Due to the overwhelmingly positive reaction last season (ok, it was three people but I'll take it), here is the Game of the Year for each level. Rules haven't changed, games have to be one score finals between two humans finishing in the top 25.
DIII
Occidental (20) @ South-Sewanee (13)
The SCAC South Division came down to the last 2 minutes of the final day of the regular season this year, but perennial champ Occidental was able to prevail. Junior QB Todd Davidson hadn't thrown an INT in 11 games before Sewanee's Sr. LBs were able to get two picks and force Occidental to play catch-up for most of the first half.
Occidental took their first lead of the game with 13 minutes remaining behind a Frank Case FG. Sewanee tied it up 6 minutes later. A short Sewanee punt two drives later and Occidental got the ball back with 5 minutes to go and great field position. Occidental's Seniors had never lost a conference game and weren't going allow that to change in their last regular season game. Davidson was able to connect on two big 3rd down conversions before finding Leo Burke in the end zone to take the lead. A 1st down sack and two stunning run calls on 3rd and 4th and long ended any comeback chance for Sewanee and Occidental was through to the championship game.
Box Score Link: https://www.whatifsports.com/gd/GameResults/BoxScore.aspx?gid=6696866
DII
Virginia Union (31) @ Lock Haven (34)
An OOC East Coast battle was our game of the year in D2. Lock Have used their strong rushing attack to open up a 20-7 lead on Virginia Union. Two 3rd quarter scoring throws by the effective but wildly inconsistent Frederick Kelly (22-60 for 376, 3TDs, 1 INT) put VU and coach sportsdouche (good to see Lane Kiffin picking up a second gig) up heading into the last quarter. Lock Haven scored early but than gave up a FG and coughed up a fumble deep in their own territory. VU quickly turned that into a TD to take a 5 point lead with less than 4 minutes remaining. LH would have one last shot to avoid choking this game away. Utilizing a two QB system on the final drive LH was able to convert on 3rd & 3, 4th & 10, 3rd & 10 before true Freshman Gary Cain found the reliable Stephen Klein in the end zone on 3rd & 15 for the win. The two point conversion made it 34-31 and closed out VU's comeback hopes.
Box Score Link: https://www.whatifsports.com/gd/GameResults/BoxScore.aspx?gid=6694074
D1AA
Texas Southern (37) @ Marist (40)
This one was two heavyweights at their best. #1 Marist hosted #3 Texas Southern in an instant classic. The game looked in TSU's favor early as a late 2nd quarter TD gave them an 11 point lead going into half. Marist coach orangepace channeled his inner Lombardi and his team roared out of half to outscore TSU 21-3 in the 3rd quarter. TSU wobbled but they weren't done yet. Their defense finally stiffened to start the 4th and forced consecutive punts for the first time all game. Two scoring drives gave TSU a slim three point lead. That lead would only last 6 plays as Marist tied the game with a 46 yard FG. A three and out for TSU put their defense back on the field against the Marist offense that would turn out over 600 yards that day. Phillip Hutchinson mixed in a few runs in leading his team back down the field with the TSU defense offering little resistance. A 37 yard FG with 9 seconds left by automatic Darrel Alston gave the #1 team in the nation the win in their only one score game in the regular season.
Box Score Link: https://www.whatifsports.com/gd/GameResults/BoxScore.aspx?gid=6693492
D1A
The state of New York may not be known for their college football, but it gave us our game of the year in D1A. This one was close from the start, featuring three second half lead changes. Syracuse took a 1 point lead into half, but apparently forgot about the 2nd half kickoff and gave up two TDs in 5 minutes. Finding themselves down 13 Syracuse scored consecutive TDs to retake the lead early in the 4th quarter. Rutgers' pass first, pass only offense produced a TD to gain the lead back, but that would be their final points of the day. A Syracuse FG cut the lead to 2 with 5 minutes remaining. Rutgers only managed 1 first down on the ensuing drive and gave the ball up with just over 2 minutes remaining. Syracuse relied on the passing game to move the ball down the field and then on 2nd & 10 backup QB John Love found Dale Johnson open at the 26. One broken tackle and a two point conversion later and Syracuse was up 5 and on their way to a 3rd consecutive conference crown.
Box Score Link: https://www.whatifsports.com/gd/GameResults/BoxScore.aspx?gid=6694657
2/10/2018 12:59 PM (edited)