Post by MizzouTiger on Dec 17, 2007 17:58:35 GMT -5
www.kansascity.com/sports/story/405717.html
Valdosta State beats Northwest Missouri 25-20
By DAVID BOYCE
The Kansas City Star
FLORENCE, Ala. | The empty feeling that comes with losing a national championship game is now firmly etched in the Northwest Missouri DNA.
But that didn’t make it easier for coach Mel Tjeerdsma.
After Tjeerdsma said all the right words in the postgame news conference, he could only shake his head after he stepped off the podium and headed back to the locker room.
For the third straight year, Northwest Missouri lost in heartbreaking fashion in the NCAA Division II championship game.
In some ways, Northwest Missouri’s 25-20 loss to Valdosta State on a damp Saturday afternoon at Braly Stadium may have been the toughest one yet to swallow.
The rain that started falling in the fourth quarter represented tears of sorrow for the Bearcats, especially when Valdosta State running back Michael Terry scored the go-ahead touchdown from the 1-yard line with 22 seconds remaining.
“I don’t know if words can describe the disappointment that I feel for these guys,” a visibly shaken Tjeerdsma said in his opening statement.
Two years ago the Bearcats felt the same anguish when time ran out on them in a 21-17 loss to Grand Valley State. Last year’s 17-14 loss to Grand Valley was also hard to take.
In all three championship games, Northwest Missouri held a lead in the fourth quarter.
“It’s an empty feeling again,” senior tight end Mike Peterson said. “Day in and day out we worked our tails off, and for it to end like this is a huge disappointment.”
For much of the game, the script looked as if it had a happy ending for Northwest Missouri.
Valdosta State dominated much of the first half, but Northwest Missouri went into halftime with a 14-3 lead.
And when Valdosta State took a 17-14 lead early in the fourth quarter, Northwest Missouri quickly put together a three-play, 48-yard drive in 48 seconds and went back in front.
“I thought it was a great drive, but the blocked extra point quickly took away our momentum,” Northwest Missouri junior quarterback Joel Osborn said.
The blocked extra point was a bad omen. Roger King turned the block into two points for Valdosta, and the Blazers trailed only 20-19 with more than 12 minutes left.
“It was really a momentum changer,” Valdosta State coach David Dean said. “We had just taken the lead, and two or three plays later they’re back in the end zone and they’re fixing to seize the momentum. Somehow we found a way to knock that momentum off their back.”
Northwest Missouri did stop Valdosta State in the Blazers’ next two drives.
With 6:11 left, Northwest Missouri took over at its 18, trying to get some first downs and run at the clock. It looked as if they got one when Xavier Omon broke off one of his few runs of more than 10 yards, but it was called back because of holding on Peterson.
“I take responsibility for the holding,” Peterson said.
Northwest Missouri wound up punting. Mike Stadler’s punt went just 27 yards. Valdosta State took over at Northwest Missouri’s 37 and methodically moved down field for the game-winning touchdown with 22 seconds left.
“I don’t know how to explain it,” said Omon, who finished with 63 yards in 27 carries. “I thought this was the year. We’ve had so much success. Obviously, it hurts, but like Mike (Peterson) said, that’s life.”
Valdosta State beats Northwest Missouri 25-20
By DAVID BOYCE
The Kansas City Star
FLORENCE, Ala. | The empty feeling that comes with losing a national championship game is now firmly etched in the Northwest Missouri DNA.
But that didn’t make it easier for coach Mel Tjeerdsma.
After Tjeerdsma said all the right words in the postgame news conference, he could only shake his head after he stepped off the podium and headed back to the locker room.
For the third straight year, Northwest Missouri lost in heartbreaking fashion in the NCAA Division II championship game.
In some ways, Northwest Missouri’s 25-20 loss to Valdosta State on a damp Saturday afternoon at Braly Stadium may have been the toughest one yet to swallow.
The rain that started falling in the fourth quarter represented tears of sorrow for the Bearcats, especially when Valdosta State running back Michael Terry scored the go-ahead touchdown from the 1-yard line with 22 seconds remaining.
“I don’t know if words can describe the disappointment that I feel for these guys,” a visibly shaken Tjeerdsma said in his opening statement.
Two years ago the Bearcats felt the same anguish when time ran out on them in a 21-17 loss to Grand Valley State. Last year’s 17-14 loss to Grand Valley was also hard to take.
In all three championship games, Northwest Missouri held a lead in the fourth quarter.
“It’s an empty feeling again,” senior tight end Mike Peterson said. “Day in and day out we worked our tails off, and for it to end like this is a huge disappointment.”
For much of the game, the script looked as if it had a happy ending for Northwest Missouri.
Valdosta State dominated much of the first half, but Northwest Missouri went into halftime with a 14-3 lead.
And when Valdosta State took a 17-14 lead early in the fourth quarter, Northwest Missouri quickly put together a three-play, 48-yard drive in 48 seconds and went back in front.
“I thought it was a great drive, but the blocked extra point quickly took away our momentum,” Northwest Missouri junior quarterback Joel Osborn said.
The blocked extra point was a bad omen. Roger King turned the block into two points for Valdosta, and the Blazers trailed only 20-19 with more than 12 minutes left.
“It was really a momentum changer,” Valdosta State coach David Dean said. “We had just taken the lead, and two or three plays later they’re back in the end zone and they’re fixing to seize the momentum. Somehow we found a way to knock that momentum off their back.”
Northwest Missouri did stop Valdosta State in the Blazers’ next two drives.
With 6:11 left, Northwest Missouri took over at its 18, trying to get some first downs and run at the clock. It looked as if they got one when Xavier Omon broke off one of his few runs of more than 10 yards, but it was called back because of holding on Peterson.
“I take responsibility for the holding,” Peterson said.
Northwest Missouri wound up punting. Mike Stadler’s punt went just 27 yards. Valdosta State took over at Northwest Missouri’s 37 and methodically moved down field for the game-winning touchdown with 22 seconds left.
“I don’t know how to explain it,” said Omon, who finished with 63 yards in 27 carries. “I thought this was the year. We’ve had so much success. Obviously, it hurts, but like Mike (Peterson) said, that’s life.”