The No. 2-ranked University of Sioux Falls football team earned its third straight trip to the NAIA national title game with a 24-6 victory against No. 3 University of Saint Francis on Saturday.

The Cougars will face Carroll College (Mont.) in a rematch of the 2007 title game on Dec. 20 in Rome, Georgia, on the campus of Shorter College. The Fighting Saints defeated USF, 17-9, in last season's championship, snapping the Cougars' 27-game winning streak.

On Saturday Carroll held off No. 6-ranked Lindenwood (Mo.), 38-37, to earn the birth.

Defensively, USF held Saint Francis to only 115 total yards (five rushing), and forced two turnovers (one interception, one fumble recovery), while holding the NAIA's top scoring offense (48 ppg) to only six. Sioux Falls defensive end Brandon Koolstra (Sioux City, Iowa) recorded two sacks and three tackles for loss, earning him defensive player of the game honors.

The Sioux Falls offense nearly set a season-high in carries with 59 (62 vs. Dana College, Sept. 13), while gaining 241 yards. Senior tailback Erik Cimpl (Dante, S.D.), playing in his final home contest, led the way, gaining 106 yards on 27 carries.

Quarterback Lorenzo Brown (Bristol, Conn.) had a terrific day, rushing for 83 yards on 16 carries and one touchdown, while throwing for 82 yards and two touchdowns. For his efforts, he was named the offensive player of the game.

In the first quarter, St. Francis appeared to have a nice drive going, but quarterback Jeff Wedding had the ball stripped away, and even though USF couldn't get possession, Saint Francis lost 20 yards on the play, ending all momentum and punted the ball away.

On the first offensive possession for USF, Brown capped off an 11-play, 78-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run, giving them a 7-0 lead with 4:29 to play. Matt Lindgren (Clark, S.D.) added to the lead, nailing a 42-yard field goal with 42 seconds remaining, making it 10-0.

In the second quarter, USF compiled a 17 play, 77 yard drive (9:57 possession time) to add to their advantage, as Brown found sophomore wideout Jon Ryan from nine-yards out, making it 17-0 with 4:14 left until halftime. Following a great one-handed interception by defensive back Andrew Schoenfelder (Sioux Falls, S.D.), USF capped off the first-half scoring, as Brown found tight end Scott LeBrun uncovered for an easy 35-yard touchdown, making it 24-0; on the final play, St. Francis punter Katlyn Reyes booted an 88-yard punt that went from their own 11 to the USF 1.

Neither team scored in the third, but early on, St. Francis saw a great scoring opportunity skip away, as running back Daniel Carter fumbled at the USF two-yard line, and Cougar linebacker Demetrius Washington (Detroit, Mi.) recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchback.

In the fourth, St. Francis finally got on the board, as quarterback Jeff Wedding pitched the ball to receiver Mickey Cassidy, who threw the ball to Jared Clodfelter for a 26-yard touchdown, making it 24-6 with 10:54 to play (extra point blocked).

It has been an amazing two years for the Cougars at Bob Young Field, compiling a 16-0 record, along with seven shutouts.

Go to www.usfcougars.com for further information and updates regarding the championship game (fan bus, tickets, etc.).