Ninety-six points were scored in the championship game Saturday. Two points that were not scored made the difference.

Rogan Wells had five touchdown passes and Valdosta State won its fourth national title with a 49-47 victory over Ferris State.

For the first time since 2012, Valdosta State will play for a national championship, holding off Notre Dame 30-24 on Saturday.

Leading 30-17 with under 3 minutes to play, it appeared the Blazers would coast to the finish line. 

It was fitting that Ferris State reached the championship using two of its hallmarks - ground control and opportunistic defense - when they were needed most in a 42-25 victory over Minnesota State in the semifinals on a cold afternoon in Mankato, Minnesota.

Slippery Rock saw its season come to an end with a 21-17 defeat at  Notre Dame in the quarterfinal round.

The Rock finishes with an 11-3 record, while Notre Dame improves to 13-0 and advances to the national semifinals.

Valdosta State continued its offensive onslaught with a 61-21 win over Lenoir-Rhyne Saturday afternoon

VSU will host No. 11 Notre Dame at 12 p.m. at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium with a berth in the national championship on the line.

Ferris State will face Minnesota State on the road at 3 p.m. on Saturday for a berth in the Division II title game.

Keyondre Craig carried the ball just once, but it was a stellar 42-yard carry that finished with a flourish

The game began in normal weather conditions and with Tarleton going up 10-0. Before the end of the first half, a snowstorm began that changed the tone of the game. A standard pitch and catch became more difficult and even moving on the field became a slippery affair.

Tarleton State has proven all season they were the best team in the Lone Star Conference, but its biggest test yet came in the second round of the playoffs - defending National Champions Texas A&M-Commerce.

With the season hanging in the balance, Lenoir-Rhyne dug deeper than it had all year long.  

Wingate had pulled ahead by a field goal after scoring with less than three minutes to go. 

Ferris State continued its own version of a revenge tour, vanquishing a loss to Northwest Missouri without its standout quarterback.

Jayru Campbell did not play but the Bulldogs jumped out to a 20-0 lead.

"A sixty-minute game against a good opponent is always going to be a little bit like a rollercoaster."

That is what head coach Mike Jacobs had to say about the momentum swings.

Shaw Crocker threw for two scores to freshman wide receiver Jalen Brooks, including the game-winner with 10:38 to go.

Commerce punt returner Dominique Ramsey was asked how many hands Minnesota Duluth put on him during a return late in the first half of their playoff opener.

Ramsey could not remember. After all, everything happened fast.