Dec. 20, 2008

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ROME, Ga. – The University of Sioux Falls (S.D.) held Carroll (Mont.) College to 194 yards of total offense in earning a 23-7 win in the 2008 Russell Athletic-NAIA Football National Championship today (Dec. 20) from Barron Stadium. The title is USF's third overall and second in the last three years. Sioux Falls (14-0), which set a school season record with 83 points allowed, avenges a 17-9 loss in the 2007 National Championship to Carroll.

The Championship Offensive Most Valuable Player, USF junior quarterback Lorenzo Brown, finished with 129 rushing yards on 19 carries (6.8 ypc) and 69 passing yards for one touchdown.

“It definitely feels good to win a national title,” said Brown, who becomes the third Cougar to be named Offensive MVP and first since quarterback Chad Cavender won it during the 2006 Championship title run. “This takes a huge burden off of my shoulders.”

The 53^rd event, hosted by Shorter College and Rome, Floyd County, came down to turnovers and field possession. Played in a steady rain for much of the game, the field was slick and muddy from the start. However, Brown mentions that the field conditions did not necessarily affect his play.

“The field held up pretty nice,” said Brown, “I was making my cuts and not really thinking about it.”

There was not much offense in the first quarter until the USF defense handed its offense great field position. Ranked No. 1 in the country in all major statistical categories, the USF defensive unit proved why in its first defensive stand. Carroll began its offense at the 17-yard line, but lost 10 yards on three plays and was forced to punt on a three-and-out. That gave USF great field possession after the punt.

The Cougars started at their own 43-yard line with 9:19 on the clock. Ten plays later, senior Matt Lindgren capped the drive with a 24-yard field goal. He handed the Cougars a 3-0 lead at the 3:16 mark of the first quarter. Brown rushed for 31 yards on four attempts during that drive.

The Carroll offense did not do much better on its second possession. Two rushes and one incomplete pass yielded minus-seven yards and USF was again in great position to force the pressure. Despite not gaining a first down on their ensuing possession, the Cougars of USF were holding an advantage in field position. On Carroll’s third possession, the Saints went without a first down and had to punt for the third straight time.

On the ensuing punt attempt, junior Kyle Cummings reached punter Zach Thiry and blocked the kick. The ball was then scooped up by sophomore Joe Moen at the 10-yard line. Moen returned it 10 yards and with 13:13 to go in the second quarter, the Cougars had the momentum and led 10-0.

Carroll appeared to hit an offensive stride on its next possession, going 42 yards, but the drive was thwarted on a lost fumble by freshman quarterback Matt Ritter. USF looked to go up 13-0 just before halftime but a 27-yard field goal attempt by Lindgren missed.

A Carroll offense, coming into the game with an average of 220.3 yards on the ground, tallied just 36 yards on 21 rushes in the first half.

Midway through the third, the Carroll offense put together an impressive 14-play drive but stalled at the USF 12-yard line. Down 10-0, the Saints needed to put at least some points on the board. But, a 19-yard field goal attempt by Thiry missed and the energy was deflated from the Carroll sidelines.

Sioux Falls seemingly put the game out of reach, thanks once again to the dynamic offensive skill of Brown. He used his running ability to break down the Carroll defense all day but he proved that he could pass the ball effectively. With 7:04 left in the game, he found a streaking Jon Ryan on the left sideline for a 54-yard touchdown pass.

Carroll avoided the shut-out less than a minute later when Ritter connected with wide receiver Travis Browne for a 39-yard touchdown. After a Connor Janhunen PAT kick, Carroll trailed 17-7.

The defense, which carried the team all season, put a trademark on the USF win. Forcing their fourth turnover of the day, the Cougars added a defensive touchdown late. Carroll’s Ritter was pressured in the pocket and fumbled the ball away, which was jumped on by junior Drew DeGroot. He rambled 30 yards into the endzone and the Cougars secured their third National Championship.

“This (moment) feels a lot better than when we lost last year,” said USF head coach Kalen DeBoer at his post-game press conference speech. “I feel really good with our effort and we continued to work. People didn’t see anything flashy today. We just let our guys play football because we have some very talented players.”

On the defensive side of the ball, Cummings was named the Championship Defensive Most Valuable Player. The junior linebacker had five total tackles (2 solo), 2.0 tackles-for-loss, 1.0 sack and the blocked punt that sprung life into Sioux Falls in the second quarter.

For Carroll, Ritter went 12-for-22 passing on the day for 132 yards. He threw two interceptions along with one touchdown. Sophomore John Camino rushed for a team-high 48 yards on 13 carries. Rawlings-NAIA Player of the Year, linebacker Owen Koeppen, led the Saints with nine total tackles including six solo stops.

The defensive numbers for Sioux Falls were again staggering. The Cougars compiled four sacks, forced two fumbles, picked off two passes and held Carroll to 1.6 yards per carry (62 total rushing yards.). No opposing rusher reached 50 yards against the USF defense in any game this season.

Carroll ends its season with a 13-1 record and had its 28-game winning streak snapped.