REPEAT CHAMPS: DuPage successfully defends NJCAA Division III Championship

GLEN ELLYN, ILL. - One year after winning the inaugural NJCAA Division III Football Championship, the College of DuPage has repeated with narrow 14-12 victory over North Dakota State College of Science at Bjarne Ullsvik Stadium on Saturday, December 3. Redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Byron Puryear solidified the win with a sack on the game's final play en route to earning the 2022 NJCAA Division III Football Championship's Most Valuable Player award. (Recaps: NJCAA | DuPage)

Puryear led a stingy Chaparrals defensive effort that limited NDSCS to 258 total yards and forcing three turnovers, with the defensive lineman recording seven solo tackes and two tackles for loss. DuPage, meanwhile, amassed 305 yards and two touchdowns, while losing just two of their six fumbles.

The scoring began in the first quarter with COD taking to the air. Quarterback Gavin Sukup connected with Marquel Porter to take a 7-0 lead late in the quarter. North Dakota CSC countered with a 63-yard scoring pass midway through the second quarter, but failed to convert the PAT to make it a 7-6 differential at the half.

DuPage assumed a 14-6 advantage early in the third quarter off a 15-yard touchdown run from sophomore Randy Young. After NDCSC answered just a couple minutes into the fourth quarter with a 17-yard run for a touchdown. The Chaparrals defense dug in to deny the two-point conversation and maintain a two-point lead.

Sukup was 15 for 26 for 138 yards with a touchdown, and Porter led seven different players with a reception by tallying three catches for 39 yards and a touchdown. Young carried the ball a dozen times for 66 yards and a score. Samson Zander and Brian Trobel complete the three-headed rushing attack with 47 and 42 yards, respectively.

Head coach Matthew Rahn has won two national titles in as many seasons with the Chaparrals.