Grand Valley State won its second consecutive NCAA Division II Football Championship December 13, defeating North Dakota, 10-3, and becoming just the seventh team to win back-to-back titles.

Senior linebacker Mike Hoad cemented the victory for Grand Valley State with an interception on the Lakers' five-yard line with 20 seconds left in the game. Before the pick, North Dakota had driven 58 yards in 12 plays in search of a tying score.

Grand Valley State jumped to an early lead, opening the game with a 17-play, 79-yard drive that ended with a Dave Hendrix 19-yard field goal. The Lakers were able to stop a North Dakota scoring opportunity late in the first quarter after a fumble recovery when Jeff Glas missed a 29-yard field goal attempt.

Neither team scored in the second quarter and the game went to halftime at 3-0.

North Dakota's best opportunity for a touchdown came on its first drive of the second half when the Fighting Sioux drove to the Grand Valley State six-yard line. One third and goal, Lucius Hawkins blitzed and forced North Dakota's John Bowenkamp to fumble. Hawkins picked up the fumble and raced 59 yards to the North Dakota 20-yard line.

Freshman quarterback Cullen Finnerty rushed 18 yards to the North Dakota two-yard line on first down. Michael Tennessee then scored on third down to give the Lakers a 10-0 lead.

Bowenkamp led the Sioux on two 60-yard drives late in the game, but North Dakota's only score came on Glas' 43-yard field goal with 9:47 left to play.

It was the second time in three years that North Dakota and Grand State have played in the title game. In 2001, North Dakota won, 17-14. This year's championship was the second-lowest scoring game in title-game history.

"We played great competition and had to play at our very best again, and I give North Dakota a great deal of credit," said Grand Valley State head coach Brian Kelly. "But our defense has answered the bell the last three weeks and did not allow a touchdown in 12 consecutive quarters of playoff competition.

"Last year we were here because of our offense, this year we're here because of our defense. This game can be won in many different ways and we won it today playing great defense and not making mistakes on offense," he said.

Grand Valley State made it to the championship game by defeating Texas A&M-Kingsville, 31-3, on December 6. North Dakota made it into the final by defeating North Alabama that same day, 29-22.

Semifinals

Grand Valley State 31, Texas A&M-Kingsville 3; North Dakota 29, North Alabama 22.

Championship

First quarter

GVS: Dave Hendrix 19 field goal (7:32).

Third quarter

GVS: Michael Tennessee 2 run (Hendrix kick) (9:15).

Fourth quarter

ND: Jeff Glas 43 field goal (9:47).

Team statistics

North Dakota Grand Valley St.

Attendance -- 7,236

Individual statistics

Rushing: North Dakota -- Roland 12-43, Strouth 4-9, Wisthoff 1-2, Team 1-(minus 7), Bowenkamp 5-(minus 25). Grand Valley St. -- Finnerty 19-78, Tennessee 12-38, Langston 2-14, Team 1-(minus 2).

Passing: North Dakota -- Bowenkamp 28-41-1-281, team 0-1-0-0. Grand Valley St. -- Finnerty 19-28-0-149.

Receiving: North Dakota -- Stattelman 8-57, Johnson 7-101, Strouth 4-38, Ahlers 4-35, Grossman 2-23, Wisthoff 2-10, Vanderpan 1-17. Grand Valley St. -- Staley 4-45, Locricchio 4-44, Tennessee 4-24, Langston 3-17, Holloway 2-12, Catlin 2-7.