SAVANNAH, Tenn. (AP) -Sioux Falls and Carroll have plenty of experience playing in the NAIA championship.
They just haven’t played each other in the big game.
That will change Saturday when the Cougars face the Saints in the national championship at Jim Carroll Stadium.
Sioux Falls and Carroll have won the last five national championships, but this will be the first time they meet in the title game. Carroll defeated Sioux Falls in the 2002 and 2005 national semifinals before winning the championship.
Sioux Falls (13-0) is looking to repeat as national champion against Carroll (14-0), which returns to the title game after winning four consecutive championships from 2002 to 2005.
The two schools entered this year’s NAIA national playoffs as the top seeds – Sioux Falls No. 1 and Carroll No. 2 – and neither has disappointed.
Sioux Falls is on a 27-game winning streak that includes an 11-10 victory over Missouri Valley State in the semifinals, and the Saints advanced with a 23-7 win over Saint Francis.
Sioux Falls is averaging 46 points – third best in the NAIA – and 474 yards per game.
The Cougars are led by quarterback Chad Cavender, who has 2,996 yards passing with 24 touchdowns.
Carroll has limited its opponents to an average of 5.1 points and leads the nation in quarterback sacks with 62 1/2 this season, led by defensive tackle Phil Lenoue with 10 1/2.
But Sioux Falls doesn’t rely solely on its offense.
Tyler Lodermeier and Trevor Holleman have teamed to make the Cougars one of the nation’s best pass defenses, allowing 132.5 yards per game. Letarius Lee leads the Cougars with 4 1/2 sacks.
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