The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- December 21, 1998

Northwest Missouri State caps turnaround with 24-6 grid win

Chris Greisen capped a stellar playoff performance by throwing two touchdown passes in a steady rain, leading Northwest Missouri State to a 24-6 win over Carson-Newman in the Division II Football Championship December 12 in Florence, Alabama.

It was the first NCAA title in any sport for Northwest Missouri State, which also became the first squad in Division II history to finish a season with a 15-0 record. --

"We just had to forget about the rain -- or try to, anyway," Greisen said. "We knew we were going to pass, they knew we were going to pass. It was just one of those mental things and you can't let it bother you."

A championship for the Bearcats would have been unthinkable just five seasons ago. Northwest Missouri State went 0-11 in 1994 in head coach Mel Tjeerdsma's first year. The Bearcats are 43-8 in the last four seasons. They reached the Division II pinnacle after quarterfinal losses in 1996 and 1997.

Greisen completed 22 of 34 passes for 211 yards. In four playoff games, the Bearcats senior connected on 80 of 119 attempts for 1,149 yards and a Division II tournament-record 13 touchdowns.

"He did a great job," Carson-Newman head coach Ken Sparks said of Griesen's performance. "There were a bunch of times when we had him around the legs, and he would bounce off and complete a pass."

Carson-Newman, which finished its season with a 12-2 record, took a 6-0 lead with 3:03 left in the first quarter on a 36-yard pass from Leonard Guyton to Jarvonni Jackson. The Eagles, however, managed just 112 yards total offense after the first quarter and finished with only 276.

Derek Lane's eight-yard touchdown run and David Purnell's extra-point kick gave Northwest Missouri State a 7-6 lead with 14:13 to play in the second quarter. The 22-yard scoring drive was the result of David Carlson causing and Joe Quinlan recovering a fumbled punt.

Greisen threw a 12-yard pass to Tony Miles at the 9:58 mark of the second quarter to put the Bearcats up, 14-6. Purnell added a 42-yard field goal late in the second period, and Greison tossed a 25-yard touchdown pass to J.R. Hill in the third quarter to complete the scoring.

SEMIFINALS

Carson-Newman 47, Slippery Rock 21; Northwest Mo. St. 49, Tex. A&M-Kingsville 34.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Carson-Newman -- 6 -- 0 -- 0 -- 0 -- 6

Northwest Mo. St. -- 0 -- 17 -- 7 -- 0 --24

First Quarter

Carson-Newman -- Jarvonni Jackson 36 pass from Leonard Guyton (pass failed) (3:03).

Second Quarter

Northwest Mo. St. -- Derek Lane 8 run (David Purnell kick) (14:13).

Northwest Mo. St. -- Tony Miles 12 pass from Chris Greisen (Purnell kick) (9:58).

Northwest Mo. St. -- Purnell 42 field goal (1:09).

Third Quarter

Northwest Mo. St. -- J.R. Hill 25 pass from Greisen (Purnell kick) (10:11).

-- Carson-Newman -- Northwest Mo. St.

First Downs -- 14 -- 21

Rushing Yardage -- 91 -- 135

Passing Yardage -- 185 -- 211

Return Yardage -- 36 -- 7

Passes (Comp.-Att.-Int.) -- 12-26-1 -- 22-34-0

Punts (No.-Avg.) -- 6-34.2 -- 6-38.2

Fumbles (No.-Lost) -- 7-2 -- 1-1

Penalties (No.-Yards) -- 6-49 -- 4-31

Attendance: 6,149