2020–21 NAIA football national championship

The 2020–21 NAIA football national championship was a four-round, sixteen team tournament played between April 17 and May 10, 2021. The tournament concluded with a single game, played as the 65th Annual NAIA Football National Championship.

2020 NAIA Football National Championship
1234 Total
Northwestern 0760 13
Lindsey Wilson 7101414 45
DateMay 10[a], 2020
Season2020–21
StadiumEddie Robinson Stadium
LocationGrambling, Louisiana
MVPCameron Dukes (QB, Lindsey Wilson) (Offensive)
Michael Leslie (DB, Lindsey Wilson) (Defensive)
RefereeCraig Demaree
Attendance0
NAIA Football National Championship
 < 2019  2021

The championship game was played at Eddie Robinson Stadium in Grambling, Louisiana, between the 11–1 No. 6 Northwestern Red Raiders, representing Northwestern College from Orange City, Iowa, and the undefeated No. 3 Lindsey Wilson Blue Raiders, representing Lindsey Wilson College from Columbia, Kentucky. This was the second time the championship game was played at this venue with the previous year's game also taking place there. The game was played on May 10, 2021, with kickoff at 6:00 p.m. EST (5:00 p.m. local CST).

Teams

edit

Northwestern (IA)

edit

The Northwestern Red Raiders, led by 5th-year head coach Matt McCarty, entered the national championship game as the No. 6 seed. They were seeking to win their third national championship overall and first non-NAIA Division II national championship, having won in 1973 and 1983. They entered the game 11–1, 8–1 in GPAC play.

Lindsey Wilson

edit

The Lindsey Wilson Blue Raiders, led by 11th-year head coach Chris Oliver, entered the national championship game as the No. 3 seed and were looking to win the program's first-ever NAIA National Championship.[1][2] They entered the game 10–0, 7–0 in MSC Bluegrass Division play.

Series history

edit

This game was both teams' first time playing each other.

Game summary

edit

[3]

2020 NAIA Football National Championship Game
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 6 Northwestern (IA) 0 7 6013
No. 3 Lindsey Wilson 7 10 141445

at Eddie Robinson StadiumGrambling, Louisiana

  • Date: Saturday, May 10, 2023
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. EST (5:00 p.m. CST)
  • Game weather: • Temperature: 63 °F (17 °C) • Wind: Calm
  • Game attendance: 0
  • Referee: Craig Demaree
Game information
First Quarter
  • (4:48) LWC – Cameron Dukes 1-yard run, Ian Sauter kick (Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards, 5:38; Lindsey Wilson 7–0)
Second Quarter
  • (12:21) LWC – Ian Sauter 33-yard kick (Drive: 4 plays, 2 yards, 1:48; Lindsey Wilson 10–0)
  • (7:13) LWC – Noel Patterson 41-yard run, Ian Sauter kick (Drive: 7 plays, 73 yards, 3:11; Lindsey Wilson 17–0)
  • (0:11) NWC – Blake Fryar 1-yard pass to Konner McQuillan, Eli Sader kick (Drive: 17 plays, 75 yards, 7:02; Lindsey Wilson 17–7)
Third Quarter
  • (11:26) LWC – Cameron Dukes 2-yard run, Eli Sader kick (Drive: 8 plays, 61 yards, 3:34; Lindsey Wilson 24–7)
  • (8:20) LWC – Kobe Belcher 1-yard run, Eli Sader kick (Drive: 3 plays, 47 yards, 0:39; Lindsey Wilson 31–7)
  • (0:38) NWC – Blake Fryar 11-yard pass to Shane Solberg, Michael Storey 2-point pass failed (Drive: 11 plays, 99 yards, 5:03; Lindsey Wilson 31–13)
Fourth Quarter
  • (7:53) LWC – Cameron Dukes 3-yard run, Ian Sauter kick (Drive: 14 plays, 45 yards, 7:45; Lindsey Wilson 38–13)
  • (4:09) LWC – Cameron Evans 6-yard run, Ian Sauter kick (Drive: 3 plays, 15 yards, 1:36; Lindsey Wilson 45–13)

Statistics

edit
Statistics NWC LWC
First downs 16 17
Total yards 231 347
Rushes–yards 32–74 40–190
Passing yards 157 157
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–32–0 18–24–0
Time of possession 28:50 31:10
Team Category Player Statistics
Northwestern (IA) Passing Blake Fryar 22/32, 157 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Blake Fryar 18 carries, 38 yards
Receiving Cade Moser 6 receptions, 54 yards
Lindsey Wilson Passing Cameron Dukes 18/24, 157 yards
Rushing Darius Clark 4 carries, 70 yards
Receiving Jaylen Boyd 4 receptions, 50 yards

Postseason playoffs

edit

A total of sixteen teams were selected to participate in the single-elimination tournament from across the country, with invitations that were revealed on Sunday, November 17, 2019. The field included twelve conference champions who received automatic bids. The field was then filled with at-large selections that were awarded to the highest ranked teams that were not conference champions. First-round seedings were based on the final regular-season edition of the 2020 NAIA Coaches' Poll, with certain minor modifications given based on travel and geographic considerations. Each subsequent round also saw minor modifications based on travel and the geography of the remaining teams.

Quarterfinal pairings were announced by the NAIA on November 23, after the first round results were known.

Semifinal pairings were announced by the NAIA on November 30, soon after completion of the day's quarterfinal games.[4]

1st Round
April 17, 2021
Quarterfinals
April 24, 2021
Semifinals
May 1, 2021
Championship
May 10, 2021
            
3 Lindsey Wilson 42
14 Bethel (KS) 10
3 Lindsey Wilson 49
5 Concordia (MI) 27
5 Concordia (MI) 21
12 Georgetown 7
3 Lindsey Wilson 38
4 Keiser 14
4 Keiser 63
15 Arizona Christian 21
4 Keiser 42
8 Reinhardt 14
8 Reinhardt 40
9 Marian (IN) 29
3 Lindsey Wilson 45
6 Northwestern (IA) 13
1 Morningside 55
16 Carroll 0
1 Morningside 45
7 Baker 29
7 Baker 59
10 Olivet Nazarene 54
1 Morningside 41
6 Northwestern (IA) 44
2 Grand View 38
13 Dordt 10
2 Grand View 24
6 Northwestern (IA) 27
6 Northwestern (IA) 31
11 Dickinson State 7

Notes

edit
  1. ^ Game was played on May 10, 2021, due to COVID-19.

References

edit
  1. ^ "NFF Recognizes 2020-21 FCS and NAIA National Champions". National Football Foundation. May 18, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  2. ^ "Blue Raiders Claim First Football National Championship". NAIA. May 10, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  3. ^ "Northwestern (Iowa) vs. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) - Box Score - 2021-05-10". NAIA. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  4. ^ "2020 Football Championship Schedule". NAIA. Retrieved November 20, 2023.