2012 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football season

Last updated

2012 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football season
KCAC Football logo (Helmet).jpg
KCAC Football official logo
League NAIA
Sport football
DurationFall-Winter 2012
Number of teams10
2012
Football seasons
  2011
2013  
2012 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 16 Ottawa $^  8 1   8 3  
No. 18 Tabor  7 1   8 2  
Kansas Wesleyan  6 3   6 5  
Saint Mary (KS)  6 3   6 5  
Friends  5 4   6 5  
McPherson  4 4   4 5  
Southwestern (KS)  3 6   4 7  
Sterling  3 6   3 7  
Bethany (KS)  2 7   4 7  
Bethel (KS)  0 9   0 10  
  • $ Conference champion
  • ^ – NAIA playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll

The 2012 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football season was made up of 10 United States college athletic programs that competed in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) under the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) for the 2012 college football season. The season began play on August 25, 2012 when the Ottawa Braves hosted the Baker Wildcats.

Contents

Conference teams and information

Conference rules require each team to play all other teams within the conference and two other regular season non-conference game for a total of 11 games. Up until 2011, the conference only allowed a 10-game season. [1]

Two teams begin the season with new head coaches. Bethel's head coach Travis Graber resigned on July 27, 2012 with just over a month before the season begins for his team. [2] Bethel named former assistant James Dotson as interim head coach for the 2012 season. [3]

McPherson's Pete Sterbick is also new to his team and a first-year head coach. Sterbick was announced as the new head coach for the Bulldogs in February 2012. [4]

SchoolMascotHead CoachLocationStadium
Bethany Terrible Swedes Jamie Cruce Lindsborg, Kansas Lindstrom Field
Bethel Threshers James Dotson North Newton, Kansas Thresher Stadium
Friends Falcons Monty Lewis Wichita, Kansas Adair-Austin Stadium
Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes Dave Dallas Salina, Kansas Salina Stadium
McPherson Bulldogs Pete Sterbick McPherson, Kansas McPherson Stadium
Ottawa Braves Kent Kessinger Ottawa, Kansas Peoples Bank Field
Saint Mary Spires Lance Hinson Leavenworth, Kansas Saint Mary Field
Southwestern Moundbuilders Ken Crandall Winfield, Kansas Richard L. Jantz Stadium
Sterling Warriors Andy Lambert Sterling, Kansas Smisor Stadium
Tabor Bluejays Mike Gardner Hillsboro, Kansas Joel Wiens Stadium

Preseason outlook

Immediately following the conference's "media day" on August 1, 2012, votes were tabulated for both the KCAC Coaches' and Media Preseason Polls. Ottawa University was the clear choice in both polls to win the conference, with nine first place votes in the coaches' poll and 15 in the Media Poll. [5]

Nationally, the season began with Ottawa ranked #10 in the nation and Bethany ranked #24 nationally in the 2012 Spring NAIA Coaches' Poll. Friends received votes in the poll but was not ranked in the top 25. [6]

Regular season

Schedule is subject to change. [7]

Index to colors and formatting
KCAC member won
KCAC member lost
Winning team in bold

Week 0

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
August 25, 20126:00 PMNo. 18  Baker No. 11 OttawaPeoples Bank Field • Ottawa, Kansas (NAIA Football Game of the Week)L 2720  
August 25, 20127:00 PMTaborBacone Indian BowlMuskogee, Oklahoma L 2025  
#Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll. All times are in Central Time.

The season began with two non-conference games for the KCAC. Baker University from the Heart of America Athletic Conference traveled to Ottawa and Tabor visited Bacone College of the Central States Football League. Both KCAC teams lost their games, leaving the conference 02 against other conferences.

#18 Baker at #11 Ottawa

1234Total
#18 Baker3371427
#11 Ottawa7301020
Ottawa lines up offensively against rival Baker in the NAIA Game of the Week on August 25, 2012. Ottawa Braves offense.JPG
Ottawa lines up offensively against rival Baker in the NAIA Game of the Week on August 25, 2012.

