Northwest Missouri State, which had lost the last four Division II NCAA championship football games, was able to build a 21-point lead and hang on to defeat Grand Valley State, 30-23, to win the championship December 12 in Florence, Alabama.

It is the third national championship for the Bearcats, who also won in 1998 and 1999. [More]

Northwest Mo. St. 30, Grand Valley St. 23

First quarter

NMS – LaRon Council 14 run (Todd Adolf kick) 7:59.

Second quarter

NMS – Blake Bolles 4 run (Adolf kick) 12:51.
NMS – Council 17 run (Adolf kick) 12:11.

Third quarter

GVS – Andrew Lorman 8 pass from Brad Iciek (Jay Jandasek kick blocked) 11:22.
NMS – Ryan Jones PAT return, 11:22.
GVS – Ryan Bass 33 pass from Iciek (Jandasek kick) 6:26.

Fourth quarter

GVS – Blake Smolen 2 run (Jandasek kick) 12:26.
NMS – Jake Soy 26 pass from Bolles (Adolf kick) 10:00.
GVS – Jandasek 21 field goal, 4:26.

Rushing: Northwest Mo. St. – LaRon Council 22-172, Jordan Simmons 2-16, Team 1-minus-2, Blake Bolles 7-minus-7, Previn Perry 1-minus-11; Grand Valley St. – Blake Smolen 7-45. P.T. Gates 12-36, Justin Sherrod 3-9, Brad Iciek 7-17.

Passing: Northwest Mo. St. – Bolles 15-23-1 198, 1 TD; Grand Valley St. – Iciek 28-49-1 290 2 TDs.

Receiving: Northwest Mo. St. – Jake Soy 9-118, Nick Rhodes 2-35, Kyle Kilgore 1-21, LaRon Council 1-18, Jordan Simmons 1-5, Tyler Shaw 1-1; Grand Valley St. – Ryan Bass 8-111, P.T. Gates 7-32, Blake Smolen 6-70, Andrew Lorman 4-23, Israel Woolfork 2-48, Greg Gay 1-6.