The 2019 NAIA football national championship was a four-round, sixteen team tournament played between November 23 and December 21, 2019. The tournament concluded with a single game, played as the 64th Annual NAIA Football National Championship.
The Marian Knights, led by 7th-year head coach Mark Henninger, entered the national championship game as the #2 seed. They were seeking to win their third national championship, having won in 2012 and 2015.[2] They entered the game 12–0, 8–0 in MSFA play.
The Morningside Mustangs, led by 19th-year head coach Steve Ryan, entered the national championship game as the #1 seed and the defending champions, having won their first national championship the year prior.[3] They entered the game 13–0, 9–0 in GPAC play.
(14:55) MAR – Ethan Darter 4 yard pass to Johnny William, Matt Plesac kick (Drive: 9 plays, 65 yards, 3:15; Morningside 33–28)
(6:52) MAR – Matt Plesac 34 yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 48 yards, 4:52; Morningside 33–31)
(2:00) MORN – Joe Dolincheck 4 yard pass to Bo Els, Chase Carter kick (Drive: 5 plays, 22 yards, 1:18; Morningside 40–31)
(1:04) MAR – Ethan Darter 10 yard pass to Johnny William, Matt Plesac kick (Drive: 7 plays, 73 yards, 0:56; Morningside 40–38)
Statistics
Statistics
MAR
MORN
First downs
21
29
Total yards
414
528
Rushes–yards
31–123
43–224
Passing yards
291
304
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
19–43–1
30–44–1
Time of possession
26:01
33:59
Team
Category
Player
Statistics
Marian
Passing
Ethan Darter
19/43, 291 yards, 5 TD, 1 INT
Rushing
Charles Salary
26 carries, 111 yards
Receiving
Johnny William
10 receptions, 161 yards, 4 TD
Morningside
Passing
Joe Dolincheck
30/44, 304 yards, 6 TD, 1 INT
Rushing
Arnijae Ponder
30 carries, 130 yards
Receiving
Reid Jurgensmeier
7 receptions, 102 yards, 2 TD
Postseason playoffs
A total of sixteen teams were selected to participate in the single-eliminationtournament from across the country, with invitations that were revealed on Sunday, November 17, 2019.[4] The field included twelve conference champions who received automatic bids. The field was then filled with at-large selections that were awarded to the highest ranked teams that were not conference champions. First-round seedings were based on the final regular-season edition of the 2019NAIA Coaches' Poll, with certain minor modifications given based on travel and geographic considerations. Each subsequent round also saw minor modifications based on travel and the geography of the remaining teams.
Quarterfinal pairings were announced by the NAIA on November 23, after the first round results were known.[5]
Semifinal pairings were announced by the NAIA on November 30, soon after completion of the day's quarterfinal games.[6]