Bedlam on Baltic Avenue: Dec 17, 2022

Boise State: 2022 Frisco Bowl Champions

Why the Broncos won: Boise State trailed 10-6 at halftime, but the offense finally started clicking in the second half when the Broncos put the game in the hands of freshman running back Ashton Jeanty. The former star at nearby Lone Star High in Frisco, Texas, scored a 1-yard touchdown that gave the Broncos a 35-24 lead early in the fourth quarter, and he finished the game with a career-high 178 rushing yards. Quarterback Taylen Green added 119 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, and he found fellow redshirt freshman Eric McAlister on a 24-yard touchdown pass that put Boise State up 21-17 in the third quarter.

Main takeaway: Boise State didn’t end the season as Mountain West champions, but the Broncos are taking the Frisco Bowl trophy home after securing their first bowl win since 2017. The win caps a season that was circling the drain after four games. Boise State was 2-2 after a loss to major underdog UTEP in late September. Offensive coordinator Tim Plough was fired, and starting quarterback Hank Bachmeier decided to transfer.

Still, the Broncos found a way to rally around Green and 63-year-old interim offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter and win eight of their last 10 games. Boise State head coach Andy Avalos did an excellent job navigating a difficult season, and the Broncos’ players deserve a lot of credit for sticking together.

More than anything, Boise State’s turnaround season highlights just how bright the future is on The Blue. Running back George Holani has to decide if he’s going to test the waters in the NFL and the Broncos are going to have to replace a few starters on defense next season, but the sky isn’t falling. Green, Jeanty, McAlister and wide receivers Latrell Caples and Stefan Cobbs are all expected back next season.

Add to that a 2023 recruiting class led by offensive weapons Jambres Dubar and Franklyn Jonhson, and it looks like the pieces are in place to make new offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan’s return to his alma mater a memorable one.

Player of the game: Boise State was without Holani for most of the game. He left the game in the first quarter and didn’t return, and he finished with just seven touches. That left Jeanty to carry the load, but as has been the norm this season, he didn’t look like a freshman. He burst through the line for a 34-yard run on the Broncos’ first play of the second half, sparking a drive that ended with a touchdown run by Green. Jeanty moved the chains again with an 18-yard gain on the drive that ended with McAlister’s touchdown catch, and he finished the Frisco Bowl with a career-high 178 rushing yards on 28 carries. Stat of the game: Boise State scored just six points in the first half, but the Broncos put 22 points on the board in the third quarter. That’s more points than the Broncos had scored in a quarter of a bowl game in program history.

Play of the game: Boise State’s defense struggled to contain North Texas’ high-powered offense, but a turnover changed the complexion of the game. Redshirt freshman cornerback Jaylen Clark, playing because Kaonohi Kaniho was out with an injury, intercepted a pass early in the fourth quarter, setting up Jeanty’s touchdown run that gave the Broncos a two-possession lead with a little more than 12 minutes to play.

What’s next: Boise State’s season is over, but the Broncos are in for a hectic couple months before spring practice begins in early March.

BYU: 2022 New Mexico Bowl Champions

SMU scored a touchdown with 8 seconds left, but Jakob Robinson made an open field tackle on the ensuing two-point conversion as BYU held on in a 24-23 win in the New Mexico Bowl.

Sol-Jay Maiava started at QB in place for an injured Jaren Hall and led a steady ground attack for the Cougars. Maiava finished 7/12 for 47 yards passing, but led the BYU ground attack with 96 rushing on 14 carries and 1 TD. Senior Christopher Brooks complemented Sol-Jay with 88 rushing yards on 1 TD.

BYU had just 256 yards of total offense, and the defense stepped up to win the game. Ben Bywater had a pick six in the third quarter and BYU held SMU star QB Tanner Mordecai to just 218 passing yards.

BYU’s 8-5 season may have been overall disappointing, but BYU heads into a vital offseason with some momentum. BYU will be active in the transfer portal and have an offseason with a new defensive staff to retool the roster ahead of BYU’s Big 12 debut. BYU’s next game will be Saturday, September 2 at home versus new C-USA member Sam Houston.

Laval: 2022 Vanier Cup Champions

LONDON, Ont. – Kevin Mital turned into a dual threat on Saturday, as he made eight catches and threw for the decisive touchdown as the Laval Rouge et Or downed the Saskatchewan Huskies 30-24 in the 2022 Canada Life Vanier Cup before a sellout crowd of 8,420- at Western Alumni Stadium.

The second-year receiver, who won the Hec Crighton Trophy as the U SPORTS player of the year on Thursday night, captured the Ted Morris Trophy as the Vanier Cup MVP. He is only the second player ever to complete the Hec-Ted double in the same year, following Calgary’s Don Blair in 1995.

“There's no way to take this away from us. We are the Vanier Cup champions of 2022,” said Mital. “We've worked hard for this, and now we go down in the history books as being the best team in Canada this year. Everything that I said this year and set up in terms of goals, we did. It's a sweep. I said we are going to win the Dunsmore, the Mitchell and the Vanier Cup, and that's what we’ve done.”

Mital’s 142 receiving yards led all players, but it will be his turn as a passer that may be most remembered. With Laval holding a 20-17 lead early in the fourth quarter, Mital took a direct snap and connected with Daniel Dallaire on a jump pass to break the game open.

“He's very proud,” said Glen Constantin, the Laval head coach. “He'll back up what he says and forces everyone on the team to do it too. He's just a really good football player and competitor. When he came back from Syracuse, he told me two things – ‘I want #8 and to win the championship.’ He breathes confidence, and it transcribes onto our team. He’s a generational talent for us, probably the best receiver we’ve ever had.”

The win is the 11th for Laval, extending their national record but their first since 2018.

“It doesn't get old for the simple reason that it's a different group, different story, different challenge and a different road,” said Constantin after the win, his 10th as head coach. “Every cup has its own stories.”

Laval kicker Vincent Blanchard played a large role in getting the Rouge et Or to that point, as he kicked for five field goals – tying the Vanier Cup record – and connected on a 49-yarder on the stroke of halftime that tied the game at 17. His 49-yard boot was the second-longest in Vanier Cup history, behind only a 50-yarder kicked in 1995. Blanchard added two conversions and an 85-yard kickoff single to finish with 18 points, the second-highest by a kicker in a Vanier Cup.

