still win it for the Red Birds.
Anderson retuned the short kick-off to the ISU 17. Robertson threw to Lechein Neblett (yes, that’s his name) at the 41. They had 12 men on the field, (what a time for that!) and moved back to the 36. Robertson scrambled to the 44. Then he tried to thread the needle but Edsley Thornton, (yes, that’s his name), won a wrestling match for the ball and sprung to his feet waving it as the North Dakota State bench erupted. The refs called it an interception and the review backed him up. Wentz took a knee and the Bison had done it- four in a row! Thornton was one of those seniors who had never played on anything but a national championship team.
The team’s star running backs performed well. John Crockett ran for 734 yards and a score for NDS. Marshaun Coprich ran to 101 yards ISU but did not score. . The Bison had 452 yards to 424. In the end it was about Wentz vs. Robertson. Robertson passed ran for 157 yards and 3 touchdowns and ran for 161 yards and that 58 yard beauty. Wentz ran for 87 yards and a score and passed for 237 and another TD.
It was everything you’d want in a championship game.
