Carroll dethroned as NAIA champion

ROME, Ga. – Jimmy Coy accounted for 294 yards and two touchdowns, Mark Williams knocked down a fourth-down pass in the end zone with 2 minutes left and St. Xavier won its first NAIA football title with a 24-20 victory over defending champion Carroll on Saturday.

Coy, a senior transfer from NCAA Division II Valdosta State, completed 28 of 43 passes for 216 yards and a touchdown, and ran for 78 yards and a score on 16 carries. He was selected the Offensive Player of the Game.

St. Xavier (14-1) was making its first championship appearance after losing in the semifinals three of the past four years. The loss kept Carroll (13-2) from a seventh title, which would have tied the NAIA record.

Jared Mayernik returned the second-half kickoff 94 yards to give Carroll its only lead. But the Saints missed the extra point and St. Xavier drove 67 yards to go back ahead on K.J. Franklin’s 4-yard run early in the third quarter.

St. Xavier couldn’t take advantage of a bad punt snap, with Tom Lynch missing a 20-yard field goal attempt midway in the third quarter, and it looked as if that might be costly when Carroll drove from its 18 to the St. Xavier 9 late in the fourth quarter.

But Dane Broadhead couldn’t connect on four pass attempts, the last one batted down by freshman Williams.

St. Xavier linebacker Patrick Appino was selected the Defensive Player of the Game as the Cougars held Carroll’s Chance Demarais, the NAIA Player of the Year, to 57 yards on 21 carries.

Carroll came in having given up just 17 points in three playoffs victories, but St. Xavier matched that in the first half while amassing 224 yards and taking a three-point lead.