SWC75
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In the battle of old-time powerhouses, West Chester of Pennsylvania was no match for Lenoir Rhyne of North Carolina. Things started well for the Rams who had first half leads of 7-0 and 14-12 but the Bears scored the last 30 points of the game to win going away, 42-14. The game was played in a downpour that didn’t seem to bother Josh Justice, who ran for 175 yards and 3 touchdowns. L-R Coach Mike Houston was effusive:
“This team has developed a tremendous mental toughness. We are not a soft group of football players,” Houston said. “That was the key to the second half – our mental and physical toughness versus theirs.
“Our kids focused on what they had to do – not focused on conditions, not focused on the weather, just on what they had to do play after play after play.” (Charlotte Observer)
The Bears didn’t complete a pass but also had no turnovers and rushed for 451 yards out of their triple-option attack. They held West Chester to 213 yards- 266 less than their average - and shut them out in the second half.
In the battle of new-time powerhouses, Northwest Missouri beat their old nemesis, Grand Valley State of Michigan, who had beaten them in the 2005-06 finals, (but lost to them in 2009), 27-13. The Bearcats overcame a three turnover first half to pull ahead in the second half on a couple of touchdown passes by Trevor Adams to Reuben Thomas of 28 and 43 yards. The Bearcats rolled up 521 yards to only 294 for the Lakers. Adams threw for 284 yards of which 143 went to Thomas.
The championship game will be played Noon Saturday in Florence, Alabama on ESPN 2. The match-up:
LENOIR RHYNE of North Carolina 13-1 (488-207) #11, 9-5 (1)
Vs.
NORTHWEST MISSOURI 14-0 (636-231) #2, 38-14 (3)
Comment: It’s the Bearcats vs. the Bears. Northwest Missouri has been the dominant team in the division all season and they should be favored to get their 4th national championship.
“This team has developed a tremendous mental toughness. We are not a soft group of football players,” Houston said. “That was the key to the second half – our mental and physical toughness versus theirs.
“Our kids focused on what they had to do – not focused on conditions, not focused on the weather, just on what they had to do play after play after play.” (Charlotte Observer)
The Bears didn’t complete a pass but also had no turnovers and rushed for 451 yards out of their triple-option attack. They held West Chester to 213 yards- 266 less than their average - and shut them out in the second half.
In the battle of new-time powerhouses, Northwest Missouri beat their old nemesis, Grand Valley State of Michigan, who had beaten them in the 2005-06 finals, (but lost to them in 2009), 27-13. The Bearcats overcame a three turnover first half to pull ahead in the second half on a couple of touchdown passes by Trevor Adams to Reuben Thomas of 28 and 43 yards. The Bearcats rolled up 521 yards to only 294 for the Lakers. Adams threw for 284 yards of which 143 went to Thomas.
The championship game will be played Noon Saturday in Florence, Alabama on ESPN 2. The match-up:
LENOIR RHYNE of North Carolina 13-1 (488-207) #11, 9-5 (1)
Vs.
NORTHWEST MISSOURI 14-0 (636-231) #2, 38-14 (3)
Comment: It’s the Bearcats vs. the Bears. Northwest Missouri has been the dominant team in the division all season and they should be favored to get their 4th national championship.