Baker and Ottawa met in the season's first NAIA "Game of the Week" on August 25. This was the sixth time that both teams have met in their season opener, and the 81st meeting all-time for the two programs. Going into the game, Baker led the rivalry 45-33-2 including a 41-16 victory in 2011. [8]

Ottawa came to the game winning the conference two of the last three seasons and with three consecutive post-season appearances. Baker has five consecutive winning seasons and five rankings in the top 25 final poll. [9] Baker plays in the Heart of America Athletic Conference, considered one of the strongest in the NAIA. [10]

When the game got under way, Baker scored first with a 12-yard field goal by Steven Stewart with 8:13 left in the first quarter, but not after losing starting quarterback Jake Morse to injury for the remainder of the game. With 4:45 left in the first, Ottawa answered back with a touchdown and kicked the extra point to make the score 73. One more field goal by each team put the score 106 at halftime. [11]

In the fourth quarter, Baker took the score from tied up at 1313 to a 2713 lead by capitalizing on two turnovers. With 1:49 left to play, Ryder Werts fell on the ball in the end zone for a touchdown and kicker Steven Stewart made the extra point to put the Wildcats up by seven. Just 29 seconds later, Baker's Emmerson Clarke took a 48-yard interception return for a touchdown. Stewart's extra point put the score at 2713. Ottawa managed a final touchdown with five seconds to go in the fourth quarter to put the final score at 2720, with Baker recording the upset victory over the higher-ranked team. [11]

Baker had two key players injured during and prior to the game. Morse's injury was somewhat of a repeat of the matchup in 2010, when he left the game due to a concussion. Just one week earlier, Junior Scott Meyer’s season ended from injury in a scrimmage game against Fort Scott Community College. [12]

Ottawa began the game without offensive starter Matt Bollig, who suffered a career-ending injury during weightlifting practice in July. [13]

Tabor at Bacone

1234Total
Tabor0020020
Bacone10312025

Tabor traveled to Muskogee, Oklahoma for their game against Bacone for the second of two games in the conference for the week. Bacone coach Trevor Rubly began the game looking for his squad to improve over last year's statistics in turnovers beginning with this game. [14] Last year Tabor completed a 3-7 overall record and 2-7 in conference play, but was picked to finish higher in both media and coaches conference poll. [15]

Bacone managed to get off to an early start, scoring 10 points in the first quarter and leading at halftime 130. Tabor showed heart in the third quarter by scoring 20 points and made a good attempt at a comeback, [16] but allowed Bacone to tack on an additional 12 to win the game 2520. [17]

Week 1

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
August 30, 20126:00 PMSouthwesternNo. 10  Northwestern (IA) DeValois StadiumOrange City, Iowa L 049  2,347
September 1, 201211:30 AMNo. 14  William Penn No. 0 BethelThresher Stadium • North Newton, KansasL 540  
September 1, 201212:00 PMKansas WesleyanNo. 22  Cumberland Dyersburg High SchoolDyersburg, Tennessee (Big River Bowl)L 2031  
September 1, 20121:00 PMSterlingNo. 13  Benedictine Larry Wilcox StadiumAtchison, Kansas L 659  
September 1, 20121:00 PMSaint Mary Nebraska Wesleyan Abel StadiumLincoln, Nebraska L 2025  
September 1, 20126:00 PMFriends Evangel JFK StadiumSpringfield, Missouri L 1427  
September 1, 20126:00 PMNo. 9  Missouri Valley McPhersonMcPherson Stadium • McPherson, KansasL 2713  
September 1, 20126:00 PMNo. 24 BethanySouthwestern Assemblies of God University Lumpkins StadiumWaxahachie, Texas W 1312  
#Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll. All times are in Central Time.

The games of week 1 produced only one non-conference victory with Bethany, who took sole possession of first place in the conference standings and a record of 10. All other teams in the conference concluded week 1 with a record of 00.

