Valdosta St. wins Division II title

FLORENCE, Ala. — Michael Terry scored a touchdown with 22 seconds left and Valdosta State beat Northwest Missouri State 25-20 Saturday for the NCAA Division II championship.

It was the Bearcats’ third consecutive title-game loss.

Terry’s 1-yard TD run capped an eight-play, 37-yard drive sparked by Willie Copeland’s four straight completions for 27 yards. Valdosta (13-1) overcame a 14-3 halftime deficit in dropping Northwest Missouri to 12-2.

Valdosta State’s William Montford intercepted a desperation pass by Joel Osborn with 16 seconds left to preserve the win, and Blazer fans swarmed the field, soggy after a cold rainstorm blew through.

Valdosta made its first trip to the championship since 2004, when it beat Pittsburg State 36-31. Northwest Missouri has lost three straight title games by a total of 12 points.

The loss was a rough end to a tough week for the Bearcats, who had to fight ice in the Midwest and fog in Alabama just to get to Florence.

Not that the trip was all that easy for the Blazers: They had a 430-mile bus ride from southern Georgia.

Copeland completed 29 of 44 passes for 257 yards and just one interception despite getting sacked four times.

Terry was Valdosta State’s leading rusher with only 36 yards on 12 carries.