For the first time in its two-decade history, the Louisburg College Hurricanes football program will play for the NJCAA Division III National Championship.
The Hurricanes (8-2) will meet the reigning three-time champions, College of DuPage (10-1), today (Saturday, Dec. 7), at 1 p.m. in the Red Grange Bowl at College of DuPage’s Bjarne Ullsvik Stadium in Chicago. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
“This is a dream come true for this program,” head coach Quinderra Spellman said when the title-game pairing was announced late last month. “These players have worked tirelessly all season, and this opportunity is a testament to their hard work, dedication and belief in each other.”
The Hurricanes are riding a wave of momentum, ending the regular season on a four-game winning streak. The team finished second in the NJCAA Division III rankings, guaranteeing their spot in the title game.
The ‘Canes boast a balanced attack that averages 35.8 points per game and a defense that leads the nation with 70 sacks, 18 interceptions and six defensive touchdowns. Freshman Letraskey Pressley has been a standout on defense, leading the team with 50 tackles, 11.5 sacks, and four fumble recoveries.
On offense, sophomore quarterback Dylan Trevillian has thrown for 1,892 yards and 18 touchdowns while adding three rushing scores. The Hurricanes’ receiving corps, led by Jabari Rone (327 yards, 5 TDs) and Jeffrey McDonald (343 yards, 1 TD), has spread the wealth throughout the season. The run game features a deep rotation, with 10 different players scoring touchdowns.
“This is bigger than just football. It’s about representing our school, our town and everyone who believed in us,” assistant coach Marcus Johnson said. “We’re not done yet.”
College of DuPage: A Formidable Opponent
College of DuPage, ranked No. 1 all season, enters the championship game on one of the most dominant runs in its history. The Chaparrals average 52.9 points per game and have won all but one of their games by at least 34 points.
Freshman quarterback Justin Bland leads the high-powered DuPage offense, throwing for 2,934 yards, 36 touchdowns and just five interceptions. His top targets include Clayton Bone (743 yards, 11 TDs) and Daion Gaston (546 yards, 7 TDs). On the ground, Jamareon Dale has rushed for 483 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Defensively, the Chaparrals are anchored by Michael Tringali, who leads the team with 57 tackles, and Darion Johnson, who has seven sacks. Sophomore kicker Christian Casillas is a game-changer, tying an NJCAA record with a 62-yard field goal earlier this season. He’s 57-57 on PATs this season and 11-of-15 on field goal attempts.
Common Ground
The two teams share two common opponents this season: Hocking College (Ohio) and Sussex County (NJ). Louisburg defeated Hocking 44-22 and Sussex 27-16, while DuPage cruised past Hocking twice (49-12 and 70-6) and rolled over Sussex 58-21.
Louisburg and DuPage have met twice in the past, splitting the series. The Hurricanes won convincingly in 2018 (47-9), but the Chaparrals took a close 21-12 victory in 2019.
The Stage Is Set
Saturday’s game marks the fourth straight year the NJCAA Division III Championship will be held at College of DuPage, paying homage to the late Red Grange, a football legend and namesake of the bowl.
With history on the line, Coach Spellman and his team are basking in the moment.
“It’s exciting not just for the team but for campus and the community as well,” Spellman said after breaking the news to his team on Monday, Nov. 25. “To go from a small town to the National stage is exciting.”
Fans can tune in on ESPN+ to see if the Hurricanes can bring a national title back to North Carolina. NC Football News will have updates during the weekend as well.
