The Trine University football team (11-0) clamped down defensively in the second half of their 2017 NCAA Football Championship to post a 63-24 victory over Monmouth (Ill.) Nov. 18 at Zoeller Athletic Stadium in Angola, Ind.
The Thunder owned a 28-24 lead at the halftime break despite allowing 332 yards of offense by the Scots; Trine proceeded to rattle off five touchdowns offensively while holding Monmouth scoreless to advance in the national championship.
Trine advances to face Wartburg (11-0) Saturday, Nov. 25 in Waverly, Iowa for the NCAA Championship Second Round in a first-ever meeting between the two teams.
Trine's defense posted a pair of touchdowns on interception returns, with Hunter Hiatt's 56-yard pick-six bookended the Thunder's scoring with Marcus Winters' 25-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Evan Wyse passed for 162 yards and threw for one touchdown while adding three rushing touchdowns of his own to guide the Thunder. Lamar Carswell scampered for 131 yards and two touchdowns; Seth Boggs added a rushing touchdown to go with his touchdown reception in the third quarter.
The Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl (the 2017 NCAA Division III Football Championship game) is slated for Friday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m.
Tournament links
NCAA Division III Football page
2017 NCAA Division III Football bracket announcement
