By: Cody Bush, Associate Commissioner / Strategic Communications

NCAA Division II Football Championship

Second Round
Bemidji State def #2 Western Colorado, 20-19 (Western Colorado Recap)
GUNNISON, Colo. – Late in the fourth quarter Western Colorado led 19-14 and was driving for a potential game-clinching score, but a Mountaineer fumble was scooped up and returned 75 yards for a go-ahead touchdown that held up over the final four minutes as visiting Bemidji State stole a 20-19 win Saturday at the Mountaineer Bowl in the second round of the NCAA Division II Football Championship.

Western Colorado built a 19-7 lead with 4:36 left in the third quarter when Drew Nash broke through for a 52-yard touchdown run, his second touchdown of the game, which proved to be the Mountaineers final score. Bemidji State countered the Nash touchdown 2:30 later with Sam McGath's three-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Washington, for the game's final offensive score. The fourth quarter saw neither offense maintain any momentum until the Beavers Stephen Hoffman forced a fumble and Gabe Ward scooped up the loose ball and rumbled 75 yards for the game-winning score. WCU quarterbcak Drew Nash passed for 123 yards and ran for 144 and two scores.

Minnesota State def. #1 CSU Pueblo, 26-23 (CSU Pueblo Recap)
PUEBLO, Colo. – Minnesota State used a 20-point fourth quarter to overcome a 16-6 deficit and down Super Region 4 No. 1 seed CSU Pueblo, 26-23, Saturday at the ThunderBowl in the second round of the NCAA Division II Football Championship.

CSU Pueblo held the momentum after blocking a field goal late in the third quarter to maintain its 16-6 lead entering the fourth quarter. But Minnesota State pulled the momentum in its favor to start the fourth quarter. The Mavericks capped a 10-play, 63-yard drive with a 36-yard touchdown pass from Hayden Ekern to Grant Guyette. MSU then surprised the ThunderBowl with an onside kick, which it recovered. The Mavericks converted that into a touchdown on Ekern's 15-yard run to cap the ensuing drive, giving Minnesota State a 20-16 lead wtih 6:17 left.

The ThunderWolves responded on their first possession of the fourth quarter when Roman Fuller found Howard Russell for a 16-yard touchdown for a 23-20 lead. The Mavericks followed with a game-tying field goal with 60 seconds remaining, setting up CSU Pueblo with potentially the game's final drive. But on the third play of the drive, Cade Stingle intercepted a pass in CSUP territory, and Minnesota State converted the turnover into a game-winning field goal on Matthew Jaeger's 32-yarder.

Fuller led CSU Pueblo offensively, completing 24-of-33 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown. Russell had 158 all-purpose yards and had a receiving touchdown. Makeah Scippio had a 37-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter.