By Staff
FLORENCE, Ala. - The game came down to the last second and when Kirk Carruth and Joe Ballard tackled Rapheal Robinson four yards shy of the endzone, Grand Valley State had its third NCAA Division II football National Championship in the last four years.
Grand Valley State's 21-14 victory over Northwest Missouri State puts the Lakers on a short list with North Dakota State (5) and North Alabama as school's with three or more Division II football National Championships.
In addition, the Laker senior class finishes their career with an NCAA Division II four-year record winning percentage of 92.7 percent and tied the NCAA record for most wins in a four-year period (51).
Cullen Finnerty hit wide receiver Brandon Langston with a screen pass that he took it the final 35 yards for the game-winning touchdown with 4:25 remaining in the game to culminate a 9-play, 82-yard drive. Finnerty kept the drive alive with a 24-yard completion on third and seven from the Laker 21. NW Missouri State scored touchdowns on its first two drives, the first covered 70 yards in 13 plays. GVSU answered on its first drive, moving 69 yards in eight plays. Finnerty finished the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run and Scott Greene added the PAT. Astin Martin rushed for 34 yards and Finnerty hit Langston with a 20-yard completion to the Bearcat five.
NW Missouri answered with a 12-play, 80-yard drive that culminated with a Omon Xavier 2-yard touchdown. GVSU managed just 31 yards in its next three drives prior to the half and trailed 14-7.
Grand Valley put together a 10-play, 80-yard scoring drive late in the third quarter. Finnerty hit running back Ryan Hukill with a 33-yard pass completion on third and seven and scored on a 3-yard run with 2:15 left in the third quarter.
NW Missouri struck back quickly with a field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter. Quarterback Josh Lamberson hit tight end Mike Peterson with a 61-yard pass and catch that gave NWMS a first and goal on the Laker 11. The GVSU defense stiffened and forced two incompletions and then DE Mike McFadden, playing on a strained hip, notched his 19th sack of the season when he tackled Lamberson for a seven-yard loss. The sack tied the career record with 29 and gave his a GVSU single-season record 19.
Tomy Frevert kicked a 35-yard field goal to give the Bearcats a 17-14 lead. GVSU drove down to the NW Missouri 11-yard line on its next drive, but a penalty moved the Lakers back to their 17 and Greene then missed a 34-yard field goal.
NW Missouri State moved 81 yards in 16 plays on its final drive before Carruth and Ballard finished the game with a the touchdown saving tackle. Finnerty completed 12-of-19 passes for 172 yards and one touchdown, while rushing for 59 yards and two scores. Astin Martin rushed for 72 yards and moved in third on the single-season rushing list with 1,353 yards. Ryan Hukill added 35 yards on six carries and caught three passes for 35 yards. Langston caught four passes for 62 yards and Antione Trent hauled in three passes for 35 yards.
The Grand Valley State defense notched 11 tackles for loss and four quarterback sacks. Linebacker Anthony Adams led the way with 12 tackles, three tackles for loss and two quarterback sacks. Brandon Carr and Dan Skuta added nine tackles each.