It's 2009, NWMSU jumps out to an early lead... No way they are letting the National Championship out of their grasp this year. They've felt the heart ache from the previous 4 years. Some bad calls by the refs and a surge by Grand Valley started to put that doubt in fans heads as the saw the score get closer and closer. Finally the time on the scoreboard read 0:00 and NWMSU held the National Championship Trophy above their heads for a 3rd time in school history.

Moments like those are the ones we remember as fans, media personnel, coaches, and players. The heart and soul poured out on the field that day, the emotions that the players, coaches, family members, and fans felt. That is why we love the game. That game was played against an old playoff rival... Grand Valley State University. Those two teams are used to seeing each other and knew that when they collided, one heck of a football game was going to break out. When you look at these two teams you will see some of the proudest and winningest playoff teams in the history of D2 football. Throw the rankings out the window, burn the regional ranking seedings, forget who has the most All Americans. Get ready for a hard hitting, fast and furious, close ball game.

Lets look at this years teams. Grand Valley took the long way to the playoffs, stumbling a bit early on in the season. The defense is still a question mark, as is health of the starters on the team. The offense has been fairly balance with an edge to the run game. Grand Valley boast a solid offensive line, though at time they've struggled with pressure giving up 26 sacks. Offensively Grand Valley is a very solid team. Averaging 36.6 points per game, they average 441 yards per game. Again in this battle of the Powerhouses if this game is going to get out of hand it's going to be because of the Grand Valley Defense. They can't afford to start out slow as they have in several games and give up multiple scores to NWMSU right out of the gate. If they do that, NW is to dynamic on offense to let them regain the lead in my opinion.

NWMSU has already been handed the crown from some NW fans and media people. I think this is a very good NWMSU team, I know from 2000 though that heartbreak can hit you in the mouths in the playoffs. Defensively this NW team is great. The secondary has been one of the greatest secondaries in D2. You have Dixon #1 and Dixon #2 bookending it along with Enyard at safety a very formidable trio to throw into. The line has played lights out, and the quality of the corners have gave the coaching staff an open book on what to with formations and play calling.

Offensively people point out to the lack of stars on the NWMSU team, they don't have anyone who is a statistical star. That is what makes this team scary, to say they have no stars is incorrect. The playmakers are on the team, and they've broken out for game here and a game there. It has to be a nightmare for an opposing defensive coordinator. There isn't that guy you have to stop. In the NW offense of years past there was that go to guy. Teams knew taking him out of the equation greatly increased their shot to win. You don't have that this year. I've seen Utter, Thomas, Jackson, Burton, and etc all go off at a game. You don't know who the player is that is going to step up. Even at QB you've seen the starter and the 2nd stringer (Adams and Bolles) feed off each other and if one is struggling the other pulls it through. That is a logistical nightmare for an opposing staff. This NWMSU team while not as strong as some offenses in past is putting up 46 points and 482 yards per game. Those aren't bad stats at all, especially on a team where you are saying the defense is the strength of the team.

Matchup wise, I think GV keeps it closer then the last couple games. NWMSU has enough offense to exploit the GV defense and the defense matches up well against the GV offense. I wouldn't be surprised to see a couple lead changes early on then see a bit of break away in the 3rd quarter. Then a come back attempt by GV to get back in the game in the 4th quarter, raising NW fans heart rate a bit.

NWMSU 35 GVSU 28

This would propel NWMSU into the final National Championship game in Florence, Al. This would be a chance for 4 National Titles, tying Grand Valley for 2nd in the record of National Championships. NDSU has 5 National Championships.