FLORENCE, ALABAMA - Michael Terry scored a touchdown with 22 seconds left and Valdosta State beat Northwest Missouri State 25-20 Saturday for the Division II championship, the Bearcats' third consecutive title loss.
Terry's 1-yard TD run capped an eight-play, 37-yard drive sparked by Willie Copeland's four straight completions for 27 yards.
Valdosta (13-1) overcame a 14-3 halftime deficit to beat Northwest Missouri (12-2).
Copeland threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Clay Callaway early in the third quarter, and the Blazers went up briefly at the start of the fourth quarter when Zach Parker caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from running back Ronnye Nelson, a former quarterback.
Northwest Missouri answered less than a minute later with Xavier Omon's 2-yard touchdown run, but Maurice Leggett blocked the point-after kick and Roger King grabbed the ball and ran the length of the field for 2.
The teams swapped punts twice before Valdosta State took over at the Northwest Missouri 37 with 4:01 remaining after a short punt, setting up the winning drive.
Valdosta State's William Montford intercepted a desperation pass by Joel Osborn with 16 seconds left to preserve the win, and Blazer fans swarmed the field, soggy after a cold rainstorm blew through.
Valdosta made its first trip to the championship since 2004, when it beat Pittsburg State 36-31.
Northwest Missouri has lost three straight title games by a total of 12 points.
Friday
November 15th, 2024
11:40AM