After week 1, the conference stood at 19 against non-conference opponents. [18]

Southwestern at #10 Northwestern (IA)

1234Total
Southwestern00000
#10 Northwestern (IA)20614949

Tenth ranked Northwestern hosted the Southwestern College Moundbuilders on a Thursday night game in front of 2,347 fans. [19] Southwestern entered the game with optimism of a victory and breaking a losing streak. [20]

Northwestern dominated play the entire game. Head coach Kyle Achterhoff led his team to 649 yards and 7 touchdowns, averaging 7.1 yards per play while holding Southwestern to 156 yards and no points. Southwestern's Ceth Bannister managed a 64-yard punt in the game as a bright spot for Southwestern. The final score was 490 with Northwestern winning. [21]

#14 William Penn at Bethel

1234Total
#14 William Penn29913354
Bethel00000

Bethel's interim coach James Dotson had just 41 players suited up for their season opener, against 14th-ranked William Penn. William Penn scored 29 points in the first quarter alone and dominated every aspect of the game. [22] The Statesmen came into the game off a 3914 victory over Iowa Wesleyan the previous week. [23]

William Penn piled on 474 yards of total offense and seven touchdowns while holding Bethel to just 49 yards with no scores. The final score was 540. [24]

Kansas Wesleyan at #22 Cumberland

1234Total
Kansas Wesleyan730010
#22 Cumberland7771031

Kansas Wesleyan met #22 Cumberland in the "Big River Bowl" hosted in Dyersburg, Tennessee, the first of two games played that day at the location. [25]

Kansas Wesleyan secured 207 yards in the first half but only 45 in the second half of the game. [22] Cumberland led 1410 at halftime, and then began the third quarter with a 52-yard touchdown pass to Marquis Hagewood. [26] Cumberland finished the game with 451 yards of total offense, including 317 on the ground. [27] Cumberland claimed victory by a score of 3110. [28]

Sterling at #13 Benedictine

1234Total
Sterling00606
#13 Benedictine211771459

The Benedictine Ravens played host to the Sterling Warriors and dominated every aspect of the game.

The Ravens achieved 429 yards in total offense with eight touchdowns while Sterling earned just 265 and one touchdown. Sterling lost four fumbles and another interception while only making good on 3 of 14 third down situations. Benedictine lost two fumbles and zero interceptions while converting 6 of 11 third downs. The final score was Benedictine 59, Sterling 6. [29]

Saint Mary at Nebraska Wesleyan

1234Total
Saint Mary770620
Nebraska Wesleyan0716225

Saint Mary's Jerrell Young caught a 9-yard pass from Mike Keese for a touchdown in the first quarter to get off to a 70 lead. Wesleyan's Nate Hauptman made good on a 1-yard run for a touchdown in the second quarter to tie up the score, but Saint Mary pulled ahead when Marcus Mata ran for a four-yard touchdown and Saint Mary went in at halftime with a 147 lead. [30]

Saint Mary's top-flight passing attack helped give the Spires a 458-242 edge in total offense. Quarterback Mike Keese - who threw for 3,638 yards and 21 touchdowns a year ago - was 30-of-54 for 377 yards and two touchdowns. [22]

Saint Mary still held a thin lead when Wesleayn's Nate Hauptman threw a 30-yard pass to Ryan Larsen for a touchdown because the extra point was blocked. Saint Mary held a 1413 lead. But two more scores by Wesleyan in the third quarter made a difference, as Aaron Lorraine made a 31-yard field goal and Dustin Bryant scored on a 7 yard carry to end the third quarter 2314. [30]

Nebraska Wesleyan scored on three straight possessions in the second half and batted down a fourth-and-goal pass in the end zone to hold on for the win. [22] Saint Mary attempt to come back in the fourth quarter fell short and Nebraska Wesleyan won 2520. [30]

