Cortland conquers North Central for 1st D-III title

Dec 15, 2023, 11:55 PM ET SALEM, Va.– Zac Boyes threw for 349 yards and five goals and hurried for 123 yards, Cortland stopped a 2-point conversion attempt with 90 seconds staying, and the Red Dragons beat protecting champion North Central 38-37 on Friday night for their first NCAA Department III championship.Cortland (14-1), playing in the Stagg Bowl for the first time in program history, handed North Central (14-1)its very first loss since the 2021 championship game. The Cardinals, in their fourth straight title game, won the 2019 national title in addition to last year.Both teams scored in the final 1:41-with North Central electing to opt for 2 instead of a prospective connecting additional point with 1:20 to go. Quarterback Luke Lehnen was packed on a run to the left side and Cortland recuperated an onside kick and ran out the clock. “It suggests whatever. I was over there speaking with the officials on the sideline when we were kneeling it out and I’m like’We can kneel it, right? We can kneel it out and clock’s at no’and he said yes, “Cortland coach Curt Fitzpatrick said.”I can’t believe it. It’s amazing. I’m so proud of our players and coaches and our fan base that drove seven hours to be here. “Cortland converted on a fourth-and-5 play near midfield with 3:49 to go in the 4th quarter and Cole Burgess ended the drive with a catch in the backfield before racing down the sideline for a 21-yard touchdown.North Central scored 21 seconds later on when DeAngelo Hardy was left large open over the middle of the field and he cut down a defender to race for a 60-yard goal. The Cardinals, who balance 60 points per game and hardly ever kick basket, were rejected back-to-back championship on the objective line.North Central went into with the nation’s longest active win streak with 29. South Dakota State, which won its FCS semifinal game on Friday, has 28 straight wins, followed by Washington(20), Florida State(19)and Department II Harding(18). The Red Dragons’journey to the title game included three road success and one at home- ending in a 12th straight victory.Three of the first 4 drives of the game ended in fourth down drop in the red zone.Cortland prevented being nothing in the very first

half of a game for the first time given that 2016 when it drove 55 lawns in 51 seconds – aided by a 15-yard charge -to get

within 7-3 after Mike Baloga’s 31-yard field goal.Cortland began the 2nd half with a 7 play, 72-yard drive

ending in Burgess’9-yard goal grab for a 10-7 lead. A video replay overturned the call on the field as Burgess got a foot down before going out of bounds.It was just the 2nd time all season that North Central routed

in a game-with the other coming in the 4th quarter of the semifinals.North Central connected it at 31-all with 7:16 staying on Lehnen’s 64-yard run.Lehnen, who won the Gagliardi Prize, the premier D-III specific award, tossed for 179 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 159 yards and another rating for North Central. Joe Sacco included 159 lawns hurrying, including his 20th rushing touchdown of the season, to reach the 100-yard mark for the 11th time this season. Hardy made five catches for 146 yards and a touchdown.Boyes ended up being

the 2nd quarterback in school history to throw for 300 lawns and rush for 100. Burgess finished with 11 catches for 134 lawns and two touchdowns for Cortland. Joe Iadevaio also had 2 touchdown grabs and 95 yards. JJ Laap made 2 catches for 75 yards and a score.North Central’s 3rd made basket of the season-in 3 attempts -came with 3:16 left in the third quarter to tie it at 17-all.