Laval quarterback Arnaud Desjardins completed 27 of his 36 pass attempts for 397 yards – the fourth-highest total in Vanier Cup history. Desjardins’ favourite targets were Mital and Antoine Dansereau-Leclerc, who had eight catches for 119 yards.

“He's a cool customer,” said Constantin of his quarterback. “He's a young quarterback, only in his second year. His future is bright. He's got this calmness, and he is a cool customer under pressure.”

For Saskatchewan, Mason Nyhus had an outstanding performance in his final U SPORTS game, completing 34 of 43 passes for 344 yards and three touchdowns. Caleb Morin led the Huskies receivers with seven carries for 97 yards.

While the Huskies offence appeared to be rolling after a first half that saw them put up 281 total yards, they stalled in the third quarter.

“The third quarter, we didn't do enough,” said Huskies head coach Scott Flory. “We started to get traction late, and this will be a point of emphasis for sure in our post-season analysis. The third quarter wasn’t one of our best.”

The Huskies offence responded in the fourth quarter, driving 86 yards in seven plays following Mital’s touchdown pass. However, on first and goal from the Laval 6, Nyhus’ pass into the end-zone was intercepted by Félix Petit, elating the Rouge et Or bench as he handed possession back over to the Quebec side.

“[That was] huge,” said Constantin on the play. “It's better to be lucky than good. We had our fair share of luck. We had a couple of tipped balls and made great plays, so that stop in the end zone was huge. [It was] one of the critical stops we needed to make. It was huge for us.”

The Huskies were able to put a scoring drive together later in the fourth, but they could not complete the comeback.

“We marched the field, had a turnover, and then marched it again,” said Flory on his team's determination. “We competed, and it was a tough game. There's a finality [to sports], there is someone who wins and loses. Unfortunately, we are on the other end of it, and it’s not easy.”

The Huskies, who led Canada West from wire to wire and won their second straight bowl game, finish the season with an 11-2 overall record (7-1 CW).

“These games always come down to a handful of plays,” said Flory on the loss. “Credit to Laval, they made those plays. Their quarterback played a great game. They did some really good things. But you look at our side, and I think that Mason was phenomenal out there. He’s an elite-calibre player and leader, and he showed that here today. It's tough and will take time to digest. I'm really proud of our guys and the season and everything we had to overcome.”

Charles-Alexandre Jacques took home the Bruce Coulter Award as the game’s top defensive player. The second-year linebacker finished with 5.5 total tackles (one solo, nine assists.)

Everett Iverson and Daniel Wiebe had the Saskatchewan touchdowns, while Kalenga Muganda had the other Laval major.

Iowa Western: 2022 NJCAA Football National Champions

Defense wins championships. On Wednesday night in Arkansas, oh boy, did it ever!

Iowa Western (10-2) rode the backs of the Nation's best defensive unit to the program's second national title in a dominating performance over Hutchinson (11-1) at War Memorial Stadium.

The IWCC offense did their part early, scoring 17 first-quarter points and the 'Darkside' defense never allowed the #1 Blue Dragons any offensive momentum as Head Coach Scott Strohmeier's squad cruised to a 31-0 rout of their Jayhawk Conference rival.

"I'm just so happy for the guys that bought in, that took last year's defeat (to NMMI in 2021's NJCAA National Title game) and worked to make sure that they learned from that lesson and to make sure it didn't happen again," said the 14th year head coach after the game. "So many of these guys were here for that one and even when the regular season didn't end the way we'd hoped, they kept working hard, pushing toward the goal they had set for themselves."

Two games prior it was a game of explosive plays for the Reivers against the previously undefeated Blue Dragons, with HCC scoring a late touchdown to propel themselves to a one-point win in Council Bluffs. Those explosive plays never materialized for the Blue Dragons in the rematch, but they certainly did for Iowa Western.

Just five plays into their opening drive, Quarterback James Graham and the Reivers struck. The sophomore from Georgia found LJ Fitzpatrick on a short pass and Fitzpatrick, much like he's done on several occasions this season, raced down the sideline for a 68-yard score and an early 7-0 Reiver lead. The TD was the 800th touchdown in 14 seasons of football in Council Bluffs and Fitzpatrick's third of the season that covered 60 or more yards for a score.

The 'Darkside' allowed Hutchinson a first down on their first drive, but a high snap and continued pressure from Iowa Western forced the Blue Dragons to punt and gave the ball back to IWCC.

In his third start of the season, Graham led the Reivers on a nine-play, 69-yard scoring drive on the next possession, capped by Jaden Koger's 4th career rushing score. Wilber's 34th PAT of the season pushed the 1st quarter lead to 14-0 Reivers.

The Iowa Western pressure continued defensively, keeping Hutchinson QB Dylan Laible from getting comfortable, although the Sophomore didn't get any help from his receivers when he did have time to throw. Trailing 17-0 early in the second quarter, Laible's pass to Malik Benson was dropped by the prize recruit, on what may have been the best chance of the day for the Blue Dragons. It was the most glaring drop of the day for Hutch's high-powered offense, but certainly not the only one.

The Reivers kept the 'Big 3' of Benson, Laible, and running back Dylan Kedzior in check in the game. After scoring against the Reivers in the first match-up, Benson, the Alabama commit, didn't fair well against the Reivers secondary, dropping several passes on the day and losing a fumble on a jet sweep when the 'Darkside' sniffed out the potential wide receiver pass.

The Reivers limited Laible, allowing just 137 yards passing and holding the Walter Jones Trophy nominee below 50% on 37 attempts.

And as good as the pass defense was, The Darkside was even better at locking down the Blue Dragons' running game. Kedzior, the KJCCC Offensive Player of the Year, was limited to just 13 yards rushing after he had scored a pair of touchdowns against both the Reivers in November and three against Coffeyville in the semi-final round of the NJCAA playoffs. Those two performances pushed the Oklahoma native past 1,000 yards on the season into the title game. Kedzior's struggles in Little Rock were amplified when Quientrail Jamison-Travis stripped the running back for his first fumble lost of the season.

Travis, out of Minneapolis North high school, recovered two of three fumbles lost on the day by the Hutchinson offense and was awarded postgame Player of the Game honors during the Reivers' celebration. In addition to the pair of fumbles he recovered, the sophomore defensive tackle also turned in four tackles and two and a half of the Reivers' six sacks on the night. Those six sacks helped IWCC set their single-season record at 56, surpassing the 2015 total of 50.5 quarterback sacks.