Friends at Evangel

1234Total
Friends007714
Evangel7731027

Evangel began its season opener against Friends looking to bounce back from last season's record of 37, depending on their more experienced players such as pre-season second team all-American linebacker Tabor Cheo. [31]

Evangel's Jesse Vaughn caught a 31-yard pass from Andrew Brimhal for a touchdown in the first quarter to take the lead and Evangel held the lead for the remainder of the game. Evangel's offense out-produced Friends 419 yards to 374, with three touchdowns to two by the Falcons. The final score was Friends 14, Evangel 27. [32]

#9 Missouri Valley at McPherson

1234Total
#9 Missouri Valley3771027
McPherson067013

The lead changed five times when #9 Missouri Valley traveled to play McPherson. Missouri Valley achieved 377 yards of total offense and three touchdowns while McPherson nearly matched with 376 yards but only two touchdowns. McPherson was intercepted twice where Missouri Valley was not, but McPherson only committed one penalty to Missouri Valley's seven. In the end, Missouri Valley claimed victory 2713. [33]

#24 Bethany at Southwestern Assemblies of God

1234Total
#24 Bethany700613
Southwestern Assemblies of God333312

Last season Southwestern Assemblies of God (SAGU) ended with a record of 4 wins and 6 losses. The team returned 13 starting players for the new season, including quarterback Reid Golson and running backs Sean Haynes and Cade Leuschner. [34]

Bethany's Darby House managed to throw two touchdown passes to offset SAGU's four field goals. One touchdown pass was caught by Brandon Martino and the other by teammate D'Andre Thompson. The second to Thompson came with 37 seconds left in the game. [18] It was just enough for a 1312 victory. [35]

Week 2

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
September 8, 20126:00 PMBethelSouthwestern Richard L. Jantz Stadium • Winfield, Kansas 1327  
September 8, 20127:00 PMSterlingTabor Joel Wiens Stadium • Hillsboro, Kansas 712  
September 8, 20127:00 PMSaint MaryFriends Adair-Austin Stadium • Wichita, Kansas 1436  
September 8, 20127:00 PMNo. 11 OttawaKansas Wesleyan Salina Stadium • Salina, Kansas 2831  
September 8, 20127:00 PMMcPhersonNo. 24 BethanyLindstrom Field • Lindsborg, Kansas 140  
#Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll. All times are in Central Time.

Week 2 was exclusively conference play. Two teams entered the week ranked: Ottawa at #11 and Bethany at #24. When the week was over, both Ottawa and Bethany were dropped from the rankings due to losses and other conference teams managed to earn a ranking. [36]

#11 Ottawa at Kansas Wesleyan

1234Total
#11 Ottawa777728
Kansas Wesleyan17014031

Underdog Kansas Wesleyan ended the first quarter with a 177 lead and held it for the remainder of the game, although 11th-ranked Ottawa did manage to work up what looked like a comeback. Ottawa's offense achieved 512 total yards and held Kansas Wesleyan to 327 and four touchdowns apiece. The difference came down to kicking, as Kansas Wesleyan's Terry Stecker managed a field goal to put the Coyotes far enough ahead to keep the victory. Final score: Kansas Wesleyan 31, Ottawa 28. [37]

McPherson at #24 Bethany

1234Total
McPherson070714
#24 Bethany00000

Only two touchdowns came in the game between McPherson and Bethany in the home opener for the Terrible Sweedes, and both of those touchdowns were achieved by McPherson. The first one came with just thirteen seconds left in the second quarter when Havelock Pomele made a 2-yard run to score, and Cord Cunningham converted the extra point to put the score to 70. The second touchdown, also by Pomele was a 13-yard run with 14:53 left in the fourth quarter. Cunningham made good on the extra point for the second time and the result was a McPherson upset over #24 Bethany by a score of 140. [38]

Week 3

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
September 15, 20126:00 PMSaint MaryOttawa Peoples Bank Field • Ottawa, Kansas 4250  
September 15, 20126:00 PMKansas WesleyanSterlingSmisor Stadium • Sterling, Kansas (Warriorfest) 1410  
September 15, 20127:00 PMBethanyBethelThresher Stadium • North Newton, Kansas 160  
September 15, 20127:00 PM Haskell Tabor Joel Wiens Stadium • Hillsboro, Kansas 756  
September 15, 20127:00 PMSouthwesternMcPherson McPherson Stadium • McPherson, Kansas 2140  
#Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll. All times are in Central Time.

