At the end of September, Western Kentucky's football team belied its nickname of Hilltoppers, with a 2-3 record after a 38-13 loss at McNeese State.

By the end of the season, the moniker did fit, as Western Kentucky avenged the McNeese State defeat, 34-14, in the Division I-AA Football Championship December 20 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Jon Frazier ran for 159 yards and two touchdowns and Jason Michael accounted for two scores as the Hilltoppers won their 10th consecutive game and stopped McNeese State's nine-game winning streak. Western Kentucky finished the year with a 12-3 mark, and the Cowboys ended with a 13-2 record.

Michael connected with Jeremi Johnson on a 16-yard pass to open the scoring with 9:36 remaining in the first quarter. The Western Kentucky quarterback also scored on a 2-yard run early in the fourth quarter after McNeese State had pulled to within 24-14.

Frazier dashed for a 55-yard touchdown on the first play of the second quarter to give the Hilltoppers a 14-0 advantage. His second TD of 14 yards in the third quarter was set up by a 49-yard Michael-to-Johnson pass play.

Peter Martinez added two field goals for Western Kentucky to set both school single-season (18) and career (49) records.

"In 50 years, they'll look back to 2002 and say 'Western Kentucky University is national champion,' and that's a beautiful thing," said Hilltoppers head coach Jack Harbaugh. "Our guys took the challenge and looked it straight in the eye. They're really warriors."

Western Kentucky's defense also played its part well, limiting its final six regular-season opponents to a total of 49 points and McNeese State nearly 20 points below its average of 33.1 points. Brian Lowder led the Hilltoppers with 12 tackles, and Charles Thompson added 11.

Karl Maslowski contributed seven stops, and his interception on the Cowboys' first offensive play of the game set up Michael's touchdown pass to Johnson.

Luke Lawton caught a touchdown pass from Scott Pendarvis, and John Marino booted two field goals to account for McNeese State's scoring.

"We came up a little bit short, but my hat's off to Western Kentucky," said McNeese State head coach Tommy Tate. "They don't give these national championships away; you have to earn them.

"Western Kentucky did that."

Championship

Western Ky. 7 10 7 10 -- 34

McNeese St. 0 6 8 0 -- 14

First quarter

WK -- Jeremi Johnson 16 pass from Jason Michael (Peter Martinez kick) (9:36).

Second quarter

WK -- Jon Frazier 55 run (Martinez kick) (14:51); MS -- John Marino 30 field goal (7:32); WK -- Martinez 40 field goal (4:55); MS -- Marino 24 field goal (0:07).

Third quarter

WK -- Frazier 14 run (Martinez kick) (11:03); MS -- Luke Lawton 15 pass from Scott Pendarvis (Jeff Hamilton pass from Pendarvis) (3:49).

Fourth quarter

WK -- Michael 2 run (Martinez kick) (13:49); WK -- Martinez 23 field goal (2:51).

Team statistics

Western Ky. McNeese St.

Attendance--12,360.

Individual statistics

Rushing: Western Ky. -- Frazier 27-159, Maurice Bradley 2-15, Casey Rooney 2-13, Johnson 5-12, Michael 11-7, Team 2-0, Shannon Hayes 1-(minus 11); McNeese St. -- Marcus Trahan 12-82, B.J. Sams 5-32, Jacob Prim 8-15, Luke Lawton 4-12, Andrew Robin 1-0, Scott Pendarvis 4-(minus 4).

Passing: Western Ky. -- Michael 6-10-0-185; McNeese St. -- Pendarvis 21-38-1-244, Ryan Corcoran 4-9-2-24, Team 0-1-0-0.

Receiving: Western Ky. -- Johnson 3-90, Frazier 1-54, Matt Rogers 1-21, Shannon Hayes 1-20; McNeese St. -- Sams 7-69, Jermaine Martin 5-74, Jeff Hamilton 4-42, Lawton 3-35, Britt Brodhead 2-16, Robin 1-12, Jacob Prim 1-12, Trahan 1-5, Darren Oustalet 1-3.