Dec. 16, 2006

Notes / Quotes / Final Statistics / Video Highlights

HARDIN COUNTY, Tenn. - The University of Sioux Falls (S.D.) recorded a 23-19 victory Saturday against the University of St. Francis (Ind.) in the 51st Annual NAIA Football National Championship at Jim Carroll Stadium in Savannah, Tenn.

In the first football national title game with teams featuring the same initials (USF) and mascot (Cougars), Sioux Falls broke a 13-13 halftime tie by scoring 10 points in a four-minute span of the third quarter. Sioux Falls, the No. 2-ranked team in the NAIA, then held off a late challenge from St. Francis to complete a perfect 14-0 season. The national championship was the second for Sioux Falls, the first coming in 1996 during the inaugural title game held in Hardin County.

Sioux Falls won despite being outgained 349-214 in total offense by St. Francis. In addition, Sioux Falls ran 46 offensive plays to 83 for St. Francis. However, the Sioux Falls defense forced four turnovers, including three fumbles.

"It hasn't quite hit me yet but I hope it does soon," said Sioux Falls head coach Kalen DeBoer. "What a special time this was for our guys, showing a lot of heart, determination and playing with our backs against the wall many times. That's what you expect in these kinds of games for the national championship and its atmosphere." DeBoer was an NAIA All-America wide receiver at Sioux Falls the last time the Cougars captured the NAIA national championship in 1996.

A crowd of 5,805 was treated to a scoring outburst by both teams in the first quarter. St. Francis took the opening kickoff and marched 80 yards in 11 plays, capped by a two-yard scoring run by Marcus Rush. The extra point gave St. Francis a 7-0 lead. Sioux Falls needed just four plays to answer as Chad Cavender connected with Dusty Havorka on a 37-yard touchdown pass to pull within 7-6. The point after was blocked by St. Francis' William Knepper.

St. Francis scored on its next possession when Eric Hooks tossed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Brian Kurtz, the 2006 NAIA Player of the Year. The reception was just the third of the season for Kurtz, who is a starting linebacker for the NAIA's top-ranked team. All three catches resulted in touchdowns for St. Francis. The Cougars then missed the extra point to make the score 13-7.

Trey Erickson then closed out the scoring frenzy in the first quarter by taking the ensuing kickoff and racing 89 yards for a touchdown. Matt Lindgren's extra point knotted the score at 13-13 with just 1:44 left in the period.

"Everyone thought I was going out of bounds, I guess," said Erickson. "I came through a hole and got around one block, got his hands down and then just started sprinting."

Following a scoreless second quarter, Sioux Falls took its first lead of the game, 16-13, at the 11:18 mark of the third quarter when Lindgren kicked a 23-yard field goal. Just under four minutes later, Mike Dvoracek scored from one yard out, and Lindgren's point after extended the Sioux Falls lead to 23-13.

St. Francis closed out the scoring on the final play of the game when reserve quarterback Jeff Wedding tossed a one-yard touchdown pass to Taylor Vieck.

Cavender, who was named the game's Outstanding Offensive Player, completed 15-of-21 pass attempts for 155 yards. His favorite target was Josiah Fenceroy, who grabbed five passes for 60 yards.

"Our defense started making stops and getting turnovers," said Cavender. "We got the ball in good field position and did what we had to do today. We made mistakes but we knew it was our game to win and we did what we had to do to win."

Matt Miller and Dan DeJong led the defensive effort for Sioux Falls with 10 tackles each. Miller also had 2.5 tackles for loss, including a quarterback sack, and a forced fumble. DeJong added two pass break-ups and a forced fumble.

St. Francis quarterback Eric Hooks completed 21-of-39 passes for 193 yards before leaving with an injury late in the fourth quarter. Wedding was 4-of-8 for 39 yards on the final drive. Nine different receivers caught at least one pass for St. Francis. Daniel Carter gained a game-high 74 yards rushing on 10 carries for St. Francis.

"It was a heck of a rebuilding year for us," said St. Francis head coach Kevin Donley, whose team lost 19 seniors from the 2005 squad. "To get this far we've got to give a lot of credit to our players and coaches. Obviously we're disappointed in not winning the game, but at the same time we hold our heads high. We've got kids and a program of character."

Sophomore defensive lineman Tim Farrell of St. Francis was selected as the Outstanding Defensive Player in the NAIA championship game. He registered four tackles, including a quarterback sack. Farrell also had an interception that was returned 46 yards.