Week 4

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
September 22, 20121:30 PMTabor Saint MarySaint Mary Field • Leavenworth, Kansas 4437  
September 22, 20126:00 PMSterlingSouthwestern Richard L. Jantz Stadium • Winfield, Kansas 630  
September 22, 20127:00 PMNo. 24 Kansas Wesleyan BethanyLindstrom Field • Lindsborg, Kansas 3331  
September 22, 20127:00 PMFriends McPhersonMcPherson Stadium • McPherson, Kansas 1817  
#Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll. All times are in Central Time.

Week 5

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
September 29, 20122:00 PM Avila BethanyLindstrom Field • Lindsborg, KansasW 10 forfeit  
September 29, 20126:00 PMSaint Mary SterlingSmisor Stadium • Sterling, Kansas 2120 1 OT 
September 29, 20126:00 PMFriendsNo. 23 Kansas Wesleyan Salina Stadium • Salina, Kansas 2428  
September 29, 20127:00 PMOttawa TaborJoel Wiens Stadium • Hillsboro, Kansas 2521  
September 29, 20127:00 PMSouthwestern Haskell Indian Nations Fighting Indians Haskell StadiumLawrence, Kansas  3812  
September 29, 20127:00 PMMcPherson BethelThresher Stadium • North Newton, Kansas 619  
#Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll. All times are in Central Time.

Avila vs. Bethany

Avila and Bethany played their game as scheduled and Avila outscored Bethany by a score of 3519. [39] Avila would later forfeit the victory due to the use of an ineligible player. [40]

Week 6

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
October 6, 20121:30 PMBethanySaint Mary Saint Mary Field • Leavenworth, Kansas 2034  
October 6, 20121:30 PMBethelFriends Adair-Austin Stadium • Wichita, Kansas 644  
October 6, 20122:00 PMNo. 20 Kansas WesleyanTabor Joel Wiens Stadium • Hillsboro, Kansas 3156  
October 6, 20127:00 PMSouthwesternOttawa Peoples Bank Field • Ottawa, Kansas 2140  
#Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll. All times are in Central Time.

Week 7

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
October 13, 20121:30 PMNo. 24 Tabor BethanyLindstrom Field • Lindsborg, Kansas 447  
October 13, 20121:30 PMNo. 25 FriendsSouthwestern Richard L. Jantz Stadium • Winfield, Kansas 2132  
October 13, 20121:30 PMNo. 5  William Penn Saint MarySaint Mary Field • Leavenworth, KansasL 5314  
October 13, 20127:00 PMSterling BethelThresher Stadium • North Newton, Kansas (Fall Fest) 490  
October 13, 20127:00 PMSouthern Nazarene Kansas WesleyanSalina Stadium • Salina, KansasL 4419  
October 13, 20127:00 PMMcPhersonOttawa Peoples Bank Field • Ottawa, Kansas 1438  
#Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll. All times are in Central Time.

Week 8

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
October 20, 20121:30 PMNo. 22 Tabor McPherson McPherson Stadium • McPherson, Kansas cancelled  N/A
October 20, 20121:30 PMSouthwesternSaint Mary Saint Mary Field • Leavenworth, Kansas 745  
October 20, 20121:30 PMBethelKansas Wesleyan Salina Stadium • Salina, Kansas 1251  
October 20, 20121:30 PMOttawa SterlingSmisor Stadium • Sterling, Kansas 3821  
October 20, 20123:00 PMBethanyFriends Adair-Austin Stadium • Wichita, Kansas 743  
#Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll. All times are in Central Time.

