Teams
The participants of the 2021 NCAA Division III Football Championship Game were the finalists of the 2021 Division III Playoffs, a 32-team single-elimination bracket.[1] The game featured North Central, the defending national champions after winning the 2019 Stagg Bowl, and making their second title game appearance,[2] and Mary Hardin–Baylor, seeking their second championship (their 2016 championship victory was later vacated) in their fifth title game appearance.[3] This contest was the first between the two teams.[3]
National semifinals
Game summary
2021 Stagg Bowl
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| Mary Hardin-Baylor | 16 | 3 | 14 | 24 | 57 |
| North Central | 7 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium • Canton, Ohio
- Date: Friday, December 17, 2021
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 38 °F (3 °C) • Wind: -->
- Game attendance: 1,830
- Referee: Stuart Hindman
- TV: ESPNU
| Scoring summary |
|---|
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score |
|---|
| Plays | Yards | TOP | Mary Hardin-Baylor | North Central |
|---|
| 1 | 14:48 | 0 | 0 | 0:12 | North Central | 93 Yard Kickoff Return Touchdown by DeAngelo Hardy, Tanner Rains Kick Good | 0 | 7 | | 1 | 11:51 | 6 | 62 | 2:53 | Mary Hardin-Baylor | 32-yard field goal by Brandon Cunningham | 3 | 7 | | 1 | 9:39 | 3 | 25 | 0:47 | Mary Hardin-Baylor | Brandon Jordan 19-yard touchdown reception from Kyle King, Brandon Cunningham kick blocked | 9 | 7 | | 1 | 2:14 | 6 | 83 | 3:04 | Mary Hardin-Baylor | K.J. Miller 19-yard touchdown reception from Kyle King, Brandon Cunningham kick good | 16 | 7 | | 2 | 5:32 | 14 | 90 | 6:58 | North Central | Ethan Greenfield 1-yard touchdown run, Tanner Rains kick good | 16 | 14 | | 2 | 2:05 | 6 | 39 | 2:35 | North Central | 22-yard field goal by Tanner Rains | 16 | 17 | | 2 | 0:00 | 8 | 56 | 1:58 | Mary Hardin-Baylor | 22-yard field goal by Brandon Cunningham | 19 | 17 | | 3 | 9:39 | 12 | 81 | 5:13 | Mary Hardin-Baylor | Aphonso Thomas 15-yard touchdown run, Brandon Cunningham kick good | 26 | 17 | | 3 | 1:31 | 10 | 91 | 4:55 | Mary Hardin-Baylor | Aphonso Thomas 3-yard touchdown run, Brandon Cunningham kick good | 33 | 17 | | 4 | 14:49 | 4 | 1 | 0:53 | Mary Hardin-Baylor | 20-yard field goal by Brandon Cunningham | 36 | 17 | | 4 | 10:10 | 5 | 46 | 2:09 | Mary Hardin-Baylor | Kenneth Cormier 11-yard touchdown run, Brandon Cunningham kick good | 43 | 17 | | 4 | 7:47 | 7 | 71 | 2:19 | North Central | Blake Williams 30-yard touchdown reception from Luke Lehnen, Tanner Rains kick good | 43 | 24 | | 4 | 6:01 | 3 | 44 | 1:44 | Mary Hardin-Baylor | Aaron Sims 37-yard touchdown reception from Kyle King, Brandon Cunningham kick good | 50 | 24 | | 4 | 0:42 | 6 | 53 | 3:16 | Mary Hardin-Baylor | Brenton Martin 17-yard touchdown reception from Ryan Redding, Brandon Cunningham kick good | 57 | 24 | | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 57 | 24 |
|---|
|
Statistics
| Statistics | NCC | UMHB |
|---|
| First downs | 18 | 28 |
| Plays–yards | 61-287 | 65-596 |
| Rushes–yards | 34-85 | 32-133 |
| Passing yards | 202 | 463 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 18-27-3 | 24-33-0 |
| Time of possession | 28:48 | 31:12 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| North Central | Passing | Luke Lehnen | 18-27, 202 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT |
| Rushing | Ethan Greenfield | 25 carries, 124 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | Andrew Kamienski | 8 receptions, 115 yards |
| Mary Hardin–Baylor | Passing | Kyle King | 22-29, 436 yards, 3 TD |
| Rushing | Aphonso Thomas | 13 carries, 65 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | Brenton Martin | 9 receptions, 170 yards, 1 TD |
References