The 2023 NCAA Division III Football Championship Game, more commonly referred to as the 2023 Stagg Bowl or Stagg Bowl L, was a postseason college football game scheduled played on December 15, 2023, at Salem Football Stadium in Salem, Virginia. It determined a national champion in NCAA Division III for the 2023 season. The game began at 7:00 p.m. EST, and aired on ESPNU. The game featured the two finalists of the 32-team single elimination playoff bracket, Cortland and North Central; Cortland won 38–37 to claim their first national championship.
The participants of the 2023 NCAA Division III Football Championship Game were the finalists of the 2023 Division III Playoffs, a 32-team single elimination brackets tournament which began on November 18. The winners of each of the four 8-team regions qualified for the national semifinals.[1]
2023 Stagg Bowl
| Quarter |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
| Cortland |
0 |
3 |
14 | 21 | 38 |
| North Central |
0 |
7 |
10 | 20 | 37 |
at Salem Football Stadium • Salem, Virginia
- Date: Friday, December 15, 2023
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Clear • Temperature: 45 °F (7 °C) • Wind: E 0 mph
- Game attendance: 3,381
- Referee: Justin Ackley
- TV: ESPNU
| Scoring summary
|
| Quarter
|
Time
|
Drive
|
Team
|
Scoring information
|
Score
|
| Plays
|
Yards
|
TOP
|
Cortland
|
North Central
|
| 2
|
0:57
|
15
|
92
|
6:21
|
North Central
|
Charles Coleman 7-yard touchdown reception from Luke Lehnen, Sean Ryniec kick good
|
0
|
7
|
| 2
|
0:02
|
7
|
55
|
0:55
|
Cortland
|
31-yard field goal by Mike Baloga
|
3
|
7
|
| 3
|
11:33
|
7
|
72
|
3:27
|
Cortland
|
Cole Burgess 9-yard touchdown reception from Zac Boyes, Mike Baloga kick good
|
10
|
7
|
| 3
|
6:34
|
5
|
47
|
2:14
|
North Central
|
Joe Sacco 4-yard touchdown run, Sean Ryniec kick good
|
10
|
14
|
| 3
|
6:21
|
2
|
65
|
0:13
|
Cortland
|
JJ Laap 65-yard touchdown reception from Zac Boyes, Mike Baloga kick good
|
17
|
14
|
| 3
|
3:16
|
7
|
62
|
3:05
|
North Central
|
24-yard field goal by Sean Ryniec
|
17
|
17
|
| 4
|
14:56
|
8
|
73
|
3:20
|
Cortland
|
Joe Iadevaio 9-yard touchdown reception from Zac Boyes, Mike Baloga kick good
|
24
|
17
|
| 4
|
13:39
|
3
|
65
|
1:17
|
North Central
|
Luke Lehnen 4-yard touchdown run, Sean Ryniec kick good
|
24
|
24
|
| 4
|
8:16
|
10
|
63
|
5:23
|
Cortland
|
Joe Iadevaio 10-yard touchdown reception from Zac Boyes, Mike Baloga kick good
|
31
|
24
|
| 4
|
7:16
|
3
|
71
|
1:00
|
North Central
|
Luke Lehnen 64-yard touchdown run, Sean Ryniec kick good
|
31
|
31
|
| 4
|
1:41
|
10
|
73
|
5:35
|
Cortland
|
Cole Burgess 21-yard touchdown reception from Zac Boyes, Mike Baloga kick good
|
38
|
31
|
| 4
|
1:20
|
2
|
72
|
0:21
|
North Central
|
DeAngelo Hardy 60-yard touchdown reception from Luke Lehnen, 2-point run by Luke Lehnen was stopped short of the end zone
|
38
|
37
|
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.
|
38
|
37
|
|
Team statistical comparison[2]
| Statistic
|
Cortland
|
North Central
|
| First downs |
28 |
21
|
| First downs rushing |
18 |
7
|
| First downs passing |
9 |
14
|
| First downs penalty |
1 |
0
|
| Third down efficiency |
6–12 |
6–10
|
| Fourth down efficiency |
2–3 |
0–2
|
| Total plays–net yards |
71–503 |
58–583
|
| Rushing attempts–net yards |
37–154 |
41–404
|
| Yards per rush |
4.2 |
9.9
|
| Yards passing |
349 |
179
|
| Pass completions–attempts |
26–34 |
8–17
|
| Interceptions thrown |
0 |
0
|
| Punt returns–total yards |
0–0 |
0–0
|
| Kickoff returns–total yards |
5–105 |
6–136
|
| Punts–average yardage |
2–27.5 |
1–47
|
| Fumbles–lost |
0–0 |
1–1
|
| Penalties–yards |
2–10 |
6–64
|
| Time of possession |
32:43 |
27:17
|
|
|
|