#22 Tabor vs. McPherson - cancelled

Brandon Brown Brandon Brown, Redshirt Junior Tabor College 2012.jpeg
Brandon Brown

On October 4, 2012, the KCAC and presidents of McPherson and Tabor agreed to cancel their game scheduled for October 20, 2012. [41] The game was cancelled in light of the ongoing investigation into the murder of Tabor football player Brandon Brown. The two suspected of committing the murder are former football players from McPherson College. [42]

Aftermath

Two former players from McPherson's team have been charged with the murder: Alton Franklin [43] and Dequinte Oshea Flournoy. [44] Both were on the football roster at McPherson for the previous year, and Franklin was listed as a sophomore linebacker at the beginning of the 2012 season. He was dismissed from the team before the incident and Flournoy was also no longer a member of the team. [45]

Michael Schneider, President of McPherson College said that McPherson and Tabor colleges do not have a rivalry that would account for what happened. [46]

Preliminary hearing

Investigation of the crime was handled in cooperation by the McPherson Police Department, the McPherson County Sheriff's Office, and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. [47]

After a preliminary hearing on January 31, 2013, the suspects Franklin and Flournoy were bound over for trial on charges of being accessories to second-degree murder. [48]

The McPherson County Medical Examiner testified that Brown's blood alcohol level was .30, well above the legal limit in the state of Kansas. Attorneys for the defense argued that their actions were self-defense, saying "The defendants were using force to try to remove them from the premises." David Harger, Franklin's attorney continued, "Those people were armed. They then, as we know from police, stabbed the door with a knife."

Both Franklin and Flournoy entered a plea of not guilty. [49]

Plea bargain & trial

DeQuinte Flournoy later changed his position and entered a plea of no contest to a reduced charge of felony aggravated battery. A third former McPherson player testified that Franklin struck Brown in the face and Flournoy held Brown down. At the time, Flournoy was expected to testify at Franklin's trial. [50]

The jury deliberated less than two hours before delivering a verdict of not guilty of second-degree murder for Alton Franklin. Franklin was released after being held since September. [51] Reactions from the community were left wanting more details and seeking understanding about the results. [52]

Week 9

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
October 27, 20121:30 PMBethelNo. 22 Tabor Joel Wiens Stadium • Hillsboro, Kansas 675  
October 27, 20121:30 PMKansas Wesleyan SouthwesternRichard L. Jantz Stadium • Winfield, Kansas 3517  
October 27, 20121:30 PMSterlingFriends Adair-Austin Stadium • Wichita, Kansas (Senior Day) 021  
October 27, 20121:30 PMBethanyNo. 24 Ottawa Peoples Bank Field • Ottawa, Kansas 056  
October 27, 20121:30 PMSaint Mary McPhersonMcPherson Stadium • McPherson, Kansas (Senior Day) 2614  
#Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll. All times are in Central Time.

Week 10

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
November 3, 20121:30 PMNo. 20 Tabor SouthwesternRichard L. Jantz Stadium • Winfield, Kansas 5127  
November 3, 20121:30 PMSaint Mary BethelThresher Stadium • North Newton, Kansas 866  
November 3, 20121:30 PMSterling BethanyLindstrom Field • Lindsborg, Kansas 1710  
November 3, 20121:30 PMMcPherson No. 23 Kansas WesleyanSalina Stadium • Salina, Kansas 2824  
November 3, 20121:30 PMFriendsNo. 19 Ottawa Peoples Bank Field • Ottawa, Kansas 335  
#Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll. All times are in Central Time.

Week 11

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
November 10, 20121:30 PMFriendsNo. 17 Tabor Joel Wiens Stadium • Hillsboro, Kansas (Senior Day) 331  
November 10, 20121:30 PMSouthwesternBethany Lindstrom Field • Lindsborg, Kansas (Senior Day) 2637  
November 10, 20121:30 PMMcPherson SterlingSmisor Stadium • Sterling, Kansas (0) 2321  
November 10, 20121:30 PMKansas WesleyanSaint Mary Saint Mary Field • Leavenworth, Kansas 2338  
November 10, 20121:30 PMNo. 16 Ottawa BethelThresher Stadium • North Newton, Kansas 516  
#Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll. All times are in Central Time.

