#1 MINNESOTA-DULUTH 20, DELTA STATE 17 (NCAA Championship Game)
Delta State’s Cinderella season came to a heartbreaking end at the NCAA Division II Title Game as the Statesmen fell to No. 1 Minnesota-Duluth (15-0) via a last second field goal, 20-17.
DSU tied the game on Matt Snyder’s 27-yard field goal with just 2:22 remaining, only to see UMD drive to the Statesmen’s 12-yard line and boot the go-ahead score.
UMD grabbed a 3-0 lead on the game’s opening possession, nailing a 32-yard field goal at 11:17. DSU fumbled the ensuing kickoff, but the Statesmen’s defense held firm, forcing the Bulldogs to punt. Delta State took advantage of a special-teams mishap to claim a 7-3 edge at 7:56. DSU returned a blocked punt to Minnesota-Duluth’s 11-yard line and wide out Maurice Morris cashed-in, via an eight-yard touchdown grab.
UMD answered on the next drive, taking a 10-7 lead with 2:55 remaining in the first quarter. The Statesmen moved deep into UMD territory on their next two possessions, but came away with zero points after a fumble on the 22-yard line and a missed fourth-and-goal conversion. Delta State finally lit scoreboard with 1:09 left in the first half, when wide receiver LJ Castile caught a 28-yard TD. The Bulldogs drove inside DSU territory towards the end of the half, only to miss a 48-yard field goal.
Special teams’ errors continued to haunt both teams in the third quarter. The Statesmen were forced to punt on their first possession of the second half, but could only muster an 11-yard attempt. Minnesota-Duluth did not benefit, when a bobbled snap resulted in a missed field goal attempt. Delta State’s offense found traction in its second possession, driving to the UMD six-yard line but the Bulldogs stuffed another fourth-and-goal try.
Minnesota-Duluth claimed its third lead of the game with 8:13 left to play, thanks to a 12-yard scoring rush. DSU’s defense made more noise, recovering a fumble at the UMD 26-yard line with six minutes on the clock. The Statesmen drove to the Bulldogs’ one-yard line, but a false start penalty forced the game-tying field goal.
DSU quarterback Micah Davis completed 24-of-35 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns. Castile led all players with seven catches for 80 yards.
The loss put the caps on a great season for Delta State (11-4), which became just the third three-loss team and first nationally unranked team to make it to the Title Game. GSC teams are now 92-55 all-time in the NCAA post-season and suffered their first Title Game loss in the past three appearances dating back to 2004.