HELENA, Mont. – It took a 2-time defending national champion and a national player of the year to do what no other team has in this year’s playoffs. With less than 6 minutes to play, Carroll College drove 82 yards on 12 plays and scored on a Tyler Emmert’s 1-yard quarterback plunge with 1:21 remaining to rally for a 14-10 victory over Azusa Pacific in the semifinals of the NAIA football playoffs.

The victory puts to the 2-time defending NAIA champion Saints back in the national title game for the third straight year where they will meet University of Saint Francis, which defeated Georgetown College, 12-7, in the other semifinal.

Carroll appeared to be dead in the water after surrendering a 7-3 halftime lead early in the fourth quarter when Azusa Pacific scored on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Sean Davis to Ricky Burgan to take a 10-7 advantage. The Saints had collected just 67 yards and only 3 first downs in the second half when they took over the ball at their own 18-yard line with 5:53 left to play.

Emmert, a junior quarterback and the 2003 NAIA Player of the Year, engineered a drive to save the season, completing 5-of-8 passes for 68 yards to move the ball to the Cougar 14-yard line with just over 2 minutes to play. From there the Saints went to their ground game and nearly faltered. However, Carroll coach Mike Van Diest rolled the dice on a fourth-and-1 situation at the 12, and instead of going for a game-tying field goal, gave the ball to running back Jed Thomas who barreled over right guard for a 5-yard gain and a first-and-goal at the Cougar 7. Three plays later, Emmert followed his center into the end zone for the game-winning TD. Until that moment, the Azusa Pacific defense had not allowed a drive longer than 53 yards in 40 possessions and 3 playoff games.

“You have to give them credit,” said Azusa Pacific nose guard Peder Moore. “They were very composed and knew what to do on that last drive.”

Azusa Pacific seemed to be in control of play throughout much of the fourth quarter. The Cougars put together their own lengthy march that began late in the third quarter, going 80 yards on 12 plays. Micah Staley’s 28-yard circus reception down the left sideline set up Davis’ eventual third-down touchdown toss to Burgan less than 2 minutes into the fourth quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, Cougar coach Peter Shinnick called for kicker Mike Betancourth to "sky" the ball toward the left sideline, where Cougar freshman Cameron Tucker out-ran every Saint to catch the unusual on-side kick to put the ball right back in Cougar hands. However, Azusa Pacific fell a yard short on a critical third-and-3 run at the Saint 37-yard line and had to punt the ball away, setting up Carroll’s length-of-the-field, game-winning drive.

“It was a great game, and it took a great effort by a great team to beat us,” said Shinnick. “We played well, they just had a little more than us at the end. I feel bad for the seniors because this was a special bunch of guys.”

Azusa Pacific took an early 3-0 lead on Betancourth’s first-quarter 40-yard field goal, his school-record and NAIA-leading 19th of the season and his tenth make in a row.

In the second quarter, Carroll took advantage of a short field situation following Kevin McCutcheon’s 38-yard punt return to the Azusa Pacific 17-yard line. Three plays later, Emmert connected with Kendall Selle on third-down for a 9-yard touchdown strike and a 7-3 Saint lead at the break.

Carroll out-gained Azusa Pacific, 290-233, in total offense. Emmert, who was sacked 3 times, nonetheless completed 19-of-31 passes (identical to his effort in Carroll’s 12-0 victory at Azusa Pacific back on Oct. 2) for 200 yards.

Davis completed 15-of-27 passes for 133 yards, but was picked off twice, including one on the Cougars’ last-gasp drive following Carroll’s go-ahead score. Ben Buys rushed for 63 yards on 17 carries.

Azusa Pacific, which was appearing in the NAIA semifinals for the third time in the past 7 years, finishes its season at 11-3 with 2 of the losses coming to Carroll. Meanwhile, Carroll takes an 11-2 record into the Dec. 18 NAIA championship game.