2016 NCAA Division II Football Championship Game

2016 NCAA Division II Football Championship
1234 Total
North Alabama 0300 3
Northwest Missouri State 07715 29
DateDecember 17, 2016
Season2016
StadiumChildren's Mercy Park
LocationKansas City, Kansas
RefereeBob Rose
Attendance9,576
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN2
NCAA Division II Football Championship
 < 2015 2017

The 2016 NCAA Division II Football Championship Game was a postseason college football game that determined a national champion in NCAA Division II for the 2016 season. It was played at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas, on December 17, 2016,[1] with kickoff at 4:00 p.m. EST (3:00 p.m. local CST), and television coverage on ESPN2.

Teams

The participants of the 2016 NCAA Division II Football Championship Game were the finalists of the 2016 Division II Playoffs, which began with four 7-team brackets to determine super region champions, who then qualified for the national semifinals.[2] The game featured the winners of those national semifinal games: No. 3 seed North Alabama and No. 1 seed Northwest Missouri State. This was the third meeting between the two teams; entering the game, Northwest Missouri State led the series 2–0.[3] This was the Bearcats' tenth championship game appearance, having won 5, while the Lions were making their fifth appearance, having won 3.[4] Additionally, the Bearcats entered the game as the defending national champions and were seeking to extend their streak to having won 3 of the last 4 national titles.

National semifinals

Super region champions were seeded 1 to 4 for the national semifinals.

Semifinals
December 10
Hosted by higher seeded team
National Championship
December 17
Children's Mercy Park, Kansas City, KS
      
1 Northwest Missouri State 35
4 Ferris State 20
1 Northwest Missouri State 29
3 North Alabama 3
2 Shepherd 13
3 North Alabama 23

Game summary

2016 NCAA Division II Football Championship Game
Quarter 1 2 34Total
No. 3 North Alabama 0 3 003
No. 1 Northwest Missouri State 0 7 71529

at Children's Mercy ParkKansas City, Kansas

  • Date: Saturday, December 17, 2016
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST (3:00 p.m. CST)
  • Game weather: Snowy • Temperature: 13 °F (−11 °C) • Wind: NNW 17 mph
  • Game attendance: 9,576
  • Referee: Bob Rose
  • TV announcers (ESPN2): Dave Neal (play-by-play), Tom Luginbill (analyst), Olivia Harlan (sideline)
  • Sources:[5]
Game information
First Quarter
No scoring
Second Quarter
  • (0:58) NWMS – Randy Schmidt 7 yard pass to Jordan Grove, Simon Mathiesen kick (Drive: 8 plays, 57 yards, 3:53; Northwest Missouri State 7–0)
  • (0:04) UNA – Kevin Henke 21 yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 60 yards, 0:53; Northwest Missouri State 7–3)
Third Quarter
  • (5:57) NWMS – Phil Jackson 2 yard rush, Simon Mathiesen kick (Drive: 7 plays, 40 yards, 2:44; Northwest Missouri State 14–3)
Fourth Quarter
  • (8:14) NWMS – North Alabama fumbled out of the end zone, safety (Northwest Missouri State 16–3)
  • (6:12) NWMS – Kyle Zimmerman 13 yard pass to Shane Williams, 2-point pass failed (Drive: 4 plays, 41 yards, 1:53; Northwest Missouri State 22–3)
  • (0:57) NWMS – Phil Jackson 10 yard rush, Simon Mathiesen kick (Drive: 6 plays, 35 yards, 3:20; Northwest Missouri State 29–3)

Statistics

Statistics UNA NWMS
First downs 14 15
Plays–yards 74–201 74–338
Rushes–yards 33–22 40–226
Passing yards 179 112
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–41–1 18–34–1
Time of possession 27:05 32:55
Team Category Player Statistics
North Alabama Passing Jacob Tucker 15/41, 179 yards, 1 INT
Rushing Ray Beasley 4 carries, 29 yards
Receiving Julius Jones 4 receptions, 82 yards
Northwest Missouri State Passing Kyle Zimmerman 13/26, 100 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Randy Schmidt 14 carries, 96 yards
Receiving Jordan Grove 6 receptions, 27 yards, 1 TD

References

  1. ^ "North Ala. vs Northwest Mo. St. DII Football Game Summary - December 17th, 2016 | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  2. ^ "2016 Division II Football Official Bracket | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  3. ^ "Northwest Missouri State University - Football-Record-Book-thru-2019" (PDF). bearcatsports.com. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  4. ^ "DII Football Championship History | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  5. ^ "Northwest Missouri State University - Boxscore for Football vs University of North Alabama on 12/17/2016". bearcatsports.com. Retrieved December 19, 2019.