Dec. 5, 2008

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The 2008 NAIA Football Championship Series (FCS) Semifinal round is set for Saturday, Dec. 6. No. 1 Carroll (Mont.) College hosts No. 7 Lindenwood (Mo.) University at 12:07 p.m. MST while No. 2 the University of Sioux Falls (S.D.) hosts No. 3 the University of Saint Francis (Ind.) at 12 p.m. CST. The pair of Semifinal winners meet up in the 53rd Annual Russell Athletic-NAIA Football National Championship. The title game is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 20 in Rome, Ga., with kick-off at 12 p.m. EST. For more information of the title game, click here.

In Helena, Mont., a team that many would refer to as a football dynasty is facing a team breaking into the playoff scene. Carroll, who is 12-0 on the year and riding a 27-game winning streak, has won five of the last six national titles and is 29-11 in the FCS in 17 all-time appearances. The total of five crowns is the second most of any NAIA program all-time. Lindenwood is a program appearing in its first ever Semifinal contest in this its fourth overall FCS. The Lions are 2-3 in the Football Championship Series.

To add to Carroll’s numbers, the Fighting Saints have won 59 of their last 61 games overall and stand 111-12 (.901) since 2000. CC is impressive at home and equally so in the playoffs sporting a 15-1 home record in the FCS in the last 16 games.

The Lindenwood offense is on a roll averaging over 40 points a game this year, including almost 50 in the postseason. After piling up 65 points and 541 yards of offense in a First Round win, Lindenwood defeated Morningside (Iowa) last weekend 34-31 and had 566 yards of offense. On the year, LU is fourth in the country racking up nearly 470 yards of offense per game. On the other side of the ball, the Lions defense has seven forced turnovers this postseason and is +6 in turnover margin. This unit is 23rd in scoring defense in the NAIA allowing an average 19.3 points.

Winning its ninth straight Frontier Conference Championship, Carroll has been successful offensively on the ground. The Saints rank 10th nationally in rushing offense (212.8 ypg) led by running back Gabe Le. The junior has eclipsed the 1,000 yard plateau (1,136) and has 11 rushing scores in 12 games. On defense, Carroll is allowing just 11.7 points a contest, and has the third-ranked run defense giving up just 72.1 yards. Also, the 4.2 sacks per contest are tops in the country.

In the other Semifinal game, two 12-0 teams collide and two programs with a rich tradition in the FCS both named “Cougars” play in the Honey Bee state. Sioux Falls owns two National Championships with the last in 2006, has appeared in four straight Semifinal games and is 27-11 all-time in postseason play. St. Francis is 17-9 in the FCS, is seeking its fourth National Championship appearance in the last five seasons and holds the second most overall wins (104) of any NAIA program since 2000. The last and only time these teams met was during the 2006 National Championship in Savannah, Tenn. The Sioux Falls Cougars won 23-19 and took home its second crown in school history.

Sioux Falls is more than impressive defensively on paper and chasing its 36th straight overall home win. The Cougars are No. 1 in the country in the following defensive categories: scoring defense (5.8 ppg), total defense (101.5 ypg), rushing defense (11.6 ypg) and pass defense (89.9 ypg). Overall, USF has out-scored the opponent 290-43 at home and shut-out five teams at Bob Young Field. On the year, seven of 12 opponents have failed to score a point and two teams have totaled minus-yards of offense. USF is one shut-out away from the national single-season record of eight.

That Sioux Falls defense will be tested based upon how potent the St. Francis offense is. Scoring an average of 48 points per game, the Cougars of St. Francis are No. 1 in the country in scoring offense. In six games this year, St. Francis has topped 50 points and hit 60 on three occasions. Running back and return specialist Daniel Carter is the spark as he has recorded 25 touchdowns this year. That total is a school single-season record for points scored. The St. Francis defense is no slouch either giving up a mere 12.0 points per contest and 240 yards of offense.

Rome-Floyd County and Shorter (Ga.) College will host the National Championship at Barron Stadium. The event will be televised live on CBS College Sports Network with kick-off slated for 12 p.m. EST. Analyst Trev Alberts and play-by-play commentator Tom Hart will call the action. In addition, fans will have the opportunity to watch the broadcast live on their computers. The video steam may be purchased at www.cbssports.com. For ticket information, call (706) 233-7288 or click here to download the order form.

• Semifinal Pairings and Information | Saturday, Dec. 6 | CLICK HERE

Football Championship Series All-Time Meetings:

Carroll and Lindenwood – 1^st meeting in FCS

Sioux Falls and St. Francis – 2^nd meeting in FCS | Sioux Falls def. St. Francis 23-19 in 2006 National Championship

Football Championship Series Notes: Since 2000, the home team in the Semifinals stand with a 14-2 record – the hosts are 8-0 since 2004… St. Francis earns its sixth straight trip to the Semifinals in as many seasons while Sioux Falls is in its fourth straight Semifinal and Lindenwood is appearing in its first… Carroll is in its eighth Semifinal in the last nine seasons (the only non-appearance was 2006)… St. Francis leads the active group in consecutive FCS appearances with 10… Carroll holds the most current wins in the FCS with a 29-11 record after the First Round win over Dickinson State… St. Francis (Ind.) kept alive its home game winning streak at 52 in-a-row after the 31-20 Quarterfinal win over Cumberlands (Ky.)… Sioux Falls extended its home winning streak to 35 straight after the win on Nov. 29… Carroll has not lost (a span of 27 games) since the 2006 FCS Quarterfinals against St. Xavier (Ill.)… Sioux Falls is one shut-out shy of equaling the national season record of eight shut-outs… Three teams will enter the FCS Semifinals with an undefeated record -- Carroll, Sioux Falls, St. Francis… Two programs in this FCS hold at least one National Championship ring – Carroll (Mont.) has five followed by Sioux Falls (S.D.) with two.

Football Championship Series Records Set or Tied in the First Round: Lindenwood (65) and Lambuth (48) combined to tie the most combined points (113) joining Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Western Montana for the all-time high… Lambuth set the most first downs (41) ever breaking the 38 by Hardin-Simmons (Texas) in 1994… The 108 total plays by Lambuth set the record breaking the 106 by Hardin-Simmons in 1994… Morningside QB Ian Gilworth threw a FCS record seven touchdowns breaking the 6 done six times with the last occurrence coming in 2000.

For complete Championship history and records, click here.

For more information on the 2008 National Championship, click here.

For scores and stats from the Football Championship Series Opening Round, click here.

For scores and stats from the Football Championship Series Quarterfinals, click here.