NCAA Division III college football championship game
College football game
The 2023 NCAA Division III Football Championship Game, more commonly referred to as the 2023 Stagg Bowl or Stagg Bowl L, was a postseason college football game scheduled played on December 15, 2023, at Salem Football Stadium in Salem, Virginia. It determined a national champion in NCAA Division III for the 2023 season. The game began at 7:00 p.m. EST, and aired on ESPNU. The game featured the two finalists of the 32-team single elimination playoff bracket, Cortland and North Central; Cortland won 38–37 to claim their first national championship.
Teams
The participants of the 2023 NCAA Division III Football Championship Game were the finalists of the 2023 Division III Playoffs, a 32-team single elimination brackets tournament which began on November 18. The winners of each of the four 8-team regions qualified for the national semifinals.[1]
National semifinals
Game summary
2023 Stagg Bowl
at Salem Football Stadium • Salem, Virginia
- Date: Friday, December 15, 2023
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Clear • Temperature: 45 °F (7 °C) • Wind: E 0 mph
- Game attendance: 3,381
- Referee: Justin Ackley
- TV: ESPNU
| Scoring summary
|
| Quarter
|
Time
|
Drive
|
Team
|
Scoring information
|
Score
|
| Plays
|
Yards
|
TOP
|
Cortland
|
North Central
|
| 2
|
0:57
|
15
|
92
|
6:21
|
North Central
|
Charles Coleman 7-yard touchdown reception from Luke Lehnen, Sean Ryniec kick good
|
0
|
7
|
| 2
|
0:02
|
7
|
55
|
0:55
|
Cortland
|
31-yard field goal by Mike Baloga
|
3
|
7
|
| 3
|
11:33
|
7
|
72
|
3:27
|
Cortland
|
Cole Burgess 9-yard touchdown reception from Zac Boyes, Mike Baloga kick good
|
10
|
7
|
| 3
|
6:34
|
5
|
47
|
2:14
|
North Central
|
Joe Sacco 4-yard touchdown run, Sean Ryniec kick good
|
10
|
14
|
| 3
|
6:21
|
2
|
65
|
0:13
|
Cortland
|
JJ Laap 65-yard touchdown reception from Zac Boyes, Mike Baloga kick good
|
17
|
14
|
| 3
|
3:16
|
7
|
62
|
3:05
|
North Central
|
24-yard field goal by Sean Ryniec
|
17
|
17
|
| 4
|
14:56
|
8
|
73
|
3:20
|
Cortland
|
Joe Iadevaio 9-yard touchdown reception from Zac Boyes, Mike Baloga kick good
|
24
|
17
|
| 4
|
13:39
|
3
|
65
|
1:17
|
North Central
|
Luke Lehnen 4-yard touchdown run, Sean Ryniec kick good
|
24
|
24
|
| 4
|
8:16
|
10
|
63
|
5:23
|
Cortland
|
Joe Iadevaio 10-yard touchdown reception from Zac Boyes, Mike Baloga kick good
|
31
|
24
|
| 4
|
7:16
|
3
|
71
|
1:00
|
North Central
|
Luke Lehnen 64-yard touchdown run, Sean Ryniec kick good
|
31
|
31
|
| 4
|
1:41
|
10
|
73
|
5:35
|
Cortland
|
Cole Burgess 21-yard touchdown reception from Zac Boyes, Mike Baloga kick good
|
38
|
31
|
| 4
|
1:20
|
2
|
72
|
0:21
|
North Central
|
DeAngelo Hardy 60-yard touchdown reception from Luke Lehnen, 2-point run by Luke Lehnen was stopped short of the end zone
|
38
|
37
|
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.
|
38
|
37
|
|
Statistics
Team statistical comparison[2]
| Statistic
|
Cortland
|
North Central
|
| First downs |
28 |
21
|
| First downs rushing |
18 |
7
|
| First downs passing |
9 |
14
|
| First downs penalty |
1 |
0
|
| Third down efficiency |
6–12 |
6–10
|
| Fourth down efficiency |
2–3 |
0–2
|
| Total plays–net yards |
71–503 |
58–583
|
| Rushing attempts–net yards |
37–154 |
41–404
|
| Yards per rush |
4.2 |
9.9
|
| Yards passing |
349 |
179
|
| Pass completions–attempts |
26–34 |
8–17
|
| Interceptions thrown |
0 |
0
|
| Punt returns–total yards |
0–0 |
0–0
|
| Kickoff returns–total yards |
5–105 |
6–136
|
| Punts–average yardage |
2–27.5 |
1–47
|
| Fumbles–lost |
0–0 |
1–1
|
| Penalties–yards |
2–10 |
6–64
|
| Time of possession |
32:43 |
27:17
|
|
|
|
References
