Allendale, Mich. ? The players have changed. So have the coaches. But the tradition of contending for national championships continues at Grand Valley State.

When the Lakers and Northwest Missouri State – both 14-0 – meet in the NCAA Division II championship game Saturday in Florence, Ala., it will be the fifth appearance for Grand Valley in the title game in the last six years.

The Lakers are playing for their second-straight title and fourth in the past five seasons.

Coach Chuck Martin’s team has won a school record 27 straight games, a current national high in all divisions. Grand Valley is 85-9 since 2000.

“There’s been no real secret behind our success,” athletic director Tim Selgo said. “We’ve had outstanding coaches who know their stuff and care about kids. We’ve had some tremendous players.”

Martin enters Saturday’s game with a 37-3 record in his three seasons at Grand Valley. He replaced Brian Kelly, who coached the Lakers to their first two national championships and left after the 2003 season for Central Michigan. He recently took over at Cincinnati.