Saint Francis and Reinhardt claim spots in the 2017 NAIA Football National Championship

by | Dec 3, 2017 | Headlines, RRSN News | 0 comments

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Defending national champion Saint Francis (Ind.) and Reinhardt (Ga.) will play for a national title, as the two teams claimed victories Saturday in the 2017 NAIA Football Championship Series (FCS) Semifinals. The Cougars are back in the national final for the second-straight season.

The 62nd annual NAIA Football National Championship is scheduled for Saturday, December 16 at 6 p.m. EST in Daytona Beach, Fla. The City of Daytona Beach hosts the event at Municipal Stadium for the fourth-straight season. For fan and visitor information, including ticket details, click here.

FCS hosts went unbeaten (2-0) on Saturday, which is the first time that has occurred since the 2013 season. Since 1997, semifinal home teams boast a 30-12 record.

2017 NAIA Football Championship Series – Semifinal Notes
Game 1 – Saint Francis (Ind.) (13-0) def. Morningside (Iowa) (13-1), 43-36
• With the win, Saint Francis extended its NAIA-best winning streak to 22-straight games and continued its quest for a second-straight national championship. The Cougars – winners of seven-consecutive FCS games – are looking to be the first team to repeat since former member Sioux Falls (S.D.) won back-to-back titles in 2008 and 2009.
• Saint Francis now owns a 5-4 all-time record in the FCS semifinals, including a 4-1 mark at home. Morningside drops to 1-4 all-time in the round of four.
• Arguably the key play of the game was when Saint Francis defensive tackle Eric Hemmelgarn blocked a Morningside 19-yard field goal attempt with 5:20 remaining in the contest. The Cougars scored on their next possession to take a 37-28 lead with 1:27 left.
• Saint Francis running back Justin Green was once again the offensive star of the game, rushing for 234 yards and three touchdowns on 33 attempts. The Griffith, Ind., native now owns 1,883 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns in 10 career playoff games.
• Despite the loss, Morningside quarterback Trent Solsma played well, throwing for a game-high 406 yards and three touchdowns. He was intercepted once. Wide receiver Conor Niles was Solsma’s top target with seven catches for 97 yards.

Game 2 – Reinhardt (Ga.) (12-0) def. Southern Oregon (12-1), 37-34 (2OT)
• Reinhardt punches a ticket to the national championship for the first time in program history. The Eagles are the first club to represent the Mid-South Conference in the title game since Cumberlands (Ky.) in 2013.
• Reinhardt, which is in only its fifth season as a varsity program, is now 1-1 all-time in the NAIA FCS semifinals.
• Southern Oregon is now 2-1 all-time in the FCS semifinals.
• Reinhardt and Southern Oregon’s overtime affair was the first semifinal game to take at least one extra period since the 2013 season when Cumberlands defeated Carroll (Mont.), 34-27. That contest was decided in the first overtime period.
• Reinhardt quarterback Billy Hall threw for 202 yards and two touchdowns, while also running for 44 yards and one score to lead the offense. The freshman from Scott, Tenn., was making his first career start.
• Nick Marquez was one of the heroes on the day for Reinhardt, as the junior kicker connected on a career-long 48-yard field goal – 12 yards longer than his previous career-best – with 40 seconds left to send the game to overtime.
• Southern Oregon’s Tanner Trosin had another great game for the Raiders. The senior quarterback threw for 387 yards and three touchdowns in the loss. Trosin posted at least 300 passing yards in 11-of-13 games this season.

Related Stories

58th Annual IHSAA Baseball State Finals

Friday, June 20 Class 1A State Championship 4:30 pm ET / 3:30 CT | Kouts (27-6) vs. Indianapolis Lutheran (20-10) Class 3A State Championship 8 pm ET / 7 CT | Andrean (30-3) vs. Jasper (28-6) Saturday, June 21 Class 2A State Championship 4:30 pm ET / 3:30 CT | Boone...

Cathedral withstands late rally to win first softball crown

By Lewis Bagley, Special to IHSAA.org WEST LAFAYETTE - Cathedral’s Anna Moore knew this was her time to come through for her team. Trailing Hanover Central, 2-1, in the fourth inning of the Class 3A championship game, Moore came to the plate with two on base. She...

Tecumseh wins sixth softball crown, first in Class 2A

By Lewis Bagley, Special to IHSAA.org WEST LAFAYETTE - Class 1A or 2A, it doesn’t seem to matter for the Tecumseh Braves. Coach Gordon Wood’s top-ranked squad claimed its second-straight and sixth state championship in program history with a 2-0 victory over No. 3...

Crown Point’s Liezert strikes out 16, Bulldogs win second crown

By Rich Torres, Special to IHSAA.org WEST LAFAYETTE – For some teams, a nearly 17-hour, overnight rain delay would derail anyone’s championship focus. For Class 4A Crown Point, Friday night’s postponement of the 40th annual IHSAA softball state finals into Saturday...

Rainford fans 17, North Newton secures first championship

By Will Willems, Special to IHSAA.org WEST LAFAYETTE - Sydney Rainford was on a mission. After three years of disappointing post-season results, Rainford knew this was her last chance to achieve the ultimate goal with her North Newton Spartan teammates of winning the...

Big Ten Recognizes Spring Academic All-Big Ten Honorees

Big Ten Recognizes Spring Academic All-Big Ten Honorees Students across 26 spring and at-large sports earn recognition Full 2025 Spring Academic All-Big Ten List ROSEMONT, Ill. - The Big Ten Conference recognized a total of 2,823 students on spring sports rosters who...

Jason Lewkowicz is named new Athletic Director for Bethel University

MISHAWAKA, IND. – Jason Lewkowicz has been named Athletic Director for the Bethel Pilots, beginning his tenure on July 1. Lewkowicz brings a wealth of experience to the role and has an extensive background in Christian higher education. In his career, he has served as...

40th IHSAA Softball State Finals Preview

Rosters, stats, and game notes for this weekend’s state championship games News Release https://www.ihsaa.org/sites/default/files/documents/2024-25%20Softball%20Preview.pdf

IHSAA Semi-State Baseball Field Set

IHSAA Semi-State Baseball Field Set Jun 14, 2025 Home Team: The second-named team in each game is the designated home team. North Class 4A at South Bend Riley (Four Winds Field at Coveleski Stadium) | Tickets 11 am ET | G1: Valparaiso vs. Fort Wayne Snider 2 pm ET |...

Elkhart Lions Unified Team repeats as State Champions

INDIANAPOLIS - It is never easy defending a state championship. But the Elkhart Lions managed to do just that on Saturday afternoon at North Central High School, claiming the IHSAA State Unified Track and Field championship for the second-straight year, topping...