Division II Football Championship 2014: MSU-Mankato vs. CSU-Pueblo Score, Recap

Coming into the final matchup of the Division II season, both teams were looking to win the national championship for the first time in program history. After a 13-0 victory over Minnesota State-Mankato on Saturday, Colorado State-Pueblo became the fifth team in the last five years to claim the title.

CSU-Pueblo Athletics' official Twitter account provided the final score from Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas:

Chris Bonner wasn't perfect for the ThunderWolves but still led the way for the offense. Finishing 17-of-30 with 191 yards, one touchdown and one interception, Bonner found leading receiver Paul Browning for 84 receiving yards. Cameron McDondle also contributed 148 total yards on the afternoon to pace the offense on the ground.

NFL Draft Diamonds shared its thoughts on the ThunderWolves quarterback:

Overall, Bonner didn't take over the game or torch the Mavericks. But when he was asked to step up and take his team down the field, he did a much better job than Ricky Lloyd or Nick Pieruccini for MSU-Mankato.

Pueblo coach John Wristen spoke about his team's ability to win ugly games prior to the matchup, via Skylar Rolstad of NCAA.com:

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Every playoff game is a game where you’ve just got to find a way to survive and advance. Our guys found a way on Saturday [against West Georgia]. Statistics weren’t always in our favor but you’re not judged by statistics, you’re judged by you wins and losses, so I think when you can win a ball game like that it’s a good step because you gain a little confidence when you go through.

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Lloyd did provide a spark for the Mavericks at times with 99 passing yards and 67 rushing yards. That unfortunately was not enough to change the outcome, as Mankato was shut out in the national championship game.

From the start of the matchup, defense stole the show. Neither team was able to finish a drive in the end zone during the first quarter. Pueblo notched the only points of the half on a field goal and touchdown in the second quarter.

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The ThunderWolves came on strong after a slow start with the field goal but really got rolling with Browning's touchdown. Bonner connected with Browning on an 18-yard completion to put CSU-Pueblo on top, 10-0, heading into the locker rooms.

The NCAA Division II official Twitter account offered a look at the reaction following the two scoring drives:

Adam Amin of ESPN offered his take on the early action in Kansas City:

It was much of the same in the second half from both teams, but CSU-Pueblo continued to find ways to score. A field goal in the third quarter would all but secure it for the stingy defense after limiting Mankato again in the second half.

Sporting Park noted just how dominant the performance was for Pueblo's defense:

Both programs came away with memorable seasons, but it's CSU-Pueblo who claimed its first championship. The ThunderWolves proved they are a program that can compete with anyone and will look to defend their crown next season.

Meanwhile, Mankato will seek to return to the big stage again in 2015. Coming up short is a sour end to the season, but making it this far and knocking off some of the best teams in the country along the way should translate to next season.

With a history of change at the top in the last several seasons, there's no telling what the future holds for either program. For now, the ThunderWolves hold the crown for the first time in school history.

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