S137 National Championship
Dan Nessler "Welcome to the beautiful scenery of Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas to host the Season 138 National Championship between the Virginia State Trojans versus the North Alabama Lions. My name is Dan Nessler and I'm here with Rockin' A-Rod Rockne to cover two teams that were not supposed to be here but proved the nation wrong.
Rockin' A-Rod "That's right Dan, we got two big fish in one small pond and that pond ain't big enough for both of them. Someone gettin' cooked tonight!"
Dan Nessler "Well... it's a beautiful afternoon, partly cloudy skies and a warm 68 degrees which should be ideal conditions for two high powered passing offenses."
Rockin' A-Rod "Dan, I took the time to break down these teams and I gotta tell ya... That Catfish_jack has some special lures to catch his fish... I mean, these ain't your basic lures like the Curly Tail Grub lures, no, he has that old school Michael Dixon lure. You know the one that can put 28 receptions for 400+ yards on ya in one game!"
Dan Nessler "Indeed, Michael Dixon (70 Ath, 80 Spd, 80 Hnds, 68 GI, 86 Elu) who broke the Division 2 reception, yards and touchdown records for a season."
Rockin' A-Rod "A complete nightmare for opposing defenses to contain. He takes a 60 core rated QB and makes him look like an 80!"
Dan Nessler "North Alabama no doubt had to study film on the guy and will need an answer. Virginia St. had to battle it's way through the Northern Bracket with wins over ND State 52-0, Tusculum 54-51, Bloomsburg 70-21 and Presbyterian 44-24. They greatly relied on Dixon who averaged 28 receptions for 424 yards per game.
Their opponent North Alabama, is coached by Fazbear05 who quit his job in NC Central to take over a struggling NAU team four seasons ago in hopes of reaching the National Championship. After reaching the quarterfinals in year 2, they lost in the first round last season and some speculation was starting to set in within the alumni.
Rockin' A-Rod "When you take over one of the all-time winning programs, the expectations are high!"
Dan Nessler "You're talking real life A-Rod, GD is not real life."
Rockin' A-Rod " Well, I gotta say is Fazbear was determined. He played the regular season like a giant by taking down Valdosta State and clinching the Gulf South Conference. Hey man... They battled it out against some of the toughest teams you can throw at the them in Division 2 football. As good as those teams are, you could call them D-1AA programs.
Dan Nessler "As out there as you are A-Rod, I would have to agree with some of your comments. Led by a stellar talent at quarterback is senior QB Peter Campbell who led a high octane passing attack to beat N. Dakota 68-6, W. New Mexico 68-10, Northern Michigan (Defending Champ) 27-20 and Ferris State 41-34.
Rockin' A-Rod "Those wins over NMU and FSU are lights out, Grade A-Rod in my book!"
First Quarter
Dan Nessler "North Alabama sets the tone early, by jumping out to a 14-0 lead with 7:49 left in the quarter. QB Peter Campbell sets to the tone on the first drive, but it was the back-up QB David Conn who found Michael Alexander for 33 yards to cap off a 14 point run. This team obviously has the depth to put up points, does Virginia State have an answer?"
Rockne A-Rod "Impressive drives by NAU, 6 plays for 88 yards then 5 for 80 yards, it doesn't get better than that! They are split between the RB and WR for targets in this one. If Ol' Catfish_jack wants to win this, he better find himself a better fishin' hole!"
Dan Nessler "Virginia State jumps on the board! What a change of pace that was, they put together a 9 play 53 yard drive and finish with a handoff to RB Carl Cox for 3 yards! VSU now trailing 14-7, with 3:49 left in the quarter."
Rockne A-Rod "Not only did Jack find a new fishing hole, but Dixon ain't the only lure in his tackle box! Now their defense has to show up and play football here."
Second Quarter
Dan Nessler "Both teams have settled down and the defensive units have shown up. UNA stalls on 2 series and has to punt the ball and after VSU's 11 play for 33 yards that ended in a punt, I'm not sure they are going to be able to move the ball against that Alabama defense?"
Rockne A-Rod "Most 11 play drives don't last only 3 minutes, Jack is going to have to figure out how they are shutting down Dixon here."
... Punt
... Punt
... Punt
Dan Nessler "Well make that two stalled series that lasted a total of 17 plays for only 58 yards. Alabama is going to have the ball in great field position here."
Rockne A-Rod "That was big, nice play there on defense!"
Dan Nessler "Looks like there is a man down, we will pause for a commercial break, this is the Division 2 National Championship."
Dan Nessler "And we are back, the beautiful Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas where North Alabama leads 14-7 over Virginia State. It's been a defensive grind since the opening scores."
Rockne A-Rod "That was a nice play by VSU finding Dixon there for 23 yards. It looks like VSU should put some points on the board on this drive."
Dan Nessler "Indeed, and the field goal unit lines up for the snap... and it's good! 39 yard field goal by Chris Fuller puts NAU up 17-7."
