Louisburg College Falls Short in NJCAA D3 National Championship, Loses to College of DuPage 31-14

Glen Ellyn, IL — The stage was set for an intense battle in the NJCAA Division III National Championship as Louisburg College faced off against the College of DuPage on a chilly December afternoon at MacDougall Field. After a season filled with hard-fought victories, the Louisburg College Hurricanes fell short in the title game, losing 31-14 to the powerful College of DuPage Chaparrals.

A Strong Start by College of DuPage

From the opening kickoff, College of DuPage made its presence felt. The Chaparrals struck first midway through the first quarter when quarterback Justin Bland connected with wide receiver Clayton Bone on a 36-yard touchdown pass, giving DuPage a 7-0 lead. The momentum quickly built, as Ernest Temple powered through for a 24-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter, extending their lead to 14-0.

Louisburg College, struggling to gain ground, was further buried by a 3-yard touchdown run from Bland, increasing DuPage's advantage to 21-0. The Hurricanes managed to respond before halftime with a quick 21-yard drive capped off by a 2-yard touchdown run from Jameson Prince, cutting the deficit to 21-7. However, DuPage answered with a 45-yard field goal from Christian Casil, taking a commanding 24-7 lead into halftime.

Louisburg Fights Back in the Third Quarter

Coming out of the break, Louisburg College showed signs of life. The Hurricanes cut into DuPage's lead in the third quarter, with Prince punching in his second touchdown of the game on an 8-yard run, bringing the score to 24-14. However, the momentum did not last long as the Hurricanes were unable to generate any more significant offense.

DuPage Closes the Door

With the fourth quarter underway, College of DuPage effectively sealed the game. Justin Bland, who had a dominant performance, capped off a 58-yard drive with a 7-yard touchdown run, pushing the lead to 31-14. Louisburg College could not muster any late-game heroics, and DuPage's defense kept the Hurricanes at bay for the remainder of the contest.

Key Stats and Contributions

Louisburg College's offense was stymied by DuPage's aggressive defense. Despite a solid 63-yard rushing performance from Prince, the Hurricanes were limited to just 245 total yards. Quarterback Dylan Trevillian struggled, completing 8 of 19 passes for only 60 yards and two interceptions.

For College of DuPage, Bland led the charge with 180 yards passing and two total touchdowns, while Temple's 51 rushing yards and a touchdown were key to DuPage's offensive success. Defensively, DuPage dominated, with Ernest Blackshire Jr. leading the way with 10 total tackles.

Reflection on the Season

Despite the loss, the Louisburg College Hurricanes had a remarkable season, finishing 8-3 and earning a spot in the national championship game. Coach's outlook remained positive, praising the resilience of his team throughout the year. "We fought hard today, but DuPage was the better team," said the Louisburg head coach Q Spellman. "We've come a long way, and this game won't define us. I'm proud of how these guys battled all season long."

As College of DuPage celebrated their national title, Louisburg College walked off the field with their heads held high, knowing they had given everything they had in pursuit of a championship.

With a mix of hope and determination, Louisburg College will return next season, motivated to build on the lessons learned from this hard-fought championship loss.