For the second year in a row and the fourth time in six years, Ohio State Club Football has captured the NCFA National Championship.
The Buckeyes, which completed an undefeated season in the process, knocked off previously undefeated Coppin State, 28-8, on the campus of Wright State on Saturday. It is the third undefeated season in program history and the second since joining the NCFA in 2012.
Ohio State was led by quarterback Niko Pappas, who despite a pair of turnovers, accounted for three touchdowns, setting the new NCFA single-season record for touchdowns, giving him an even 40 in his final season (25 passing, 15 rushing). Pappas completed 12-of-19 passes for 210 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions through the air while adding 17 carries for 101 yards and two scores on the ground.
Pappas’ favorite target on the day was wide receiver Ricardo Washington, who posted a career performance on a frigid day in Fairborn, Ohio. Washington hauled in six passes for 137 yards and a 55-yard shovel pass from Pappas that opened the scoring on Ohio State’s second offensive possession. He also caught a beautiful over the shoulder pass from Pappas late in the third quarter that set up a two-yard plunge from Pappas that extended the Buckeye lead to 21-0. For his performance, Washington was named MVP of the national championship game. He finishes the season with 35 receptions for 597 yards and 11 touchdowns, leading the NCFA in all major receiving categories. It was also the first 100-yard receiving game for the Buckeyes since Abdou Keita caught three passes for 145 yards and three touchdowns in the 2023 NCFA Semifinals against Sacred Heart.
Defensively, the only points surrendered by Ohio State came late in the fourth quarter with the game in hand and a number of reserves in the game. Coppin State’s eight points are the fewest ever allowed in NCFA National Championship Game history, behind the nine that Oakland scored against Dylan Barron‘s defense in the 2019 edition of the game.
Ohio State’s defense recorded five sacks and constantly pressured Coppin State starter Tariq Clarida II. Freshman linebacker Tyler Siegel led the Buckeye defense with 10 total tackles, while safety Topaz Linton tallied eight stops and a crucial first quarter sack. 2024 NCFA Defensive MVP Matt Humphreys, who missed all but one game this season due to an ankle injury, returned for the championship game and led the team in QB pressures with eight, and finished with three tackles and 1.0 sack.
The game started ominously for Ohio State, as Pappas’ first pass attempt sailed over his intended target and was intercepted and returned into Buckeye territory. However, the OSU defense stiffened and a sack from Linton on fourth down gave the Buckeyes the ball back near midfield. Washington’s 55-yard shovel pass gave Ohio State a 7-0 lead that would hold until late in the second quarter when running back Milan Jackson carried multiple defenders into the end zone on a 10-yard scoring run with 27 seconds left in the first half.
Ohio State and Coppin State would trade punts early in the third quarter before Pappas connected with Washington for arguably the games biggest highlight, a beautiful 39-yard over-the-shoulder pass to the Eagles’ two yard line. A two-yard scoring run from Pappas gave the Buckeyes a 21-0 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
With the Eagles rotating quarterbacks and taking shots downfield, Ohio State forced a turnover early in the final frame after freshman safety Jackson Gula picked off Coppin State quarterback Kwame Carpenter. After Pappas connected with junior Desean Bonte for a 36-yard gain, the signal-caller called his own number again and scored on a QB sweep from six yards out, giving him the outright NCFA single-season touchdown record.
The Buckeyes have now won four NCFA National Championships, twice as many as the next closest programs as Coppin State and Oakland have each won the title twice. It is the second time Ohio State has gone back-to-back, as the Buckeyes won in 2019 and 2021 (the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19).
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