Football | 12/17/2016 8:18:18 PM

Kansas City, Kan. – On a cold snow day at Children’s Mercy Park Northwest Missouri forced three North Alabama turnovers and held the Lions to just 201 yards as they earned a 29-3 win to claim their sixth NCAA Division II National Title in football.

Northwest Missouri broke a scoreless tie with 3:53 to go in the second quarter as Randy Schmidt found Jordan Grove seven-yards deep in the end zone. North Alabama would answer with 53 seconds left on the clock as Kevin Henke connected on a 21-yard field goal making a 7-3 halftime lead for NWMSU.
 
Following a UNA turnover NWMSU got a two-yard touchdown run from Phil Jackson to make it a 14-3 lead with 5:57 to go in the third quarter.
 
In the fourth quarter the Bearcats opened the scoring with a safety on a fumbled punt by UNA. Shane Williams then took a 13-yard pass from Kyle Zimmerman with 6:12 to go to make it a 22-3 edge. Jackson would then score for a second time this, time from ten yards out with just 57-second left on the clock.

Zimmerman finished 13 of 26 for 100 yards and a touchdown while Schmidt added 96 yards on the ground. Jackson finished with 76 yards rushing on 14 carries while finding the end zone twice. On defense Cass Wietl set a new championship game record with five tackles for a loss finishing with 10 total tackles and 2.5 sacks on the day. Jack Young picked off a UNA pass while Cameron Wilcox and Ben Spaeth finished with fumble recoveries.
 
Northwest Missouri now holds the NCAA Division II National Record for Championship Game wins with six.
 
NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE NOTES
·       Cass Weitl's five tackles for a loss sets a new record for tackles for a loss in the Division II championship game. The previous record was four set by former Bearcat Collin Bevins in last years championship game.
·       Chama Pierre sets a new National Championship Game Record for pass break-ups with three in the first half. 
·       Bearcat senior class is 54-2 over their time at Northwest Missouri State – the best winning percentage in program history for a senior class.
·       Northwest gave up zero first quarter points in the playoffs this year.
·        It was the ninth time NW Missouri held its opponent scoreless in the first quarter this season.
·        It was the second time NW Missouri was held scoreless in the first quarter this season.
·        Seven is the fewest points scored by NW Missouri in the first half this season