USF Wins Second Consecutive National Championship

The University of Sioux Falls capped a perfect season today at the NAIA national championship with a 25-22 win over No. 3 Lindenwood (13-1). The win capped USF's first 15 win season.

Freshman kicker Braden Wieking (Sioux Falls, S.D.) won offensive player of the game recongition with three successful field goals, including a career-long 42 yard boot. He also added two extra points and one punt for 44 yards.

Junior linebacker Dominic Studzinski earned defensive player of the game recongition after making a team-leading seven tackles and two sacks that result in a loss of a combined 15 yards.

In a battle of two of the nation's top offense, it was a defensive game in the first half. After several three and outs by both teams, the COugars were able to move the ball into a first and goal situation. However the Lions of Lindenwood to make two sacks to force a field goal. Wieking made the 41 yard attempt to better his previous career long of 39 yard. The field goal also marked the fist 40+ yard field goal in the NAIA championship game, according to the NAIA records that date back to 1997.

After the ensuing kickoff, Lindenwood took possession of the ball deep in their own territory. A bad snap was recoverd by the Lions, but in their own endzone. The safety is the second of the season for the USF defense. Another field goal from Wieking, this time from 37 yards out, gave USF an 8-0 lead in the second quarter.

Facing the possibility of being down by two possession, the Lions went on a scoring run. Lindenwood's quarterback Philip Staback hit receiver Matt Bramow in the middle of the end zone for the Lion's first points of the game. Staback would find Bramow again in the end zone to give the Lions their first lead of the game at 14-8. The six point trench marked the first time the Cougars trailed at the break and the lowest point total in a first half for USF this season.

USF opened the second half exactly as need-be if they were to defend their national title. Kick returner Adam Lopez (So.; Gillette, Wyo. found a seem up the LU sideline and took the ball 91 yards for a touchdown. it was Lopez's second kickoff return for a touchdown this season, also going 88 yards for a score against Northwestern College.

Lindenwood would answer the score as they drove down the field once again. Lion running back Denodus O'Bryant sprinted up the visiting sideline for a 45 yard score, making the score 20-15. A successful two point attempt on a Staback run gave the Lions a touchdown lead at 22-15.

Lopez would once again have an excellent kick return, almost taking it the distance again, but was stopped after a 57 yard gain to set up the Cougar offense on Lindenwood's 26 yard line. A penalty and several other runs would lead to senior running back Ryan Lowmiller (Crystal Lake, Ill.) finding two yards into the end zone. Lowmiller finished the day with 115 yards and a score.

With the score 22-22, the Cougars were moving the ball deep into Lindenwood's side of the field, but a interception gave the Lions the ball inside their own 30 yard line. With momentum shifting towards the Lions, the Cougar defense shut the drive down with consecutive sacks, a nine yard loss sack by defensive lineman Mike Hartley (Rapid City, S.D.) and a six yard loss by Studzinski (Fort Atkinson, Wis.).

With the ball back in Cougar control, USF was able to sustain a physical, three minute drive that would end with what would be the game-winning field goal. Wieking spilt the uprights for the third time,t his time from a career-long 42 yards out, giving USF a 25-22 lead with 9:50 left on the clock.

LU looked for an answer of their own, but the Cougar defense held strong and only allowed five plays on the next drive. With the ball back in COugar control, USF tried to run the clock out, but a fumble inside the Lindenwood 25 yard line would allow the Lions one more chance to tie or win the game.With the game on the line, the Cougar defense held firm by not allowing a single first down on LU's four attempts.

Gaining the ball on downs, USF took a knee to run out the remaining half minute on the clock. The win is USF's 29th straight victory and earned the program's fourth national championship. It also marks the third national title in four seasons and gave USF their first back-to-back claim. The 20 USF seniors ended their career with a remarkable 56-1 mark.

Awards

All Conference Players:
1st Team: Lorenzo Brown, QB; Ryan Lowmiller, RB; Jon Ryan WR; Scott LeBrun, TE; Kyle Staudt, OL; TJ Wendt, OL; Mike Hartley, DL; Domonic Studzinski, LB; Trevor Holleman, DB; Lavell Jackson, Punt Return
2nd Team: Casey Peters, OL; Drew DeGroot, DL; Marlon Lobban, LB; Andrew Schoenfelder, DB
Honorable Mention: Dan Schmeichel, DB; Braden Wieking, K; Cody Cavender, DB; Alex Anderson, WR; Kyle Wasson, OL; Travis Beaver, OL

GPAC Defensive Player of the Year: Trevor Holleman
GPAC Offensive Player of the Year: Lorenzo Brown
GPAC Coach of the Year: Kalen DeBoer

NAIA Player of the Year: Lorenzo Brown, QB
AFCA All-American: Lorenzo Brown, QB

NAIA Offensive Player of the Week
(Week8) Ryan Lowmiller
(Week 11) Lorenzo Brown

National Championship Game 
Braden Wieking named the Offensive Outstanding Player of the Game
Dominic Studzinski named the Outstanding Defensive Player of the Game.

Statistical Leaders

Passing:
Lorenzo Brown - 3,221 yards, 40 TDS, 6 INT, 68% completion
Rushing:
Ryan Lowmiller - 1,487 yards, 21 TD, 7.0 yards per carry
Lorenzo Brown - 844 yards, 16 TD, 6.0 yards per carry
Receiving:
Jon Ryan - 57 receptions, 992 yards, 16 TD, 17.4 yards per catch
Alex Anderson - 50 receptios, 817 yards, 6 TD, 16.3 yards per catch
Tackles:
Dominic Studzinski - 64
Trevor Holleman- 62
Tackles for Loss:
Dominic Studzinski - 16 for 97 yards
Mike Hartley - 11 for 49 yards
Sacks:
Dominic Studzinski, 8.5
Brandon Koolstra, 6.5
Interceptions:
Trevor Holleman - 7 interceptions returned 144 yards and one touchdown
Kicking:
Braden Wieking - 13 of 17, long of 42, 100 of 101 on PAT

Records Set

Points in a season: 775
Points in a game: 76
Points per game: 51.6
Total Offense in a Season: 7,313 yards
Most Wins in a season: 15
Rushing TDs in a Season: 50
Total TDs in a Season: 92
Most first downs by Rushing: 201
Consecutive Wins: 29 (2008-2009)