Iowa Western's second-half offense was deliberate and paralyzing for Hutchinson's comeback chances. Bryant Williams capped a pair of drives with short touchdown runs, while the offense ground the clock down, splitting the time of possession with the Blue Dragons and forcing a pair of turnovers and a pair of turnovers on down as the clock wound to zero.

The Reivers posted their 4th shutout of the year as Rashion Hodge led the team in tackles to finish the season with a team-high 77 on the year. Elijah Elmore joined Travis as the only players with multiple QB sacks in the game as IWCC piled up 11 tackles for loss in the game. Will Lee, Jamorri Colson, and Dylan Reyes were credited with multiple pass breakups as the 'Darkside' turned in their best performance of the season. Hutchinson, averaging over 431 yards into the title game, was limited to just one-third of that yardage in the loss and was shutout in a game for the first time since 2010. In fact, it was the first time a shutout had been posted in an NJCAA National Title game since 1992.

"The coaches I'm able to work with make it easy," said Strohmeier, "If Black's (Mike Blackbourn) not here since day one, AT (Aaron Terry), Finney (Eric Finney), Monthei (Jeff Monthei) and the other guys that come in and know what to do, I don't have to worry about them, I don't have to micromanage and that's huge, especially at this level. We come in as a staff and we go to work, there's no hand-holding. We as an offense can do our job and the defense does theirs, it's a huge advantage for us to be able to have that culture instilled without having to revisit it every recruiting season, every fall camp."

James Graham completed only four passes in the game but piled up 116 yards passing and a touchdown as the Reivers ground out 288 more yards on the ground with Graham leading the way. His 102 rushing yards were the most by a quarterback since Kai Locksley cleared the mark against DuPage to close the 2017 regular season.

"So proud of James, he comes in in the fall and was open to a position change (wide receiver), but took reps at QB and we end up needing him," added Strohmeier, "his confidence level the last two games left me with no doubts about what he was capable of and he backed that up. What a story, barely on the depth chart at the beginning of the season and now a National Champion Quarterback, that's hugely rewarding."

The victory pushed the Reivers to 10 or more wins for the 8th time in 14 seasons of football in Council Bluffs. In two of those seasons, the Reivers played in less than 10 games.

For Strohmeier, it's the second time he's led the Reivers to the title, earning the program's first national championship trophy in 2012. The Reivers have finished runner-up twice since, but each time they've made the game, it's something that the Watkins, Minnesota native won't take for granted. "You know every time you make the game that there may not be another, so for the team to continue to persevere and win this one makes it so rewarding. We all have a family at home, and we all have people that sacrifice in order to make our jobs possible. For them to see these young men, get rewarded for their hard work is a testament to what their sacrifices at home allow us to do." Strohmeier added, "It's just about so much more than getting to wear a ring for winning a game, this game is about opportunities and we made the most out of it this season. I'm really proud of this team and who they are and will be as people."

The Reivers' last national title came just over 10 years ago when they won 27-7 over #2 Butler in the 2012 Graphic Edge Bowl in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The Reivers lost to East Mississippi in 2014 and New Mexico Military in last year's title game, in both of those seasons, the Reivers finished the regular season undefeated.

IWCC ended Hutchinson's 17-game winning streak with the victory and improves to 5-3 all-time versus the Blue Dragons. The two teams are scheduled to finish the 2023 regular season in Kansas at Gowans Stadium next season, a game that both squads hope is a precursor to another playoff run for each.

Iowa Western coaches will head out on the road immediately to finalize their recruiting season, while many players from this year's squad will make known where their next destination will be in the coming weeks. Former Reiver Namdi Obiazor is the only former Reiver playing in the NCAA Playoffs and can be seen wearing #4 for TCU when the Horned Frogs take on Michigan in the semi-finals on New Year's Eve at 3:00 pm CST. That team is led by Quarterback and Council Bluffs native Max Duggan. Duggan played for Lewis Central High School, the team that the Reivers share their field with for home games.

The 2023 season is slated to kick off on the road on August 26th against the Conquistadors of DCCC from Memorial Stadium in Dodge City, KS. The annual Blue-White Spring Game will take place on Friday, May 5th at Lewis Central High School at a time to be determined.

San Mateo: 2022 CCCAA Football State Champions

SAN MATEO - Under rainy, stormy and otherwise difficult playing conditions, the College of San Mateo turned in the most one-sided victory in California Community College Athletic Association football championship game history, 55-0, over formerly unbeaten and top-ranked Riverside City College to claim the Bulldogs first official state gridiron title Saturday afternoon at College Heights Stadium.

The Bulldogs finished their season with a 12-1 overall record while 2019 state champion Riverside City, which was making its impressive third straight appearance in title game, also finished 12-1.

CSM (12-1) scored the only points it needed less than two minutes into the game on a 33-yard run by All-America running back and game MVP Ezra Moleni. That was with 13:14 remaining in the first quarter. It was set up by a 61-yard return of the opening kickoff by Jeremiah Patterson to the Riverside 35. Moleni took three handoffs to reach the end zone with his 17th rushing TD of the season.

"You can't say enough about him, how hard he runs," said CSM coach Tim Tulloch.

After holding Riverside to a quick 3-and-out, it was the same story on San Mateo's second series - another 3-carry Moleni series, capped by his 61-yard scoring run that also broke Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman's season rushing record for the Bulldogs. Moleni now has 1,400 rushing yards this season and 18 touchdowns (to lead the state's National Division in that category), smashing the 1,253 yards by Edelman in 2005.

Later in the first period, J'Wan Evans, an all-state running back for the Bulldogs in 2021, made it 21-0 with his own 2-play series of 18 and 42 yards.

The first quarter stats illustrated the game: CSM 233 yards of offense (all rushing) to 55 for the Tigers.

On a wet day, San Mateo's state-leading defense (allowing only 12.8 points per game coming in) topped Riverside's National Division-leading offense (590.9 yards per game). CSM totaled 446 yards, while limiting the Tigers to 224.

RECORD MARGIN: San Mateo set a state playoff series record, not allowing a touchdown throughout their three-game playoff run while outscoring three foes 115-5. The previous widest game margin of victory and only other shutout came in 1967, the initial CCCAA (single game) state championship when Fullerton beat American River, 41-0.

CSM linebacker Taniela Latu was the defensive player of the game with three tackles for loss, including a sack, plus a forced fumble. San Mateo forced the Tigers to punt 11 times..

