MARYVILLE, Mo. (AP) -Xavier Omon ran for 292 yards and scored four touchdowns to help Northwest Missouri State beat two-time defending national champion Grand Valley State 34-16 in an NCAA Division II semifinal Saturday night.
Joel Osborn threw for 238 yards on 20-of-25 passing and Northwest Missouri State (12-1) had 528 total yards to end Grand Valley State’s Division II record 40-game winning streak. The Bearcats move on to the national championship game against Valdosta State next Saturday in Florence, Ala.
Brad Iciek threw for 273 yards and a touchdown on 23 of 42 passing for Grand Valley State (12-1), which allowed 17 points in the fourth quarter – more than it had allowed in nine games this season.
The Lakers pulled within one late in the third quarter on Justin Trumble’s third field goal, but Northwest Missouri State kicker Tommy Frevert hit one from 22 yards early in the fourth quarter and Omon scored on an 11-yard pass from Osborn 2 1/2 minutes later to put the Bearcats up 27-16.
Omon sealed it five plays later, breaking off a 98-yard touchdown run to give Northwest Missouri State a 34-16 lead with just over 9 minutes left.
The two teams had met in the previous two national championship games, with Grand Valley State winning both by a combined seven points
The Lakers scored first in this one, driving 83 yards in 14 plays for a 27-yard field goal by Trumble.
Northwest Missouri State answered early in the second quarter, when Omon scampered 33 yards for a touchdown.
Trumble added another field goal, this time from 32 yards, then Iciek put the Lakers up 13-7 just before halftime with a 20-yard touchdown pass to James Berezik.
Frevert got Northwest Missouri State within three on a 30-yard field goal, then Omon scored on an 8-yard run, capping a 10-play, 69-yard drive that put the Bearcats up 17-13 late in the third quarter.
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