Rockne A-Rod "That guy has the leg of a cannon, a red shirt freshman making 85% of his kicks! If I was coaching, he would be kicking from our own 45!"
Dan Nessler "It looks like Virginia has a good kicker of their own, 45 yards by Jerry Peoples to finish an 8 play drive! Virginia trails now 17-10."
Rockne A-Rod "That was a nice kick, but if it was my choice... I'd take that Fuller kid. Leg like a cannon!"
Dan Nessler "Peter Campbell has been impressive on the return drive here. Finding RB Michael Brandon was huge in this one on a 3 play 55 yard drive."
Rockne A-Rod "And Fazbear does it again! This Campbell kid is just fire! Fire from the hole! Watchout."
Dan Nessler "Peter Campbell to Michael Brandon for 9 yards and another touchdown! Is this a show or what? 24-10, North Alabama leads."
Rockne A-Rod "I've went to a few shows in my time and I tell ya, they rarely keep me entertained all the way through. This game gets the grade A-Rod in my book! Alabama is running away this one."
Dan Nessler "Not too fast A-Rod, with 5:44 on the clock, Virginia State looked unstoppable on a 8 play 65 yard drive with a pass over the middle to WR Michael Dixon for 12 yards and the touchdown! NAU up 24-17. That looked like the team we have watched all season, just amazing patience by QB James Dalton to find Dixon between the safeties."
Rockne A-Rod "Dixon is incredible, D-1A talent who had some off the field issues and none of the top programs would recruit him! Those NFL scouts are licking their chops for this guy."
Dan Nessler "And their defense steps up! They force Alabama to go 3 and out taking off only :33 seconds off the clock. They should have about a minute and half to try for another score here. It's a nice punt... so it's Virginia States ball and they need 72 yards to tie up with 1:39 left on the clock. A-Rod, what's Catfish_jack thinking on this drive?"
Rockne A-Rod "You gotta give it to the guy who got you here, give Dalton some time with good protection and just feed the beast!"
Dan Nessler "Huge play to Dixon down the sideline! 5 plays into the series, they only need 9 yards! The Trojan's hurry up to the line with the clocking ticking, Dalton pump fakes to Dixon outside, finds Timothy Dunlap over the middle for 9 yards and a touchdown! They tie it up! They tie it at the half 24-24! A-rod, we got ourselves a ball game here."
Rockne A-Rod "That's the ol' fake a roo... like we use to call it my glory days. Fake it to your stud and give it to the guy no one is worried about, the backup!"
Dan Nessler "Well A-Rod, this game is really a story about two different quarters. North Alabama jumped out to an early lead 14-7 and then stretched the lead at one point to 24-10. What a comeback in the 2nd quarter by Virginia St though scoring two touchdowns with less than 2 minutes on the clock. We are all tied up in this one 24-24, the teams have left the locker room and we are about to kickoff the second half!"
Rockne A-Rod "Great contest, QB Peter Campbell is dishing out air strikes and could break 500 yards this game. Meanwhile, Dixon looks to be unstoppable and watch out for their running back Carl Cox, this guy may break 100 yards on the ground!"
3rd Quarter
... Punt
Dan Nessler "Well that didn't take long! Virginia State gets a great punt return and gets the ball at their own 47 yard line. Great return to spark the team. Look out, 33 yard pass over the middle again, it's Dalton to Dixon and look out, VSU takes the lead 31-24!"
Rockne A-Rod "That return not only sparked the crowd, it sent electricity through the stadium! This crowd is going crazy, two words Fed EX. The Trojan fans must of been shipped same day and just showed up, because I don't remember them being here in the 1st quarter!"
... Punt
... Punt
... Punt
Dan Nessler "Well, both teams have really settled down again in a series of 3 and out drives. I'm not sure which team has the tempo now, but North Alabama is going to try here for a 48 yard field goal to pull within 4. The kick is up... it's got the distance... it's good! 48 yard field goal by Chris Fuller and North Alabama trails 31-27 with 3:50 left in the 3rd quarter."
Rockne A-Rod "That guy has the leg of a cannon, a red shirt freshman making 85% of his kicks! If I was coaching, he would be kicking from"
Dan Nessler "We know A-Rod.. your own 45 yard line."
Rockne A-Rod "Well.. (laughs) I'd rather let him kick it from anywhere than punt, because you saw how poor their special teams was to start the second half!"
... Punt
Dan Nessler "A-Rod looks like you were right, N. Alabama's special teams is not performing well. They should of let that punt go in the endzone, it's 1st and 10 on their own 1 yard line."
Rockne A-Rod "It's not the best position to be in for an all passing team, I'll tell you that. Campbell has been slinging the ball down field all day, but they also are getting some heat. Not like warm you up heat, but like Mama's heat when she catches you in her kitchen!"
Dan Nessler (laughs) "That's right and we all know about your Mama's heat, I've been over for dinner on a couple occassions."
Rockne A-Rod (awkward pause)
Dan Nessler "3rd and 10, Campbell drops back... Oh!! He didn't see that coming, big sack for VSU and the safety! There was that pressure again and you could clearly see there was some confusing on blocking assignments up front. Virginia State leads 33-27."
Rockne A-Rod "David Thomas broke through the line like a raging wolverine, there was no fear that guy. He just ran through them, lights out!"
Dan Nessler "No doubt and Campbell is still down getting looked at. What a devastating hit, hopefully Campbell can return the game."
4th Quarter
Dan Nessler "Back-up quarterback David Conn has been putting together a pretty solid drive here but appears that he may have a slight limp as he heads to the sideline. In comes 3rd string Pedro Elliot who is a redshirt freshman and completed about 60% of his limited throws this season."
Rockne A-Rod "Nothing like taking out the trash... But Hey, someones trash is another coaches treasure! They drove 11 plays to get down to VSU's 6 yard line. Talk about pressure, this is the time for this kid show he's a star... I like it!"
Dan Nessler "Elliot under heavy pressure... Scrambles out... pass on the way, touchdown!! 6 yard pass to James Johnson! Who is James Johnson?? Another back-up, we will have to look into that"
Rockne A-Rod "Some teams play their entire roster, even in the biggest game of the season! I don't get it, but that's a real nut check in moments like this. North Alabama leads 34-33!"
... Punt
Dan Nessler "North Alabama has really played a great game up to this point. If they didn't have a couple mishaps, they would be up by more. It looks like the field goal unit is coming on the field. This should just be a chip shot. It's up... and it's good! Chris Fuller nails another one from 20 yards out and North Alabama pulls away 37-33."
Rockne A-Rod "Dan, I change my mind. This kid can kick, punt, you name it. He's the full package, with a leg like a cannon!"
Dan Nessler "And it's a great kick off returned by the Trojans up to their own 39 yard line. They needed that return after punting on their last 5 series, we will see if they can finally get something going here"
Rockne A-Rod "Do you hear that Dan? Sounds like the horn was blown and now the Trojan's are coming!"
Dan Nessler "Sometimes I wonder A-Rod, if we are both watching the same game? The VSU crowd is... hand off to the outside to Cox and WOW! He has the speed to turn the corner and there is nobody that is going to catch him!! 25... 20... 15... 5... Touchdown!!! 48 yard run by Carl Cox who breaks 100 yards on that run and Virginia State now leads 40-37!!! Holy moly!"
Rockne A-Rod "I told ya the Trojan's are coming. I told ya to watch out for Carl Cox, he's the sleeper! I wrote an article about the guy as my fantasy sleeper pick this season."
Dan Nessler "Well, Catfish_jacks pulls out a trick lure there and when Alabama was thinking Dixon, they baited the safety up to help cover and wow. This is a great game. 7:56 left on the clock, still enough time for Fazbear to come back.
Rockne A-Rod "Plays like that Dan can really break the momentum for the other team."
... Punt 1:24 off the clock
... Punt 1:38 off the clock
... Punt :28 off the clock
... Punt :58 off the clock
Dan Nessler "Well here it is, 4th down and 8 yards to go on their own 14 yard line. I don't know if I agree to go for it with over 2:50 minutes still left on the clock. Ohhh it the pass goes incomplete. That could be the game, but they still have time outs left. VSU gets the ball, 1st & 10 on North Alabama's 16 yard line."
Rockne A-Rod "Fazbear is a great coach, they're going to try to pull out their own tricks here. Do they let them just score even though they are down by 3?"
Dan Nessler "A risky strategy, but they do have enough time on the clock to try and score again and then onside kick."
Dan Nessler "It looks like they are gonna run some clock as they pick up the 1st down. This one could be over if they can wear down another minute, they just need to run out the final time outs."
Rockne A-Rod "You want to play it smart here, the last thing you do is do something stupid."
Dan Nessler "I will have to agree with that A-Rod... This should be a run to work the clock. Dalton lines up, takes the snap... No run! Pass is up and caught, Touchdown! Michael Dixon pulls in an amazing catch for 7 yards and this one is over. Virginia State pulls ahead 47-37 with only 1:28 left in the game."
Virginia State wins 47-37
over North Alabama
Dan Nessler "What an exciting game and finish it was, as Virginia State and Catfish_jack pull out a 47-37 win in a barn burner! MVP hands down is Michael Dixon who had an historic performance this season. For N. Alabama it would have to go to their quarterback Peter Campbell who played really well despite the loss."
Rockne A-Rod "Michael Dixon is special, he was really a talent you don't see very often. I would think that name will be in the record books for a long time. Hat's off to the coaching staff at Virginia State, Catfish_Jack made the most of his special lure."
Total Offense: 607 UNA, 524 VSU
Passing Yards: 629 UNA, 397 VSU Rushing Yards: -22 UNA, 127 VSU Penalties: 3-15 UNA, 1-10 VSU Turnovers: 0 UNA, 0 VSU Time of Possession: 28:48 UNA, 31:12 VSU