San Mateo was in full control at halftime, 35-0. All Bay 6 quarterback Richie Watts connected with tight end Brendan Doyle, the offensive player of the game, on a 33-yard scoring pass, and Evans ran 67 yards to make it 35-0 at the break.

At halftime, Moleni had 164 rushing yards while Evans had 149 – totaling 311 on the ground. Moleni finished with a CSM single-game record 232 yards while Evans finished with 148 for 380 net yards for the all-state duo. The previous Bulldogs game rushing record was 228 yards by George Naufahu in 2013 against De Anza.

Two-time all-state placekicker Gabe Plascencia added fourth-quarter field goals of 31 and 24 yards and had 13 points in the game, giving him a season total of 96 points. That continues to lead Northern California and added to his Bulldogs career kicking record, totaling 195 points.

Doyle also had the final touchdown, a 22-yard pass from back-up QB Jerry Johnson.

WEATHER A FACTOR: Otherwise, neither team accomplished much through the air on the rainy and windy day. Riverside's All-America quarterback Jake Retzlaff had trouble connecting with his cadre of elite receivers, finishing just 7 of 26 for 52 yards. He was sacked four times and intercepted by a trio of Bulldogs: Shamoun Duncan-Niusulu, Tyrice Ivy Jr., and Kavika Baumgartner. Baumgartner returned his theft 16 yards for the only third-quarter score and had a fumble recovery as well.

Tulloch had high praise for the 6-3, 275-pound Baumgartner, an All-America selection on the defensive line by coaches this season. "His leadership in the locker room and on the field has been invaluable," said Tulloch. "And he could have left with a scholarship last year."

Retzlaff was also Riverside's top rusher, with 48 yards on 12 carries – for a total offense of 100 yards. Donovan Harvey paced Tigers running backs with 39 yards on eight carries.

For CSM, Watts was 4-of-13 for 44 yards -- with no interceptions or sacks. The Bulldogs did not commit any turnovers.

Arturo Orozco led the Riverside defense with eight tackles while Alonzo Gray-Hall had seven. Each of them had five solo stops. Alex Navarro-Silva had a pair of tackles for loss for the Tigers and finished with five total tackles.

RANKINGS: San Mateo and Riverside will be ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the JC Athletic Bureau's final coaches poll, (by agreement with the California Community College Football Coaches Association) -- which will release a season-ending Top 25.

Southern Miss: 2022 Lendingtree Bowl Champions

Southern Miss running back Frank Gore Jr. stayed close to the hurt – relished it, even.

The Golden Eagles' star endured back-to-back three-win seasons in his first two seasons in Hattiesburg, playing for four different head coaches. As he explained throughout the 2022 season, he knew that the perspective acquired from those trials would make the payoff that much sweeter when it eventually arrived.

Saturday night, Gore ensured he got that payoff. He dragged the Golden Eagles (7-6) by their collective ear to a 38-24 LendingTree Bowl victory over Rice (5-8) at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama.

Gore's heroics

Gore did not merely set a Southern Miss single-game record by rushing for 329 yards and two touchdowns. He also set the FBS bowl record as well.

Just that contribution alone would not befit his importance to a team that has needed him to do just about everything this season, including lining up under center.

Gore also completed two of his three passes, highlighted by an 18-yard touchdown pass to Ty Mims that tied the game at 24 late in the third quarter.

He completed his outrageous performance with a 55-yard touchdown run, weaving in and out of defenders to put the Golden Eagles up 38-24 with 2:57 remaining and surpass the 300-yard threshold on the day.

USM cruises through first half, but Rice fights back

Southern Miss looked well on its way to a nice, easy blowout victory in a game it was comfortably favored to win by the sportsbooks.

The Golden Eagles went into halftime with a 17-3 advantage, having outplayed their opponents by a wide margin. But things are rarely so simple for Southern Miss, and they weren't Saturday night.

The Owls then rattled off three touchdown drives in the first seven minutes of the third quarter, helped by a Southern Miss fumble on its first possession of the half.

That put the Owls up 24-17, but they couldn't hold the lead for long.

Southern Miss defense locks down

The Golden Eagle defense has been the team's rock throughout the season, and it showcased why after it was gashed for that trio of third-quarter touchdowns.

It got a vital stop on its next possession, then forced a turnover-on-downs with a stand inside its own 10-yard line as Rice looked to tie the game early in the fourth quarter.

The Owls then went backward on their next two drives. By then, the Golden Eagles had restored their two-possession lead, and the game was as good as over.

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le ... est malade et croyez-moi y’a du matos

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rien quelle danse elle me charme, me rend dingue quand elle parle

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l’odeur de son parfum fait remonter le champagne

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while I took ya, I'm your string,

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you make me hide my wedding ring.

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while I took ya, I'm your string,

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you make me hide my wedding ring.

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you make me hide my wedding ring.

while I took ya, I'm your string,

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Fresno State: 2022 LA Bowl Champions

INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- — Jordan Mims rushed for a career-high 205 yards and two scores, Jake Haener threw two TD passes and Fresno State completed the biggest in-season turnaround in Football Bowl Subdivision history with a 29-6 victory over Washington State in the LA Bowl on Saturday.

Fresno State — which won the Mountain West Conference title — is the first team to get to 10 wins after dropping four of the first five. The Bulldogs (10-4) were 1-4 in early October before winning their final nine games.

Mims accounted for 232 all-purpose yards and outgained Washington State, which had 182 offensive yards. Both of Mims' touchdowns were on direct snaps out of the Wildcat formation.

Early in the second quarter, the senior went 4 yards around left end to give the Bulldogs a 14-0 advantage. In the fourth quarter, he carried it 2 yards up the middle to make it 29-6.

Haener completed 24 of 36 passes for 284 yards in his final game for Fresno State. The senior connected with Zane Pope on a 22-yard touchdown to complete the Bulldogs’ opening possession. He added an 11-yard score to Nikko Remigio late in the third quarter to extend the lead to 22-6.

Cameron Ward was 22 of 32 for 137 yards for Washington State (7-6).

Nakia Watson rushed for 33 yards and had the Cougars only touchdown in the third quarter, when he scored from 1 yard to bring Washington State within 16-6.

