Raiders Roll to MCAC State Championship

Central Lakes defeated Itasca, 47-19 to claim the 2019 MCAC State Championship and Region XIII hardware
Central Lakes defeated Itasca, 47-19 to claim the 2019 MCAC State Championship and Region XIII hardware

St. Cloud, MN-

Central Lakes College took advantage of a strong start and pulled away from Itasca Community College in the second half to win their third MCAC Football State Championship game, 47-19 on Sunday in Husky Stadium on the campus of St. Cloud State University. 

The balanced Raiders scored in almost every manner possible; scoring touchdowns on the ground and through the air and a first quarter field goal; Central Lakes even returned a failed PAT passing attempt 100 yards for two points in a big momentum-shifting play in the third quarter. 

Itasca mounted a comeback to open up the second half, scoring twice in a five minute span.  However, an intricate two-point conversion attempt went awry and when CLC picked off a screen pass and returned it the length of the field for two Raiders points, the momentum shifted back to Central Lakes favor.   The Vikings did not score after that and the Raiders put their stamp on the game to claim their third MCAC Championship trophy. 

For ICC, Head coach Weldon Braxton led his team to a memorable 2019 campaign, as the Vikings finish 8-3 on the year.  With their arrival in the 2019 MCAC Championship tilt, Itasca doubled up their total of championship game appearances, having only been there once before, in 1998. Braxton's team spent much of the 2019 season in the NJCAA Top 20 poll. 

Central Lakes won the 2016 title under head coach Greg Medeck, who is on sabbatical leave this fall semester; interim coach Robb Kolodziej took the reigns and guided the Raiders to their championship this year.  CLC will wait to hear from the Red Grange Bowl committee, hosted by College of DuPage in suburban Chicago. COD narrowly beat the 2016 Raiders team in an overtime affair in 2016. Kolodziej and his team have won five straight games and sit 6-5 overall. 

Keep an eye out for final game individual stats, NJCAA Bowl announcements, and MCAC All-Division teams to be announced early in the upcoming week. 

Sunday's game also marked the first of many MCAC events with live-stream service by BlueFrame Technology; to learn more about BlueFrame Technology and the MCAC, CLICK THIS LINK or please visit: https://www.mcacsports.org/general/2019-20/releases/20191108esriz3

The Minnesota College Athletic Conference is the organizational body for NJCAA-affiliated two-year technical and community college athletic programs in the Minnesota State Colleges & Universities system, as well as select member colleges in North Dakota and Wisconsin.  The mission of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference is to advance intercollegiate athletics by providing an engaging and supportive environment for success of our student athletes and competition among member institutions.  The MCAC is committed to the guiding principles of encouraging the development and success of student athletes, promoting the integrity, honesty and loyalty to member schools as well as upholding the sustainability of conference athletic programs.

For more information, visit www.mcacsports.org
 
 

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