Florence, Ala. ? Cullen Finnerty closed his college career with yet another championship.

He led Grand Valley State to its second straight Division II national title Saturday, running for 115 yards and passing for 225 to with a 17-14 victory over Northwest Missouri State.

It was the Lakers’ fourth title in five years. They extended their winning streak to 28 games, the longest in all divisions of college football.

Grand Valley State coach Chuck Martin called Finnerty, a Little All-American, an “absolute warrior.” Finnerty won three national titles in four years at Grand Valley State. He has won 51 games and lost only four as a starter. According to the NCAA, Finnerty’s 51 wins are the most of any college quarterback.

“It’s unbelievable,” he said. “I couldn’t write it any better than this.”

Martin said throughout the winning streak his players somehow found ways to win.

“I don’t know how they do it,” he said. If I knew how they do it I’d quit coaching and write books about it and make a lot more money.”

Grand Valley State (15-0) also defeated the Bearcats (14-1) to win the national championship in 2005. This time, the Grand Valley players held up the championship trophy afterward and were surrounded by several hundred fans at midfield. Police on horseback guarded the goal posts.

“We felt like we had them on the ropes a few times,” Bearcats coach Mel Tjeerdsma said. “We just couldn’t finish the deal. Give credit to Grand Valley. They made the plays when they had to.”

GRAND VALLEY STATE QUARTERBACK CULLEN FINNERTY holds up the championship trophy with teammates after beating Northwest Missouri State in the NCAA Division III championship game. The Lakers won Saturday's contest, 17-14, in Florence, Ala.

The Lakers trailed 14-10 entering the fourth quarter, but took the lead for good with 13:06 to play on a swerving four-yard run by Finnerty. The score completed a six-play, 36-yard drive that started late in the third quarter.

Northwest Missouri State had taken the lead midway through the third quarter on a seven-yard run by Xavier Omon, who finished with 129 yards on 26 carries.

NCAA Division III

Mount Union 35, Wis.-Whitewater 16

Salem, Va. – Greg Micheli led Mount Union to its ninth NCAA Division III title in 14 years, coming off the bench to throw three touchdown passes and run for another.

The Purple Raiders (15-0) also beat Wisconsin-Whitewater (14-1) last year in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.

Mount Union broke open a 14-13 game on Micheli’s 46-yard TD pass to Pierre Garcon with 5:30 left in the third quarter, and a 34-yard blocked punt return for a score by Matt Rees just 2:46 later. The punt was blocked by Matt Kostelnik.

Micheli, considered the Purple Raiders’ running threat at quarterback, came on after Mount Union’s second scoreless first quarter of the season. He completed his first nine passes, including a two-yard TD pass to Anthony Antonucci, and also ran 12 yards for a score with 6:52 left in the first half.

After Mount Union starter Mike Jorris’ pass was intercepted on the Purple Raiders’ first possession of the second half, Micheli returned and, on his second series, hit Garcon on a crossing pattern that the speedy receiver took 46 yards for a touchdown.

NAIA

Sioux Falls 23, St. Francis. Ind. 19

Savannah, Tenn. – Trey Erickson returned a kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown and Mike Dvoracek scored from a yard out after a botched punt to lead Sioux Falls to its first NAIA national championship.

It was the third straight championship game loss for St. Francis (13-1), defeated the past two years by Carroll College. Sioux Falls (14-0) was in its first title game since 2001, when it lost to Georgetown, Ky.

Erickson’s kickoff return tied it at 13 with 1:44 left in the first quarter, and Sioux Falls made it 16-13 in third on Matt Lindgren’s 23-yard field goal.