Oregon State: 2022 Las Vegas Bowl Champions

LAS VEGAS – The 14th-ranked Oregon State Beavers shutout Florida, 30-0, in the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl on Saturday afternoon to cap a 10-3 campaign. For the third time in program history, the Beavers (10-3, 6-3) have won their 10th game in a season.

Ben Gulbranson threw for 165 yards and a score, completed 12-of-19 passes and ran for another 15 yards and a score on the ground. Deshaun Fenwick led the rushing attack with 107 yards on 21 carries. Jam Griffin and Tyjon Lindsey each added a rushing touchdown.

Kyrei Fisher-Morris led the defense with 11 tackles – including seven solo stops, three for loss and a sack. Jaden Robinson and Omar Speights combined for 13.0 total stops, including Robinson's five solo tackles. Alex Austin and Ryan Cooper Jr. each registered a pass breakup to stifle Florida's passing game.

The Beavers found the scoreboard first following a eight play, 65-yard drive that was capped off by a Tyjon Lindsey rush for eight yards for the 7-0 advantage. Jaden Robinson and Omar Speights combined for 13.0 total stops, including Robinson's five solo tackles. Alex Austin and Ryan Cooper Jr. each registered a pass breakup to stifle Florida's passing game.

After keeping the Gators off the board on downs, Oregon State added to the lead after a 59-yard drive set up a 27-yard score from Everett Hayes to make it a 10-0 affair with 4:32 left in the second. The Beaver defense kept the opposition off the board twice to keep the score intact going into the break.

An 11-yard rush by Colletto off a Beaver fake punt set the offense with their second touchdown of the day on the second half's opening drive. Gulbranson found Golden between a pair of Florida defenders for the 15-yard connection to add seven to lead following Hayes' PAT. On the ensuing drive – set up by a punt blocked by Colletto – Gulbranson sprinted seven yards to the endzone for his second score.

Fenwick stretched the lead even further when he found the endzone from two yards out to make it a 29-0 ballgame before Atticus Sappington connected on the PAT to make it 30. The Beavers chewed off 6:33 from the clock and went 98 yards on 33 plays.

Oregon State previously won 10 games in the 2000 and 2006 seasons.

Louisville: 2022 Fenway Bowl Champions

BOSTON, Mass. – The University of Louisville football team will hold on to the Keg of Nails after a 24-7 victory against long-time rivals, Cincinnati in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl. The Cardinals finish the 2022 season 8-5 overall.

The Cardinals extend their win streak to three in the Keg of Nails rivalry, which was most recently played in 2013 before Louisville joined the ACC.

Jawhar Jordan was named the Fenway Bowl Offensive MVP and Monty Montgomery was named the Defensive MVP.

The defense had another stellar performance, with Monty Montgomery and Yasir Abdullah leading the team in tackles and sacks. Montgomery recorded eight total tackles and one sack and Abdullah recorded 1.5 tackles for loss, moving up to second on Louisville's career list for tackles for loss (43 total). Yaya Diaby had a team-high 2.5 tackles for loss.

The Cards ended with seven sacks, bringing their season total to 50 sacks. This matches the school record for sacks in a single season, set by the 2000 Louisville team.

With his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season, Jawhar Jordan scored the first points of the game with a 49-yard rushing touchdown late in the first quarter.

Jordan recorded his second rushing touchdown before the half with a 41-yard run that put the Cardinals up by 14 points. He is the fourth Louisville player to have multiple rushing touchdowns in a bowl game.

Maurice Turner added a career-high 160 rushing yards for the Cardinals, marking the first time that two players have rushed for at least 100 yards in a Louisville bowl game and the second time this season. Turner is the eighth Louisville true freshman to rush for 100 yards in a game.

Brock Domann started at quarterback for the Cardinals, throwing for 92 yards and one touchdown on 10-of-18 passing. Domann moves to 3-1 as a starter for the Cardinals this year.

James Turner was a perfect 3-for-3 on points after touchdown and connected on a 48-yard field goal, the longest in Louisville bowl history. His field goal marked the 20th made this year and the second most in a season at Louisville.

Interim Head Coach Deion Branch Said:

"The game didn't start the way that we anticipated. Offensively, we had some struggles early on. The defense held us in, doing the normal deal that they've been doing all season. The bright spot we did have in first half was the rushing yards and we controlled the line of scrimmage. I think that was the most important part about the game. I mentioned to the guys that this game will be won or lost on the frontline, the offensive and defensive line. And that's exactly what happened. Second half we came out and it wasn't the second half I thought we would play. There were only three points scored but we didn't allow anything on their behalf. I take that with a grain of salt. But, overall great performance by our team. Great job establishing the line of scrimmage in the run game. We didn't throw the ball as well as I thought we could of, being that there was a lot of man coverage. Overall, I thought it was a decent game plan and Coach (Josh) Stepp and the offensive staff did a great job the entire week game planning. And clearly we know what Coach (Mark) Ivey and the defensive staff has done all season. Pretty much what it has been all year and I think these guys are looking forward to next season."

How It Happened:

First Quarter

00:21 – UL | On the first play following a Louisville fumble recovery, Jawhar Jordan rumbled 49 yards untouched for the opening score of the game.

Second Quarter

10:58 – UC | Evan Prater found Wyatt Fischer for a 20-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 7-7. Cincinnati's drive went nine plays and 73 yards in 4:23.

05:52 – UL | Brock Domann hit a wide open Marshon Ford from eight yards out to put the Cards back in front. Louisville marched 66 yards in 10 plays and took 4:55 off the clock.

00:42 – UL | Jawhar Jordan got free again down the right sideline, this time for a 41-yard touchdown to extend the lead to two scores just before halftime. The touchdown finished off a 7-play, 74-yard drive.

Third Quarter

03:49 – UL | James Turner drilled a 48-yard field to stretch the lead out to 24-7 late in the third quarter. The field goal finished off a 14-play drive that ran 6:21 off the clock.

Troy: 2022 Cure Bowl Champions

ORLANDO – When Troy needed its defense the most, one of the best units in the country stepped up as it had done all season and stuffed UTSA four times from the 5-yard line as No. 23 Troy defeated No. 22 UTSA, 18-12, in the Duluth Trading Cure Bowl on Saturday at Experia Stadium.

Troy (12-2) took the six-point lead on a Brooks Buce 27-yard field goal with just over nine minutes to play in the game, but UTSA (11-3) found itself on the Trojan 5-yard line just four plays later following a 53-yard run by Kevorian Barnes.

