By Patrick Coleman
D3sports.com
WAVERLY, Iowa -- Wartburg did what nobody else has done this season, leading North Central in the fourth quarter, but it was not enough as the No. 1 Cardinals survived, defeating No. 3 Wartburg 34-27 in Waverly, Iowa, in the national semifinals.
The Cardinals (14-0) return to the Stagg Bowl for the fourth consecutive season, and will face Cortland (13-1) on Friday night, Dec. 15, in Salem Stadium in Salem, Virginia.
The Knights trailed 20-0 early in the second quarter, and 26-7 late in the quarter, before the Wartburg offense found life. Nile McLaughlin, who battled a heavy crosswind in starting the day with six consecutive incomplete passes, led Wartburg down the field with precision, hitting Carter Henry for a completion to the 33, then getting Hunter Clasen on a pass to move the chains, and finding tight end Thomas Butters down the left side for a 17-yard gain, setting up first-and-goal from the 8. McLaughlin went back to the left side for a ball Thor Maakestad came down with in the end zone to make it 26-13 with 21 seconds left in the half.
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| Joey Lombardi made four big catches on Saturday, including this 54-yarder that got the ball into the red zone on North Central's final scoring drive. Photo by Doug Sasse, d3photography.com |
Wartburg came out with new life in the second half and scored the next two touchdowns as well, the last coming on a hard run by Clasen for an 11-yard score, giving Wartburg its first lead of the game, at 27-26.
But North Central found a little offensive life, and finally hit its first big play of the second half. Luke Lehnen found Joey Lombardi deep down the right sideline for a 54-yard catch, and Lehnen and Joe Sacco ran it in the final 9 yards to take the lead. DeAngelo Hardy added a two-point conversion to make it 34-27 with 5:40 to play.
Wartburg had two shots to tie the game in the closing minutes. The Knights completed a crazy double-deflected pass to Hunter Clasen for 20 yards to get down to the Cardinals 14. Clasen added a 6-yard run to get to the 8, then went 3 yards on third-and-4, but was stuffed on a fourth-and-1 and the Knights (13-1) turned the ball over at the 5.
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The Knights had all three of their timeouts, however, and were able to force a three-and-out and get the ball back at the Cardinals 46. Drew Hackler got to McLaughlin for a sack on the first play of the drive. He recovered to hit Henry over the middle for a big gain, and Henry got his Knights as close as the 21, but on fourth-and-3, a swing pass to Clasen was blown up by Cardinals linebacker Zack Orr for a loss and North Central was able to kneel it out.
Lehnen completed 12 of 19 passes for 222 yards and three touchdowns, throwing his second pick of the season on a jump ball in the end zone. Lombardi had two TD catches among his four receptions for 161 yards, while Sacco ran for two scores as well.
Clasen led the Knights with 131 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries, while McLaughlin completed 27 of 49 passes for 234 yards and a touchdown.