Playoffs! NAIA, D3 and D2 championships and FCS semifinals | Syracusefan.com

Playoffs! NAIA, D3 and D2 championships and FCS semifinals

SWC75

Bored Historian
Joined
Aug 26, 2011
Messages
33,156
Like
63,726
NAIA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

St. Francis of Indiana defeated Reinhardt College of Georgia 24-13 for the 62nd NAIA football championship. The Cougars roared to a 24-0 first half lead and held off the Eagles in the second half, holding their nation-leading 350 ypg rushing attack to a 243 total. St. Francis gained 331 yards in the first half alone.
Saint Francis (Ind.) defeats Reinhardt (Ga.), 24-13, to repeat as NAIA football champ

St Francis final line:
ST. FRANCIS (Ind) 14-0 (613-241) ranked #1 record: 31-15 (2)


NCAA D3 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

For the second straight year, the D3 championship was decided in a defensive dual as the Purple Raiders of Mount Union won their 13th championship in 25 years. It was the second for Vince Kehres, the son of the man who brought the program to this level and current MU athletic director Larry Kehres, who proudly looked on in the press box.
NCAA Division III Football Championship - Wikipedia

The Purple Raiders limited the defending champs to 144 yards total offense in beating “The Cru”(saders) 12-0. It was the first Stagg Bowl, (that’s what they call the D3 title game), shut out in 35 years.
Mount Union Beats Mary Hardin-Baylor 12-0 For D-III Title

Mount Union’s final line:
MOUNT UNION (Ohio) 15-0 (759-192) ranked: #2 record: 98-15 (13)


NCAA D2 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

West Florida’s Cinderella run to the D2 title game in the second year of the program’s existence ended- for now, against Texas A&M Commerce, (who was East Texas State when they won the 1972 NAIA title.)

You have to assume the Argonauts will be back. They must have tapped into the rich Florida talent poll to have come so far so fast. But the Lions managed to end their journey this time, 37-27. Harlon Hill Award winner, (that’s the D-2 Heisman), Luis Perez threw for 323 yards and two scores. He wound up one yard shot of 5,000 for the season.
Texas A&M-Commerce claims first Div. II title

Texas A&M-Commerce’s final line:
TEXAS A&M - COMMERCE 14-1 (557-251) rank: #8 record: 11-5 (2)


NCAA FCS SEMIFINALS results and FINALS match-up

Both semi-finals were huge blow-outs, thus setting up a dramatic show-down between the defending champs and the team they beat last year to end their record run of championships for this year’s title. The games were like the roar of mighty guns across the country, warning shots to the opposition that a huge challenge was coming.

Another year, another blow-out loss for Sam Houston State. Last year, despite being ranked #1, they suffered a 7-65 devastation by James Madison that wasn’t even that close, (it was 065 in the third period). This time they suffered their fourth playoff loss to North Dakota State by the score of 13-55. That was also a third quarter score as the 4th period was scoreless. The Bison out-rushed the Bearkats 471-63.
Sam Houston State vs. North Dakota State - Game Recap - December 15, 2017 - ESPN

James Madison had looked shaky in barely scraping by Weber State, 31-28. But they had no problem against South Dakota State, who had looked impressive in being the only team to beat North Dakota State during the regular season, (33-21) and a “hot” Northern Iowa team, 37-22 and New Hampshire 56-14 to make the semi-finals. The Jackrabbits somehow survived a first quarter in which their quarterback, Taryn Christon, threw 5 interceptions and were only down 10-21 at halftime. But a 30-0 third quarter put the Dukes in total command and they went on to win 51-16. It’s tough to win when you have ten-TEN! - turnovers. Poor Mr. Christon had 9 of them- 6 picks and 3 fumbles lost. (Somewhere Captain Bligh is smiling.) But two touchdowns in four plays to open the second half- on 65 and 87 yard runs by Marcus Marshall really keyed the rout.
South Dakota State vs. James Madison - Game Recap - December 16, 2017 - ESPN


The Finals Match-up:

JAMES MADISON 14-0 (503-150) rank: #1 record: 16-11 (2)
Vs.
NORTH DAKOTA STATE 13-1 (564-161) rank: #4 record: 58-14 (13)
Lost to South Dakota State 21-33

The game will take place Saturday, January 6th in Frisco, Texas at Noon (ET) on ESPN2

Get out the popcorn! :cool:
 

Forum statistics

Threads
168,537
Messages
4,783,060
Members
5,948
Latest member
Laxmom2317

Online statistics

Members online
204
Guests online
1,208
Total visitors
1,412


Top Bottom