The Trojans held Barnes to two yards on first down, and the Troy defense forced three straight incompletions from C-USA MVP Frank Harris to turn the Roadrunners over on downs. Troy's offense milked more than four minutes off the clock on the ensuing possession, and the Trojan defense yielded just one first down before again forcing UTSA to turn the ball over on downs and end the game.

Richard Jibunor forced a pair of turnovers, and game MVP KJ Robertson returned an interception 61 yards to pace a Troy defense that forced five UTSA turnovers in the game and shut down one of the nation's most prolific offenses.

The win was Troy's 11th straight dating back to a Hail Mary loss at App State in week three, while the Trojans' 12th win of the season is a new FBS record for the program and ties the school record set by the NCAA Division II National Champion team in 1987 and the 1993 FCS squad.

The 12 points scored by the Roadrunners were their fewest since Oct. 2020, and the loss snapped UTSA's 10-game winning streak. It was Troy's first win over a ranked opponent since defeating No. 22 LSU in 2017.

UTSA scored the game's first 12 points on a safety, a 2-yard touchdown pass and a 42-yard field goal within the first 21 minutes. From that point on, Troy's defense held the Roadrunners scoreless and forced the five turnovers.

Kimani Vidal put the Trojans on the board with a 2-yard run in the final seconds of an opening half that saw Troy muster just 66 yards of total offense, mainly due to poor starting field position; the Trojans started four drives inside their own 8-yard line.

Robertson turned the game on a dime with his fourth career interception. Leading by five and driving late in the third quarter, UTSA faced a 3rd-and-8 from the Troy 9-yard line when Robertson picked off Harris and returned it 61 yards to the UTSA 37-yard line and an unsportsmanlike penalty moved the ball to the 22-yard line.

Five plays later, Gunnar Watson connected with RaJae' Johnson on a 12-yard strike to put the Trojans in front 13-12; Watson followed with a successful 2-point conversion pass to Clayton Ollendieck extending the Troy lead out to three with 2:34 to play in the third quarter.

The game marked the final one for All-American Carlton Martial in a Troy uniform, and he went out in style. One day after receiving a Senior Bowl invite, Martial posted a game-high 14 tackles as he set the Troy career record with 577 tackles; Martial had previously set the NCAA FBS and Sun Belt career records.

Quotable

"One thing I really wanted – win, lose or draw – was for my daughter to see me play one time," said Robertson, whose two-year-old daughter Layla Drew Hooper was in the stands. "If she remembers it or not, I loved it. It was the best feeling in the world. I really don't know how to even explain it. She was born during COVID, so I didn't want her at the games. Things happened and she wasn't able to make it to any games even after that."

"The turnovers were timely, and we were fortunate enough to get 'em. If we don't get them or those stops, we don't win," Troy head coach Jon Sumrall said. "To hold those guys to 12 points, I don't know what to say. We stayed together all year, and I could not be more proud. I just hope they keep us in the Top 25."

Notable

• Troy extended its winning streak to 11 games with the victory, Troy's longest winning streak since 1995 when that squad also won 11 straight games. Troy's winning streak is tied for the third longest in the country.

• Troy has now won 58 games since the start of the 2016 season; the 18th most wins nationally and the sixth most in the Group of Five over that time.

• Troy has now won five straight bowl games dating back to the 2010 New Orleans Bowl. The Trojans are 6-3 all-time in bowl games at the FBS level and 20-12 in the postseason (NAIA, DII, FCS, FBS).

• Troy's 12 wins are the most in program history at the FBS level and tied for the most in school history (1993, FCS; 1987 DII National Champions).

• Troy improves to 3-28 all-time against ranked opponents -- No. 17 Missouri, 2004 (24-14); No. 22 LSU, 2017 (24-21); No. 22 UTSA (18-12).

• Linebacker KJ Robertson was named the game's MVP after recording nine tackles and returning an interception 61 yards setting up Troy's go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter. He is the second defensive player to earn the Cure Bowl MVP in the history of the game.

• Left tackle Austin Stidham started his 62nd career game, which is the most in Troy history passing Cameron Kaye's 61 career starts; Dell Pettus' started his team-leading 47th straight game.

• Troy improved to 5-1 this season when trailing at the half and 5-1 when scoring less than 21 points; Troy was 11-73 when trailing at the half and 5-52 when scoring less than 21 points since 2005 prior to this season.

• Troy outscored UTSA 11-0 in the second half; the Trojans entered the game ranked 12th nationally with a +6.69 scoring margin in the second half.

• RaJae' Johnson caught two passes for 41 yards and the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter. He caught four of his seven touchdown passes on the season in Troy's final three games.

• Troy's 169 yards of total offense was its fewest in a bowl game in program history; previous low was 292 in the 2004 Silicon Valley Classic vs. Northern Illinois.

• Carlton Martial recorded 14 tackles in the game and finished his career with 577; Martial set the Troy school record in the game and already held the NCAA FBS and Sun Belt career records.

• Troy forced five UTSA turnovers in the game, which is the fourth time in Troy's bowl history it has forced five turnovers in a game.

• Troy entered bowl season second nationally having forced 163 tackles since the start of the 2016 season, the Trojans are now tied with UCF for the most in that period. The Trojans were third averaging 1.63 turnovers forced per game.

• Troy held UTSA scoreless in the second half; the Trojans entered the game holding opponents to 8.77 points per game in the second half (14th fewest in the country) and 3.92 points in the fourth quarter (sixth fewest).

• Troy held UTSA scoreless in the fourth quarter; the Trojans held 8-of-13 opponents scoreless in the fourth quarter this season.

• Troy held UTSA to just 12 points ... the Roadrunners lowest output since Oct. 31, 2020.

• UTSA entered the game ranked 12th nationally in scoring offense averaging 38.7 points per game; its previous low scoring output this season was 20 points at No. 20 Texas.

• Brooks Buce improved to 17-of-19 on field goal attempts this season after booting a 27-yard kick against UTSA. His 89.5 field goal percentage is the highest in a single-season in school history.

• Brooks Buce finished his Troy career 25-of-28 after going 1,751 days in between field goal attempts (senior year of high school and ULM in 2021.

Ferris State: 2022 NCAA Division II College Football National Champions

It’s 1,050 miles from Muskegon, Michigan, to McKinney, Texas, the site of the 2022 Division II NCAA football title game.

