Pittsburg, KS – After weeks of anticipation, #2 Lackawanna College and #1 Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College finally took the field for the NJCAA Football National Championship.  Both teams were ready to put the festivities and hype behind them and get the game started.  It was a beautiful night in Pittsburg, KS and a great night for Championship Football.

The Falcons received the opening kickoff but, unfortunately went 3 and out.  However, as the defense has done all year, Lackawanna's Gianni Gamble would intercept a Bulldogs pass to give the ball back to the Falcons.  The Falcons stalled on their next drive and would have to punt the ball back to the MGCCC.  After getting the ball back, the Bulldogs began to move the ball picking up 3 consecutive first downs.  A few plays later the Bulldogs found the end zone to take a 7-0 lead, capping off a 72-yard drive.  Matt Cavallaro settled the Lackawanna offense down and put together a sustained drive that saw completions to Jael Negron, Norval Black and Quentin Sanders.  Unfortunately, a few holding calls and a Cavallaro fumble stalled the drive to give the ball back to MGCCC.  The Falcons would stop the Bulldogs on a 3^rd down, but the drive was kept alive on a personal foul penalty on the Flacons' KeShaun Moore.  The 1^st quarter would come to an end with MGCCC leading 7-0.

At the beginning of the 2^nd quarter, the Bulldogs found themselves starting on the Lackawanna 4-yard line.  However, the Flacons defense would make a stand on 3^rd down when Randy Wheeler was able to get to the QB and force to Bulldogs into a 33-yard FG try that was missed wide left.  The next series, Lackawanna was able move the ball on the ground with Marques DeShields, but would once again have to punt it away to MGCCC.  On the next series the Bulldogs faced aggressive pressure from the Lackawanna defense and were forced punt the ball away.  The Falcons went 3 and out and the Bulldogs came up with a tipped punt to give MGCCC great field position.  The Lackawanna defense, once again, held the Bulldogs and they had to settle for a FG, extending their lead to 10-0.  Just when MGCCC had the momentum, the Lackawanna defense forced 2 turnovers, leading to a TD by Jael Negron and a defensive TD by Pheldarius Payne, which gave the Falcons a 13-10 lead going into the half.

Both defenses came out in the 2^nd half shutting down the other's offenses.  However, on a MGCCC punt, the Falcons fumbled the fair catch, giving the Bulldogs the ball on the Lackawanna 4-yard line.  They were unable to punch it in the end zone and missed a short FG.  This was a victory for the Lackawanna defense.  MGCCC would hold the Falcons and get the ball back, but an Ian Newton sack stopped any momentum the offense was trying to get.  The 3^rd quarter continued  to be a defensive battle and ended how it began, with Lackawanna leading MGCCC 13-10.          

As the 4^th quarter began, both offenses were finding it difficult to move the ball.  The first 3 quarters were hard fought at the line of scrimmage and neither team was willing to budge.  The Falcons had the Bulldogs backed up in a 3^rd and 23, but a roughing the passer call, gave MGCCC new life and they would take full advantage of it.  Their offense proceeded to march down the field and take a 17-13 lead.  On the next series, the Bulldog defense came up with a big interception and on the next play found the end zone to take control of the game, 24-13.  The Falcons' offense could not get anything going and when the horn sounded, Mississippi Gulf Coast would capture the 2019 NJCAA National Championship.

While, it was not the outcome Lackawanna College wanted, this year's team proved that they belong in the conversation when it comes to the country's top Junior College Football Programs.  While they took home the Runner-Up trophy, the Falcons showcased the talent that the East Coast, especially the Northeast, has in regards to football.  One can even say that these teams will no longer be overlooked and overshadowed by the traditional powers.  As Coach Duda gathered his team on the 20-yard line to address them for the final time this season, he told them how proud was of the way they fought all game.  He told those players moving on, to continue to play that way at their next school and for those coming back next year, he said "Let's do it again".