2018 NCAA Division II Football Championship Game

2018 NCAA Division II Football Championship
Ferris State Bulldogs Valdosta State Blazers (14–1) (13–0) Great Lakes Gulf South 47 49 Head coach:  Tony Annese Head coach:  Kerwin Bell Seed 3 Seed 1
1 2 3 4 Total Ferris State 10 14 14 9 47 Valdosta State 7 21 14 7 49
Date	December 15, 2018
Season	2018
Stadium	McKinney ISD Stadium
Location	McKinney, Texas
Referee	Brad Carrell
Attendance	4,306
United States TV coverage
Network	ESPNU

The 2018 NCAA Division II Football Championship Game was a postseason college football game that determined a national champion in NCAA Division II for the 2018 season. It was played at McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas, on December 15, 2018,^[1] with kickoff at 4:00 p.m. EST (3:00 p.m. local CST), and television coverage on ESPNU.

Teams

The participants of the 2018 NCAA Division II Football Championship Game were the finalists of the 2018 Division II Playoffs, which began with four 7-team brackets to determine super region champions, who then qualified for the national semifinals.^[2] The game featured the winners of those national semifinal games: No. 3 seed Ferris State and No. 1 seed Valdosta State. This was the first meeting between the two teams.^[3] This was Ferris State's first championship game appearance, and Valdosta State's fourth; the Blazers were 3–1 in previous appearances.^[4]

National semifinals

Super region champions were seeded 1 to 4 for the national semifinals.

	Semifinals December 8 Hosted by higher seeded team					National Championship December 15 McKinney ISD Stadium, McKinney, TX
	1	Valdosta State	30
	4	Notre Dame (OH)	24
						1	Valdosta State	49
						3	Ferris State	47
	2	Minnesota State	25
	3	Ferris State	42

Game summary

2018 NCAA Division II Football Championship Game

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 3 Ferris State	10	14	14	9	47
No. 1 Valdosta State	7	21	14	7	49

at McKinney ISD Stadium • McKinney, Texas

• Date: Saturday, December 15, 2018
• Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST (3:00 p.m. CST)
• Game weather: Mostly sunny • Temperature: 59 °F (15 °C) • Wind: NW 11 mph
• Game attendance: 4,306
• Referee: Brad Carrell
• TV: ESPNU
• Sources:^[5][6]

Game information

First Quarter (10:19) FSU – Jevon Shaw 80 yard pass to Keyondre Craig, Jackson Dieterle kick (Drive: 1 play, 80 yards, 0:13; Ferris State 7–0) (5:23) VAL – Rogan Wells 21 yard pass to Lio'undre Gallimore, Andrew Gray kick (Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 4:56; Tied 7–7) (2:18) FSU – Jackson Dieterle 52 yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 8 yards, 2:59; Ferris State 10–7) Second Quarter (14:02) VAL – Rogan Wells 9 yard pass to Kenny Benjamin, Andrew Gray kick (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:16; Valdosta State 14–10) (10:52) FSU – Jayru Campbell 3 yard rush, Jackson Dieterle kick (Drive: 2 plays, 13 yards, 0:28; Ferris State 17–14) (10:06) VAL – Rogan Wells 66 yard pass to Lio'undre Gallimore, Andrew Gray kick (Drive: 2 plays, 70 yards, 0:40; Valdosta State 21–17) (5:09) FSU – Davontae Harrington 8 yard rush, Jackson Dieterle kick (Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 4:57; Ferris State 24–21) (0:02) VAL – Seth McGill 1 yard rush, Andrew Gray kick (Drive: 12 plays, 63 yards, 5:02; Valdosta State 28–24) Third Quarter (9:49) FSU – Marvin Campbell 2 yard rush, Jackson Dieterle kick (Drive: 12 plays, 85 yards, 5:06; Ferris State 31–28) (6:28) VAL – Rogan Wells 16 yard pass to Joe Fortson, Andrew Gray kick (Drive: 7 plays, 68 yards, 3:14; Valdosta State 35–31) (4:25) VAL – Rogan Wells 1 yard pass to Travis Taylor, Andrew Gray kick (Drive: 2 plays, 8 yards, 0:49; Valdosta State 42–31) (1:37) FSU – Jayru Campbell 13 yard pass to Keyondre Craig, Jackson Dieterle kick (Drive: 9 plays, 92 yards, 2:41; Valdosta State 42–38) Fourth Quarter (11:36) VAL – Ivory Durham 25 yard pass to Rogan Wells, Andrew Gray kick (Drive: 10 plays, 71 yards, 4:56; Valdosta State 49–38) (5:31) FSU – Jackson Dieterle 31 yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 50 yards, 3:24; Valdosta State 49–41) (0:40) FSU – Sy Barnett 5 yard rush, 2-point pass failed (Drive: 5 plays, 66 yards, 1:37; Valdosta State 49–47)

Statistics

Statistics	FSU	VAL
First downs	26	27
Plays–yards	67–449	75–496
Rushes–yards	48–270	42–122
Passing yards	179	374
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	11–19–1	20–33–0
Time of possession	27:10	32:50

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Ferris State	Passing	Jayru Campbell	10/18, 99 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	Jayru Campbell	22 carries, 122 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Keyondre Craig	3 receptions, 89 yards, 2 TD
Valdosta State	Passing	Rogan Wells	19/31, 349 yards, 5 TD
	Rushing	Jamar Thompkins	16 carries, 72 yards
	Receiving	Lio'undre Gallimore	4 receptions, 111 yards, 2 TD

References

1. "Ferris St. vs Valdosta St. DII Football Game Summary - December 15th, 2018 | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
2. "2018 Division II Football Official Bracket | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
3. "Football History vs Ferris State University". Valdosta State University Athletics. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
4. "DII Football Championship History | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
5. "Football vs Ferris State on 12/15/2018 - Box Score". Valdosta State University Athletics. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
6. "Ferris State vs. Valdosta State - Box Score - 12/15/2018". Ferris State Bulldogs. Retrieved December 17, 2019.