But on Saturday, the two seemed a lot closer as Ferris State wide receivers Brady Rose and CJ Jefferson — who both starred for Muskegon high school teams — delivered big plays in the Bulldogs’ 41-14 mauling of Colorado School of Mines for FSU’s second straight national championship.

Ferris State became the fourth team to win back-to-back D-II titles this century, and the first since Northwest Missouri State did it in 2015-16. (Grand Valley State also won consecutive titles in 2002-03 and 2005-06.)

Rose, the former Mona Shores star, connected with Jefferson, the former Muskegon standout, for a 48-yard gain on a halfback pass early in the second quarter to set up a field goal, and Jefferson had a 19-yard run for a touchdown late in the quarter to extend the Bulldogs’ lead to 20.

Meanwhile, Ferris State’s defense harassed Mines QB John Matocha and completely shut down the Orediggers’ offense. Mines entered Saturday’s game averaging more than 40 points a game; it managed just 21 yards in the first half. Matocha, who won the Harlon Hill Trophy (D-II’s version of the Heisman) on Friday night, had just two completions in the first half — and one to a Ferris State player; Matocha’s throw late in the second quarter popped off the hands of his receiver and into the arms of FSU defensive back Sidney McCloud, who took it 31 yards for a 27-point FSU lead.

The Bulldogs’ offense did just fine without a Harlon Hill finalist, as Mylik Mitchell completed 14 of 18 passes for 161 yards to keep FSU moving. Jefferson had seven catches for 95 yards and Rose added four catches for 50 yards and five rushes for 39 yards to his long pass. (He also had a tackle on defense.)

On defense, FSU’s Caleb Murphy, the Harlon Hill runner-up, went without a sack — he had 25½ entering the game — but still had three tackles (1½ for loss) and pressured Matocha all day. Jordan Jones had two sacks and 2½ tackles for loss for the Bulldogs as well. The dominance on defense for FSU was such that the Orediggers didn’t pick up their initial first down until there was 7:26 remaining in the second quarter; the Orediggers’ first third-down conversion didn’t come until there was just 16:27 remaining in the game, after nine straight failures.

Indeed, prior to the third-down conversion — a 6-yard pass from Matocha to T Smith on third-and-4 from FSU’s 16 — Mines’ biggest play had been a 25-yard punt that bounced off an FSU player and was recovered for a 50-yard gain. The Bulldogs’ defense recovered quickly, forcing two incompletions, a run for no gain and, finally, a sack by Jones on fourth-and-10. After the Orediggers got their first third-down conversion, they scored on the next play on a 10-yard pass from Matocha to Michael Zeman.

After another Ferris State touchdown and a swap of fruitless drives by each team, Mines scored its second TD as Matocha found Josh Johnston on a 14-yard pass.

But Ferris State wasn’t done, as Mitchell led the Bulldogs on another clock-killing drive before handing the reins at quarterback in the red zone to Carson Gulker. He scored his third TD of the game on a push by the offensive line that carried him about 6 yards. Gulker had eight carries for 17 yards but scored from 2, 1 and 6 yards out.

The Bulldogs finish the season at 14-1, with their lone loss coming Oct. 15 against Grand Valley State. This is FSU’s eighth straight 11-win season, the fourth-longest active streak in all divisions, behind only Ohio State (10, Alabama (10) and FCS-level North Dakota State (11).

UAB: 2022 Bahamas Bowl Champions

NASSAU, Bahamas – Reynard Ellis tackled Jalen Walker at the 1-yard line on the final play of the game to give UAB a 24-20 victory over Miami (OH) in the 2022 HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl.

Jermaine Brown Jr. scored the go-ahead touchdown for UAB on 4th-and-1 with 1:33 left in fourth quarter. Brown Jr. rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns overall.

Trea Shropshire was the game's offensive MVP after tying the Bahamas Bowl record with 183 receiving yards. Michael Fairbanks II was the defensive MVP with seven tackles, 1.5 TFL, 0.5 sack and a blocked extra point.

The win was UAB's third bowl victory in school history and the first time UAB has won back-to-back bowl games. It also marked UAB's 50th win since returning to action in 2017, which is the most of any team in Conference USA during that span. UAB finished the year at 7-6 overall is 50-26 since 2017.

On Miami's first possession, UAB forced a turnover on downs and quickly turned that into seven points. UAB's first offensive play was a 48-yard completion from Hopkins to Shropshire, and those would connect again on a 10-yard reception for an early 7-0 lead.

UAB's second drive of the game resulted in a 42-yard field goal by Matt Quinn to extend the Blazer lead to 10-0 with 3:31 left in the opening quarter.

Miami scored late in the first half on a 33-yard touchdown reception, but the extra point was blocked by Michael Fairbanks II which brought the score to 10-6 at the half.

The RedHawks took their first lead of the game with 5:44 left in the third. Following a UAB muffed punt inside its own 5-yard line. It took Miami one play to find the end zone for a 13-10 advantage.

The Blazers took the lead right back on their next possession, going 75 yards in 14 plays and capping it with a 3-yard touchdown from Brown Jr. with 13:29 remaining in the game.

Miami then came right back with a 12-play drive that took up 6:37 of the clock and converted a 3rd-and-8 for a 10-yard touchdown pass to regain a 20-17 lead with 6:52 left in the game.

UAB's defense came up big once again and gave the ball back to the offense with four minutes to go. The Blazers went 70 yards in five plays, and Brown Jr. punched it in for the 24-20 lead.

With a minute to go, Miami marched down the field, but it was Ellis who played hero by stopping the RedHawks on the final play of the game.

North Carolina Central: 2022 Celebration Bowl Champions

North Carolina Central saw victory erased as time elapsed at the end of regulation in the Celebration Bowl Saturday.

The Eagles remained calm, driving for a touchdown in overtime to ruin the end of the Deion Sanders era at Jackson State, 41-34.

The Tigers, who came in undefeated, had forced overtime on the final play of regulation when Shedeur Sanders threw a TD pass to Travis Hunter. They went for the PAT to send the game to the extra session rather than try to win it with a 2-point conversion.

In the extra period, Davius Richard scored on a 1-yard run and the Eagles kicked the PAT.

The Tigers’ drive ended with a pair of incompletions, one that saw sophomore tight end Hayden Hagler drop a potential TD pass in the end zone. The second pass from Shedeur Sanders was errant and North Carolina Central was the HBCU champs.

