COLLEGE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES WRAP UP

*** NAIA ***

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The last two teams standing in the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) were the UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS COUGARS and the BAKER UNIVERSITY WILDCATS. Daytona Beach was the site of this very lopsided game.

The 1st Quarter ended with the Cougars on top 10-3 and things only got worse for the Wildcats from there. By Halftime Saint Francis had expanded their lead to 17-3 before both teams notched a Touchdown in the 3rd Quarter. The Cougars outscored Baker 14-7 in the 4th to take the 2016 title by a final score of 38-17. 

*** NCAA DIVISION TWO ***

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The two winningest programs in D2 football history – the NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE BEARCATS and the UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA LIONS – faced each other in yesterday’s title tilt. Amid ample snowfall neither team scored in the 1st Quarter but the Bearcats – the defending champs – managed a 7-3 lead by Halftime.

After the break Northwest Missouri State shut out the Lions while continuing to add to their lead, going on top 14-3 to end the 3rd Quarter and then piling on 15 more points in the 4th. The Bearcats made it back-to-back National Championships with a 29-3 rout of North Alabama.    

*** NCAA DIVISION THREE ***

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl in Salem, VA is the site of the yearly title game for D3 football and this year’s participants were the UNIVERSITY OF MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR CRUSADERS and the UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT OSHKOSH TITANS.

This was a defensive epic as it turned out. The Titans led 7-3 to end the 1st Quarter but by the midpoint the Crusaders had come from behind to take a 10-7 edge into the locker room. Neither team’s defense so much as blinked in the 2nd Half, making 10-7 the final score as well. UMHB’s Matt Cody snagged an interception with 35 seconds left in the game to seal this first football title for the Crusaders.