Defense does indeed win championships and for the University of Minnesota Duluth that meant claiming the biggest title NCAA Division II football has to offer.
The Bulldogs, buoyed by a defensive unit which has been nothing short of stifling all year long, put a huge exclamation mark on a season for the ages by holding off No. 3 Northwest Missouri State University 21-14 in the NCAA II championship at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Ala. With the historic victory, UMD finishes the year a perfect 15-0 -- one of only three NCAA II schools to ever reach that mark.
“All I can say is 'wow,'” said UMD head coach Bob Nielson, whose club completed the greatest one-year turnaround (they were 4-6 one year ago) since the NCAA II began keeping that statistic in 1996. “The kind of win we had today really speaks to the character of our football team. They never give up and are always supportive of one another, no matter what the circumstances. Today's game is simply a great ending to a great, great year.”
For the 14th time in 15 games this season, No. 6 UMD got on the scoreboard first when senior wide receiver Tony Doherty hauled in a 38-yard touchdown catch from senior All-American quarterback Ted Schalfke with 14 seconds remaining in the opening half. The Bulldogs extended their lead to 14-0 midway though the third quarter on a Schalfke-to-Isaac Odim scoring strike from five yards out before Odim made it 21-0 a liitle more than a minute into the fourth quarter by plowing ahead for his school-record 30th overall touchdown on the year.
Northwest Missouri added a pair of scores in the last eight minutes of regulation – a 44-yard interception return by Aldwin Foster-Rettig and a one-yard touchdown reception by Ralphael Robinson to pull to within seven. But, on the ensuing kickoff following Robinson's touchdown, Northwest Missouri State attempted an onside kick which was smothered by Bulldog senior Luke Schalekamp sealing UMD's first NCAA II championship in any sport.
“That touchdown just before halftime was a big momentum builder for us,” said Schlafke, who broke the last remaining UMD passing or total offense record he didn't own by throwing his 34th and 35th touchdown passes of the season. “We managed the clock pretty well (by driving 75 yards on six plays in just 1:03) and the touchdown was on a route we actually haven't thrown all year.”
Northwest Missouri State, competing in its fourth consecutive NCAA II championship game, came into the afternoon sporting the fifth highest scoring offense in the nation. The Bearcats managed just 106 yards on the ground (on 32 carries) and coughed the ball up four times – two fumbles and two interceptions. The quarterbacking tandem of Joel Osborn and Blake Bolles combined for 189 yards while completing 18 of 30 passes, but were also sacked six times – twice by senior outside linebacker Ben Loth and senior defensive end Drew Fautsch.
“We did some really effective things with our pass rush today,” said sophomore inside linebacker Robbie Aurich, who was credited with a game-high 13 total tackles. “I thought our defensive coordinator John Steger developed a terrific game plan and we went out and executed it.”
Although Odim failed to eclipse the 100-yard rushing mark for the first time in his last eight outings the sophomore running back did run 21 times for 69 yards to pace the Bulldogs. Schlafke, making his school-record 47th consecutive start, was 14-of-22 for 128 yards and was picked off twice.
The Bulldogs, playing in front of crowd 6,219 and a national television audience for the third time this season, racked up 273 yards of total offense while the Bearcats (13-2 overall) finished with 295.
But it was UMD's defense, which allowed only four touchdowns during their four-game postseason run against a quartet of Top 12 clubs, that proved to be the difference maker.
“Anytime you can control a very talented rushing attack like Northwest Missouri's and force them throw the ball a little more than they like – that's where it all starts,” said Nielson. “We have been tough against the run all season and today was no exception.”
The game marked the farewell appearance for 12 Bulldogs seniors, all of whom began their collegiate careers at UMD and helped lead the Bulldogs to a 33-14 overall record, two conference championships (the 2005 North Central Conference crown and the NSIC title this fall) and a pair of NCAA II playoff berths (2005 and 2008). That group included Schlafke, Doherty, Schalekamp, Loth and Fautsch, offensive guards Nate Baier and Matt Horvath, outside linebacker Jake Comnick, defensive end Dustin Timmersman, offensive tackle Mitch Cady, strong safety Jim Johnson, and free safety Tyler Yelk. Eleven of the one dozen UMD seniors were full-time starters.
“This is my 16th year as a head coach and I don't think I've ever had senior class that has the kind of leaders that this one does,” said Nielson. “They are just a great group of kids who make players around them better. What a fitting way for them to go out.”