Postseason

Conference regular season champion Ottawa earned an invitation to the 2012 NAIA Football National Championship and was the only team in the conference to be invited. No other team achieved post-season play. [53]

First round

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
41230Ottawa Missouri Valley Gregg-Mitchell FieldMarshall, Missouri (NAIA FCS First Round) 2442  
#Rankings from NAIA Coaches' Poll. All times are in Central Time.

#15 Ottawa (KS) at #2 Missouri Valley

1234Total
#15 Ottawa (KS)077721
#2 Missouri Valley151571956

Missouri Valley finished the regular season with its third consecutive conference championship and an undefeated 100 record, while Ottawa entered into the game with its second consecutive conference championship and a record of 82. [53] Missouri Valley earned the home field advantage for the first round. [54]

Missouri Valley scored 15 points in the first quarter and held Ottawa to zero, and held that lead for the entire game. Missouri Valley averaged 6.9 yards per play while holding Ottawa to 2.7. Missouri Valley's 487 total yards was made up of 229 yards rushing and 258 passing. With 13:46 left in the second quarter, Ottawa scored and managed to bring the score within eight points, but Missouri Valley pulled further away to a victorious final score of 5621. [55]

Player and coach awards

At the end the regular season play, the conference granted multiple individual and team awards. Ottawa University was declared conference champion and the Tabor Bluejays were declared runner-up.

Ottawa's Shane Gimzo was awarded the Player of the Year. Mike Keese of Saint Mary was awarded Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year went to Donald Anderson of Ottawa. Friends University's Derek Racette earns Special Teams Player of the Year and Jordan Barrett of Southwestern College was named the "Dr. Ted Kessinger Champion of Character Award" recipient. Mike Gardner of Tabor was declared the conference Coach of the Year. [56]

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The 2012 NAIA football national championship was played on December 13, 2012 as the 57th Annual Russell Athletic NAIA Football National Championship. The game matched the once-beaten and 5th-ranked Knights from Marian University against the undefeated and 3rd-ranked Mustangs from Morningside College. The game matched two teams making their first appearance in the championship game, assuring someone would win the title for the first time. The teams proved to be evenly matched, and the outcome was not decided until the winning points were scored in the first round of overtime. With their winning field goal, the Marian Knights prevailed, 30-27 in the first overtime game in NAIA football championship history.

The 2012 Heart of America Athletic Conference football season is made up of 10 United States college athletic programs that compete in the continental midwest Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) under the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) for the 2012 college football season.

The 2012 Great Plains Athletic Conference football season is made up of 10 United States college athletic programs that compete in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) under the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) for the 2012 college football season. Morningside College of Iowa completed the regular season undefeated to win the conference championship and advance to the 2012 NAIA Football National Championship. Northwestern came in second in conference play and also qualified for the championship tournament, but lost in the first round to the Marian Knights by a score of 42–32.

The 2012 Mid-States Football Association season is made up of 13 United States college athletic programs that compete in the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) under the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) for the 2012 college football season. The conference is divided into two leagues, the Mideast League and the Midwest league.

The 2012 NAIA Independents football season is made up of seventeen United States college athletic programs that compete without any conference affiliation as NAIA independent football schools under the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) for the 2012 college football season. No conference champion is declared. The team with the best record was the Robert Morris Eagles, with eight wins and three losses, followed by Valley City State Vikings at seven wins and three losses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football season</span> Sports season

The 2013 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football season is made up of 10 United States college athletic programs that compete in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) under the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) for the 2013 college football season. The season began play on August 31, 2013.

The 1946 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football season was the season of college football played by the seven member schools of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) as part of the 1946 college football season.

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