The Tigers named T.C. Taylor to replace Deion Sanders as head coach. Deion Sanders is taking over as head coach at the University of Colorado and bringing many Jackson State players with him to Boulder.

North Central: 2022 NCAA Division III College Football National Champions

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Dec. 17, 2022) - Finishing off one of the most historically dominant campaigns in the 49-year history of the NCAA's split into three divisions, the North Central College football team claimed its second Division III national title in three seasons with a 28-21 victory over the University of Mount Union (Ohio) Friday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

The Cardinals completed an unblemished 15-0 season, establishing a new program record for single-season victories while also setting a new all-time Division III standard for rushing yards in a single season (5,325).

Facing off against the Purple Raiders (14-1) for the third straight postseason, North Central used its power running game to gain 44 yards on the first five plays of the evening before Luke Lehnen dropped back and uncorked a pass to Ethan Greenfield, who got behind the Mount Union coverage for a 28-yard touchdown reception with less than four minutes elapsed.

The Cardinals missed on a 32-yard field goal attempt late in the opening period but were able to double their lead in spectacular fashion midway through the second quarter. Taking over at its own six-yard line after Mount Union's fourth punt of the first half, Lehnen delivered a strike down the middle to Deangelo Hardy. The wideout made the catch near midfield and won a footrace with three Purple Raider defenders to the end zone. The 94-yard completion is the longest in the Cardinals' history.

Mount Union opened the second half on offense and put together an 18-play, 70-yard drive which consumed nearly nine minutes but still did not result in any points. Facing fourth down-and-one at the Cardinals' 10-yard line, the Raiders attempted to convert via the run, but Julian Bell and Angelo Cusumano broke through the line to bring down running back Lance Mitchell three yards behind the line of scrimmage and end the drive.

On the second play of the ensuing drive, Greenfield broke loose for a 58-yard run to the Raiders' 26-yard line. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Greenfield took a direct snap and ran off left end for his second score of the evening. With 14:56 to play, the Cardinals owned a 21-0 advantage.

Mount Union got on the board with a nine-yard scoring run by quarterback Braxton Plunk, and narrowed the gap further to 21-14 after Plunk's three-yard TD pass to Wayne Ruby.

Lehnen, who became the first North Central quarterback to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a single season (1,034), ran 42 yards on the ensuing drive to move the Cardinals into Raider territory. Three plays later, Hardy hauled in a three-yard scoring pass from Lehnen which was ruled an incompletion initially before being overturned on a replay review.

Trailing, 28-14, Mount Union brought itself back within one score as Plunk completed a 41-yard pass to Ruby before a four-yard scoring pass to Edwin Reed with just 30 seconds to play. The Raiders attempted an onside kick but Zack Orr recovered to put an end to the contest.

Greenfield was named the game's Most Outstanding Player, a distinction he also received in North Central's 2019 Stagg Bowl victory, ran for 119 yards on 25 carries. Lehnen ran 10 times for 98 yards while Hardy caught three passes for a game-high 107 yards.

Sam Taviani paced the Cardinals' defense with nine tackles (eight solo), while Cusumano finished with seven.

Northwestern (Iowa): 2022 NAIA College Football National Champions

DURHAM, N.C. – Scoring 28 second half points, No. 3 seeded Northwestern (Iowa) secure its third-ever NAIA National Championship and first since 1983 by winning 35-25 over No. 12 Keiser (Fla.).

With two of the best offenses in the nation coming into town, the low-scoring first half was seen as a surprise from fans in attendance as both defenses stood tall.

The Red Raiders (13-1) special teams were a crucial factor in the outcome of the first 30 minutes, with a missed field goal on their opening drive along with a massive punt to pin the Seahawks (10-4) inside the two-yard line.

The special teams’ execution didn’t matter to Keiser, as they marched down the field to score the first touchdown of the day thanks to a one-yard rush by running back Marques Burgess.

Northwestern would respond just 18 seconds later as wide receiver Cade Moser broke free for a 69-yard catch and run to even the score at seven, and the two programs headed to the locker room tied.

Quarterback Jalyn Gramstad had a special connection with Moser throughout the contest, as the two opened the second half with an explosive 64-yard end around to take the lead.

Gramstad got it done both in the air and on the ground, finishing the day with 247 passing yards and three touchdown passes along with 128 rushing yards and another score.

His four-touchdown performance earned him Offensive Player of the Game honors, while his teammate Noah Van’t Hof earned Defensive Player of the Game honors with two interceptions to go along with four tackles.

“Jalyn is an outstanding leader and a great player,” coach Matt McCarty said. “He does things the right way and he makes those around him better.”

Keiser would tie the game once again at 14 midway through the third quarter, and was gifted a chance immediately after to take control of the game.

Moser fumbled the ball inside his own 30-yard line on the next possession for the Red Raiders, allowing the Seahawks to try and score with great field position.

Yet the NWC defense bent but didn’t break once more, holding Keiser to a field goal.

The defensive unit for the Red Raiders was the difference maker, holding an offense that averaged over 400 yards per game coming into the contest to just 276 yards. From then on out, it was all Northwestern.

Gramstad would connect with running back Konner McQuillan late in the third quarter for another touchdown pass to retake the lead, and later in the fourth quarter, he would find Blake Anderson to make it a 28-17 game.

The Seahawks refused to go away, as they continued to try and claw their way back into the game, yet struggled after starting quarterback Shea Spencer went down with an injury at the end of the third quarter.

Backup QB Bryce Veasley was thrown into the spotlight and nearly led a comeback for the blue and white, finding the end zone himself halfway through the final frame to make it a one-score game.

Despite his efforts, it was too little too late for the Seahawks, as the explosive offense of Northwestern could not be stopped before they added another score to sink the dagger into the hearts of Kaiser for a final score of 35-25.

Even with the loss, Keiser has cemented itself as one of the top football programs in the NAIA, reaching its first-ever championship in just its fifth year of existence.

For McQuillan and Northwestern, this championship snaps a 39-year drought, which included a championship loss just two years prior in spring 2020. The Red Raiders finished the season winning 13 straight games and their lone loss of the season was by one point to rival Morningside (Iowa).

“For me and some of the other guys, we’ve been here before and lost,” McQuillan said. “So to win a championship is something I can hold my head up high about.”

“I’m so proud of our guys, they’ve built such a great team culture,” McCarty said. “Today is a result of all the work they’ve put in.”

Joshua Bartosik, Contributing Writer