2012 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game

This article is about the FCS (Division I-AA) championship game. For the FBS (Division I-A) championship game, see 2012 BCS National Championship Game.

2012 NCAA Division I Football Championship
FCS National Championship Game
Sam Houston State Bearkats North Dakota State Bison
(11–0) (10–1)
Southland MVFC
6 17
Head coach: 
Willie Fritz		 Head coach: 
Craig Bohl
TSNSeed
11
TSNSeed
42
1234 Total
Sam Houston State 0600 6
North Dakota State 3077 17
DateJanuary 7, 2012
Season2011
StadiumPizza Hut Park[1]
LocationFrisco, Texas
MVPTravis Beck (LB, North Dakota State)[2]
FavoriteSam Houston State by 3[3]
RefereeTony Marcella (CAA)[1]
Attendance20,586[1]
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN2[4]
AnnouncersDave Neal (play-by-play), David Diaz-Infante (color), Allison Williams (sideline)[4]
NCAA Division I Football Championship
 < 2011 2013 > 

The 2012 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game was a postseason college football game between the North Dakota State Bison and the Sam Houston State Bearkats. It was played on January 7, 2012, at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas. The culminating game of the 2011 NCAA Division I FCS football season, it was won by North Dakota State, 17–6.

With sponsorship by Enterprise Rent-A-Car, the game was officially known as the NCAA FCS Championship presented by Enterprise Rent-A-Car.[4] This was the final day that the name of the venue was officially Pizza Hut Park,[5] although ESPN2 referred to it as FC Dallas Stadium during its broadcast.[4]

Teams

The participants of the Championship Game were the finalists of the 2011 FCS Playoffs, which began with a 20-team bracket.

North Dakota State Bison

Main article: 2011 North Dakota State Bison football team

North Dakota State finished their regular season with a 10–1 record (7–1 in conference), including a win over Minnesota of the FBS. As the second-seed in the tournament, the Bison defeated James Madison, Lehigh, and third-seed Georgia Southern to reach the final. This was North Dakota State's first appearance in an FCS/Division I-AA title game.

Sam Houston State Bearkats

Main article: 2011 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team

Sam Houston State finished their regular season with an 11–0 record (7–0 in conference), including a win over New Mexico of the FBS. As the first-seed in the tournament, the Bearkats defeated Stony Brook, Montana State, and fourth-seed Montana to reach the final. This was also Sam Houston State's first appearance in an FCS/Division I-AA championship game.

Game summary

First-half scoring was limited to three field goals, with the Bearkats holding a 6–3 lead at halftime. The only second-half scoring was a pair of touchdowns by the Bison; the first setup by a fake punt that gained 27 yards, and the second following a 63-yard interception return by the game's MVP, linebacker Travis Beck. The Bison won their first FCS championship via the 17–6 final score.[6]

Scoring summary

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score
Plays Yards TOP SHSU NSDU
1 0:03 10 67 5:56 NDSU 19-yard field goal by Ryan Jastram 0 3
2 2:18 9 41 4:11 SHSU 24-yard field goal by Craig Alaniz 3 3
2 0:40 7 25 1:04 SHSU 31-yard field goal by Alaniz 6 3
3 12:47 5 72 2:13 NDSU D. J. McNorton 39-yard touchdown reception from Brock Jensen, Jastram kick good 6 10
4 8:45 1 1 0:03 NDSU Jensen 1-yard touchdown run, Jastram kick good 6 17
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 6 17

[7]

Game statistics

1 2 3 4 Total
No. 1 Bearkats 0 6 0 0 6
No. 2 Bison 3 0 7 7 17
Sam Houston State running back Timothy Flanders
Statistics SHSU NDSU
First downs 12 9
Plays–yards 74–210 54–235
Rushes–yards 42–95 34–115
Passing yards 115 120
Passing: comp–att–int 12–32–2 10–20–1
Time of possession 33:05 26:55
Team Category Player Statistics
Sam Houston State Passing Brian Bell 12–31, 115 yds, 2 INT
Rushing Timothy Flanders 21 car, 84 yds
Receiving Torrance Williams 3 rec, 53 yds
North Dakota State Passing Brock Jensen 10–20, 120 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing D. J. McNorton 14 car, 39 yds
Receiving D. J. McNorton 2 rec, 35 yds, 1 TD

[8][9][1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Football vs. Sam Houston State". gobison.com. January 7, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  2. ^ "Outstanding players of FCS championship game". ESPN. AP. January 5, 2019. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  3. ^ "North Dakota State Bison @ Sam Houston State Bearkats". vegasinsider.com. January 7, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d "College Football NCAA Division I, Final North Dakota State vs Sam Houston State". January 7, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2019 – via YouTube.
  5. ^ Wilonsky, Robert (December 21, 2011). "Pizza Hut Pulls Its Slice Out of Pizza Hut Park". Dallas Observer. Unfair Park blog. Archived from the original on March 24, 2013. Retrieved December 21, 2011.
  6. ^ "North Dakota State captures first FCS title". The Boston Globe. AP. January 8, 2012. p. C15. Retrieved January 13, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Sam Houston State vs. North Dakota State - Play-By-Play". ESPN. January 7, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  8. ^ "Sam Houston State vs. North Dakota State - Game Summary". ESPN. January 7, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  9. ^ "Sam Houston State vs. North Dakota State (box score)". The Bismarck Tribune. Bismarck, North Dakota. January 8, 2012. p. 27. Retrieved January 13, 2019 – via newspapers.com.

Further reading