Minnesota-Duluth Wins 2010 Division II Football National Championship

FLORENCE, Ala. For the 10th consecutive year, the NCAA Division II Football National Championship was decided by one score.

David Nadeau kicked a nervous, wobbly field goal as time expired to top Delta State 20-17 in the 2010 D-II title game.  That kick gave UMD its second perfect season and national title in three years.

"When it came off my foot, I knew it was going to be close," Nadeau said.

Moments earlier, Delta State was driving with a tied score, looking for its own late game magic to earn their second national championship and first since 2000.  But Duluth's Cody Eich had other plans, intercepting an errant pass and returning it 20 yards to midfield with just 52 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. 

Chase Vogler then completed a 25-yard pass to Brian Hanson to set up the game-winning field goal—only the second such field goal in the championship game's history, and first since a 50-yard field goal in 1984 by Ted Clem, giving Troy State (now Troy) an 18-17 win over North Dakota State.

Minnesota-Duluth was a perfect 15-0 en route to the championship in 2010, the same as they were in 2008.  Grand Valley State and Northwest Missouri State are the only other teams to post 15 wins in a championship year.

UMD's Chase Vogler completed 11-of-19 passes for 201 yards through the air with one touchdown.  Vogler also rushed 21 times for 83 yards.  Hanson had 98 rushing yards on 16 attempts and also added 54 receiving yards on three catches.

Delta State was hampered by four turnovers (three fumbles and one interception).  Delta State was also only two for five inside the red zone, coming away with just 10 points.

UMD was a perfect four for four inside the red zone with 20 points.

Delta State finished the year 11-4.