This article is about the Division I-AA (now FCS) championship game. For the 2002 Division I-A (now FBS) championship game, see
2002 Rose Bowl .
The 2002 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game was a postseason college football game between the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and the McNeese State Cowboys . The game was played on December 20, 2002, at Finley Stadium , home field of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga . The culminating game of the 2002 NCAA Division I-AA football season , it was won by Western Kentucky, 34–14.
Teams The participants of the Championship Game were the finalists of the 2002 I-AA Playoffs , which began with a 16-team bracket .
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Western Kentucky started their season with a loss to Kansas State of Division I-A, and the team was 2–3 after their first five games. They then won six games in a row, to finish their regular season with an 8–3 record (7–1 in conference). Unseeded in the playoffs, the Hilltoppers defeated Murray State , second-seed Western Illinois , and third-seed Georgia Southern to reach the final. This was the first appearance for Western Kentucky in a Division I-AA championship game.
McNeese State Cowboys McNeese State finished their regular season with a 9–1 record (6–0 in conference); their only loss was to Nebraska of Division I-A.[ 3] Montana State , Montana , and Villanova to reach the final. This was the second appearance for McNeese State in a Division I-AA championship game, having lost in 1997.
Game summary
Scoring summary Scoring summary Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP WKU MSU 1 9:36 5 27 3:01 WKU Jeremi Johnson 16-yard touchdown reception from Jason Michael , Peter Martinez kick good 7 0 2 14:51 4 88 1:53 WKU Jon Frazier 55-yard touchdown run, Martinez kick good 14 0 2 7:32 10 56 4:37 MSU 30-yard field goal by John Marino 14 3 2 4:55 6 43 2:37 WKU 40-yard field goal by Martinez 17 3 2 0:07 7 19 0:48 MSU 24-yard field goal by John Marino 17 6 3 11:03 4 71 1:05 WKU Frazier 14-yard touchdown run, Martinez kick good 24 6 3 3:49 8 75 2:13 MSU Luke Lawton 15-yard touchdown reception from Scott Pendarvis, 2-point pass good (Jeff Hamilton from Pendarvis) 24 14 4 13:49 10 79 5:00 WKU Jason Michael 2-yard touchdown run, Martinez kick good 31 14 4 2:51 4 2 1:36 WKU 23-yard field goal by Martinez 34 14 "TOP" = time of possession . For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football . 34 14
[ 1] [ 4]
Game statistics Total Hilltoppers 7 10 7 10 34 Cowboys 0 6 8 0 14
McNeese State wide receiver B. J. Sams Statistics WKU MSU First downs 13 26 Plays–yards 60–380 82–405 Rushes–yards 50–195 34–137 Passing yards 185 268 Passing: comp –att –int 6–10–0 25–48–3 Time of possession 30:18 29:42
Team Category Player Statistics Western Kentucky Passing Jason Michael 6–10, 185 yds, 1 TD Rushing Jon Frazier 27 car, 169 yds, 2 RD Receiving Jeremi Johnson 3 rec, 90 yds, 1 TD McNeese State Passing Scott Pendarvis 21–38, 244 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Marcus Trahan 12 car, 82 yds Receiving B. J. Sams 7 rec, 69 yds
[ 1] [ 4]
References
Further reading
External links
Games through 2009 were played in December. Subsequent games have been played in January (*) or May (†).
Venues Killen Field (1951–1953) Wildcat Stadium (1954–1964) Cowboy Stadium (1965–present) Bowls & rivalries People Seasons
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National championship seasons in bold
2002–03 NCAA Division I championships
† Not an officially sanctioned NCAA championship
