North Dakota State College of Science came up short in the NJCAA Division III National Championship with a 14-12 loss to College of DuPage on Saturday in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.
Sophomore quarterback Graedyn Buell cut the lead to a pair of points with a 17-yard rushing score with 4:09 left in the fourth quarter, but the two-point conversion was unsuccessful.
The Wildcats trailed 7-6 at halftime with their lone score coming on a trick play in the second quarter. Buell lined up as a wide receiver and was thrown a lateral, which the quarterback launched down the field to Marselio Mendez for a 63-yard scoring strike.
Mendez ended the day with 99 yards receiving.
The NDSCS defense forced two turnovers on the day with Manny Garcia and William Katchmark each recovering a fumble.
The Wildcats end their season as the second best team in NJCAA Division III with a record of 9-2.
