NCAA Division 3 National Champions

For the third straight year, UW-Whitewater (that's the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater for those of you uninitiated to UW speak) made it to the NCAA Division-3 national championship game.  For the third straight year, they faced the number one ranked Mount Union (Ohio) team.  The team that beat them the last two years.  The team that has won 10 national titles in the past 15 years.  But this year was different.  This year, second-ranked Whitewater broke the mold and beat Mount Union 31-21 in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl XXXV in Salem, Virginia. It also broke Mount Union's 37-game winning streak.

Two days before the game, running back Justin Beaver received the Gagliardi Trophy as the best player in NCAA Division-3.  He showed why during the game.  Beaver ran for 249 yards with one touchdown.  During the final minutes of the game, there was an incredible 66-yard run that set up the final touchdown.  He did fumble twice, but he certainly made up for it. 

"I've seen so many people make mistakes and put their heads down" said the 5'9" 200-pound back.  "And I've kind of learned through many things in life that if you do make a mistake, bounce back as hard as you can and give it everything you've got.  That's what I've been doing, I guess."

Way to go, Warhawks!