The 2021 NCAA Division III Football Championship Game, more commonly referred to as the 2021 Stagg Bowl or Stagg Bowl XLVIII, is a postseason college football game that determined a national champion in NCAA Division III for the 2021 season. It was played at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, on December 17, 2021. Kickoff was scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EST, and the game aired on ESPNU. The game featured the North Central Cardinals, from the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, and the Mary Hardin–Baylor Crusaders, from the American Southwest Conference.
Teams The participants of the 2021 NCAA Division III Football Championship Game were the finalists of the 2021 Division III Playoffs, a 32-team single-elimination bracket. The game featured North Central, the defending national champions after winning the 2019 Stagg Bowl, and making their second title game appearance, and Mary Hardin–Baylor, seeking their second championship (their 2016 championship victory was later vacated) in their fifth title game appearance. This contest was the first between the two teams.
National semifinals
Game summary
Statistics Statistics NCC UMHB First downs 1828 Plays–yards 61-28765-596 Rushes–yards 34-8532-133 Passing yards 202463 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18-27-324-33-0 Time of possession 28:48 31:12 Team Category Player StatisticsNorth Central Passing Luke Lehnen 18-27, 202 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT Rushing Ethan Greenfield 25 carries, 124 yards, 1 TD Receiving Andrew Kamienski 8 receptions, 115 yardsMary Hardin–Baylor Passing Kyle King 22-29, 436 yards, 3 TD Rushing Aphonso Thomas 13 carries, 65 yards, 2 TD Receiving Brenton Martin 9 receptions, 170 yards, 1 TD
References