St. Norbert claims spot in playoffs

St. Norbert punched its ticket to the NCAA Division III football playoffs Saturday.

But it wasn’t easy.

The Green Knights outlasted Monmouth, 10-7, in the Midwest Conference championship game at Schneider Stadium in De Pere.

St. Norbert (9-1, 5-0) won its 17th Midwest Conference title, while the Fighting Scots (8-2, 4-1) came up short in their bid for an unprecedented third straight championship.

The Green Knights scored all of their points in the first quarter and then had to sweat it out.

Defensive back Hunter Prokash intercepted a pass by Monmouth quarterback Hayden Nelson at the St. Norbert 48 with 4 minutes 21 seconds left in the game. The St. Norbert defense forced six turnovers on the day.

St. Norbert’s offense proceeded to run out the clock. The clinching play was a 26-yard run by David Lox on a second and 11.

The Division III playoff pairings will be announced at 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

UW-Whitewater 49, UW-Platteville 21: Cole Wilber tossed three touchdown passes as the Warhawks, ranked fifth by D3football.com, routed the host Pioneers to retain the Miner’s Axe in the 26th George Chryst Memorial Bowl.

The Warhawks (10-0, 7-0 WIAC) completed the program’s 19th undefeated season.

UW-Oshkosh 27, UW-Stout 13: Joe Franks rushed for a pair of touchdowns and the Titans (4-3, 6-4 WIAC) downed the visiting Blue Devils (5-5, 3-4).

UW-Stevens Point 39, UW-River Falls 25: Max Herro threw four touchdown passes as the visiting Pointers (4-6, 3-4 WIAC) defeated the Falcons (3-7, 2-5).

UW-La Crosse 42, UW-Eau Claire 0: Ben Schramski passed for three touchdowns and ran for two more and the visiting Eagles (7-3, 5-2 WIAC) drubbed the Blugolds (4-6, 2-5).

Concordia (Wis.) 21, Wisconsin Lutheran 14: James Linn scored on a 7-yard run with 3:18 remaining and the host Falcons (7-3, 5-2 NACC) rallied to beat the Warriors (2-8, 2-5).

Aurora 25, Lakeland 22: Sean Kerr’s 35-yard field goal in overtime helped the host Spartans (5-5, 5-2 NACC) turn back the Muskies (4-6, 4-3).

Carthage 38, Augustana 9: Lafayette McGary had 31 carries for 147 yards and three touchdowns as the Red Men (4-6, 4-5 CCIW) routed the Vikings (4-6, 3-6) in Rock Island, Ill.

Ripon 38, Knox 19: Tyler VanDeVelde rushed for 95 yards and four touchdowns and the Red Hawks (7-3, 4-2 Midwest) rolled past the visiting Prairie Fire (2-8, 2-4).

Grinnell 41, Beloit 31: Jake Kaplinski threw three touchdown passes as the visiting Pioneers (2-8, 1-5) knocked off the Buccaneers (1-9, 0-6) at Strong Stadium.

Washington (Mo.) 44, Carroll 6: Johnny Davidson passed for 305 yards and four touchdowns as the Bears (8-2, 7-2 CCIW) drubbed the visiting Pioneers (3-7, 2-7).

Cornell 13, Lawrence 6: Trevhon Porterfield rushed for 150 yards and a touchdown to lead the Rams (5-5, 3-3 Midwest) past the Vikings (2-7, 1-5) at the Banta Bowl in Appleton.