Cwu, Findlay Mad About Tie Naia Division Ii Title Is Shared For The Third Time Since 1981

Findlay of Ohio and Central Washington will share the NAIA Division II national football championship. Understandably, neither is happy about it.

And some of the players were even surprised by the NAIA’s seemingly archaic rules following Saturday’s 21-21 tie in the Tacoma Dome.

“I’m disappointed,” Findlay’s Troy Pearson said. “Bowl games have a tiebreaker now. I figured there would be one here.”

Because of a rule that hasn’t been updated in 39 years, a Division II title game wound up in a tie for the third time.

In 1981, Austin College of Texas and Concordia of Moorhead, Minn., tied 24-24 to wind up as co-champs. And in 1987, also in the Tacoma Dome, the championship game ended in a 16-16 tie between Pacific Lutheran and Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Wisconsin-Stevens Point later had to give up its share of the title because of an ineligible player.

The coaches felt the same way as their players.

“If you ask all 96 players, you’ll get 96 votes to change the rules,” Findlay’s Dick Strahm said. “There’s no doubt about it. We’re all down in the dumps. I think something needs to be corrected.”

Jeff Zenisek came away with a hollow feeling following the first tie in his four years as coach of Central Washington.

“It’s tough,” Zenisek said. “It’ll take us a couple of days to get over this.”

Pearson was voted the game’s best offensive player by the media after rushing 26 times for 176 yards and two touchdowns.

Central Washington’s Jon Kitna completed 23 of 39 passes for 286 yards and three touchdowns.

Kitna had his third touchdown pass, a 7-yarder to tight end Todd Murray, on the third play of the final quarter and Marty Greenlee kicked the extra point for the 21-21 tie.

Central Washington had two more chances to win. But Greenlee badly missed a 45-yard field-goal attempt with 1:47 gone in the fourth quarter and then was wide left on a 40-yard attempt with 6 seconds left.

Findlay, national champion in 1979 and 1992, lost starting quarterback Bo Hurley with a strained knee when he carried the ball for 26 yards on the Oilers’ third play. Strahm said Hurley may have suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage to his left knee.

Central 21, Findlay 21

Findlay 0 14 7 0 - 21

C. Wash. 0 7 7 7 - 21 Fin-Pearson 1 run (Sellers kick)

Fin-Pearson 24 run (Sellers kick)

CW-Russaw 26 pass from Kitna (Greenlee kick)

CW-Henderson 49 pass from Kitna (Greenlee kick)

Fin-Booth 3 run (Sellers kick)

CW-Murray 7 pass from Kitna (Greenlee kick)

A-5,628.

Fin CW First downs 21 13 Rushes-yards 63-339 17-35 Passing 44 286 Return Yards 48 86 Comp-Att-Int 5-10-1 23-39-0 Punts 6-32 6-43 Fumbles-Lost 2-1 0-0 Penalties-Yards 6-65 2-24 Time of Possession 39:04 20:56

RUSHINGFindlay, Pearson 26-176, Shelton 14-60, Booth

12-45, Yeager 9-28, Hurley 1-26, Wojtas 1-4. Central Washington, Christian 8-19, Kitna 9-16.

PASSINGFindlay, Booth 5-10-1-44. Central Washington, Kitna 23-39-0-286.

RECEIVINGFindlay, Hamby 3-29, Shelton 1-14, Yeager 1-1. Central Washington, Russaw 7-105, Christian 7-60, Henderson 2-63, Woodard 3-33, Murray 3-19, Holt 1-6.