In what will be a rematch of the 2006 NAIA National Championship game, the No. 2-ranked University of Sioux Falls Cougars will host the No. 3-ranked University of Saint Francis (Ind.) Cougars in the 2008 NAIA Football Championship semifinal round, set for Saturday, Dec. 6, at noon in Sioux Falls.

Both teams will enter the contest with identical 12-0 records.

In 2006, Sioux Falls upset the heavily favored Saint Francis Cougars, 23-19, claiming the school's second NAIA national championship at Jim Carroll Stadium in Savannah, Tenn.

Then Sioux Falls quarterback Chad Cavender (Redding, Calif.) threw for 156 yards and one touchdown, earning game MVP honors. Also in that game, Sioux Falls' Trey Erickson had an electrifying 89 yard kickoff return for a touchdown. That defeat marked the third consecutive national title game loss for Saint Francis, as it was upended by Carroll College (Mont.) 15-13 in 2004, and 27-10 in 2005.

Saint Francis is the 2008 champion of the Mid-States Football Association Mideast Division, achieving its ninth conference title in the last 10 years.

Saint Francis finished the regular season undefeated for the fourth time in the last five years and has appeared in six straight Football Championship Series semifinal round games. The school also holds the most consecutive FCS appearances among current institutions with 10 and is 104-11 (.903) since 2000.

Sioux Falls won its 35th consecutive home game on Saturday victory by thrashing No. 9-ranked Langston University (Okla.), 50-13. The Sioux Falls Cougars are led by fourth-year head coach Kalen DeBoer, who earned his 50th career victory on Saturday.

Sioux Falls advances to the NAIA semifinal round for the fourth-consecutive season and the seventh time in eight years (2001-2003, and 2005-2008).

Saint Francis is led by Kevin Donley who, in his ninth season at the helm, has compiled an impressive 103-19 overall mark. His team is coming off a 31-20 victory over No. 8 University of the Cumberlands in the quarterfinal round last Saturday.

The Saint Francis offense scores 49.0 points per game, which ranks first nationally.

It has been a solid year offensively for Saint Francis senior quarterback Jeff Wedding (Avilla, Ind.), who has thrown for 2,395 yards and 26 touchdowns this season. Junior wideout Brian Schultz (Decatur, Ind.) leads the receiving corps with 39 catches for 567 yards, and five touchdowns, while junior tailback Daniel Carter (Indianapolis, Ind.) heads the running game with 1,134 yards on 172 carries, and 20 touchdowns. Balance describes this offense, as it has scored 68 total touchdowns (35 rushing, 33 passing).

Defensively, the Saint Francis Cougars have been very strong, allowing only 144 points in 12 games (12 ppg), while scoring six touchdowns (five interceptions, one fumble). Senior defensive back Sam Miles (Indianapolis, Ind.) recorded 17 tackles (seven solo) last Saturday, giving him 74 overall on the season (35 solo).

Senior DB Paul Carter (Indianapolis, Ind.) has been all around the ball this year, recording four picks for 131 yards and two touchdowns, while also recovering one fumble for 33 yards.

On the special teams unit, they have been effective, as kicker Rhys Barnhart has made 73-76 PATs, and 7-11 field goal attempts. Katlyn Reyes has been a rock at punter, averaging 39.8 yards a punt, while six have been downed inside the 20 yard line.

Catch the game live on Saturday, as Tom Frederick and Tim Hiatt have all the play-by-play action on ESPN Radio, 1230 KWSN AM Sioux Falls.