Louisburg College football and the College of DuPage both made history Saturday afternoon.
The Hurricanes, North Carolina’s only junior college football team, played in its first-ever NJCAA Division III national championship game. College of DuPage, meanwhile, won an unprecedented fourth-straight national JUCO trophy, defeating visiting Louisburg 31-14 in the Red Grange Bowl.
DuPage quarterback Justin Bland rushed for a pair of short-yardage scores and threw for another TD, helping the Chaparrals complete their season 11-1. Louisburg engineered an 8-3 campaign, capped by finishing second in the NJCAA Division III national rankings.
College of DuPage scored in the first five minutes of the game to set the tone. Bland found Clayton Bone on a 36-yard TD strike to put the Chaparrals ahead 7-0. The lead grew to 21-0 by the second quarter before Louisburg finally cracked the scoreboard.
Jameson Prince scored for the ‘Canes from the 2-yard line with 1:50 to play before half.
Louisburg pulled within 24-14 midway through the third quarter. Prince again found the end zone, this time from 8 yards out. But that would be it for the Hurricanes’ scoring. Bland’s second rushing TD from the 7-yard line provided the final margin.
Prince led Louisburg in rushing with 63 yards. Mekiaun Davis added 55 yards on 11 carries, including a 26-yard jaunt. Jeffrey McDonald caught two throws for 39 yards from Hurricanes quarterback Dylan Trevillian.
Dylon O’Neal (9 tackles), Jah’keevi Garnett (8 tackles) and Marcus Goodloe (7 tackles) led the Louisburg defense. O’Neal also forced a fumble. KD Outten made both of his PAT attempts.
Louisburg coach Quinderra Spellman called the Hurricane’s national title experience “a dream come true.” Louisburg went into the finale on a four-game win streak.
