Azusa Pacific Falls Short

Quarterback Tyler Emmert scored on a one-yard sneak with 1:21 left to lift Carroll College to a 14-10 victory over Azusa Pacific in an NAIA semifinal game Saturday at Helena, Mont.

Emmert, the 2003 NAIA football player of the year, led a 12-play, 82-yard drive that began with 5:53 left and Carroll (11-2) having gained only 67 yards and three first downs in the second half to that point.

Before the clinching touchdown, Azusa (11-3) had not given up a scoring drive longer than 53 yards in three playoff games.

Carroll, the two-time defending NAIA champion, will play St. Francis (Ind.) in the championship game.

On the winning drive, Emmert completed five of eight passes for 68 yards to move Carroll to the Azusa 12, but the team faced a fourth and one.

Instead of going for a game-tying field goal, Carroll’s Jed Thomas carried for a five-yard gain and a first and goal at the seven. Three plays later, Emmert scored his winning touchdown.

Azusa, which lost to Carroll, 12-0, at home earlier this season, took a 10-7 lead in the fourth quarter when quarterback Sean Davis passed six yards to Ricky Burgan.

Davis completed 15 of 27 passes for 133 yards but was intercepted twice, including on Azusa’s last-gasp drive.

In the first quarter, Mike Betancourth kicked his school-record and NAIA-leading 19th field goal of the season, a 40-yarder, to give Azusa a 3-0 lead.