2019 Stagg Bowl returns to Woodforest Bank Stadium in Shenandoah, TX

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- For the second year in a row, the city of Shenandoah, Texas and Woodforest Bank Stadium will host the Stagg Bowl, the NCAA Division III Football Championship. Friday, December 20 at 7 p.m., No. 5 North Central (IL) takes on No. 7 Wisconsin-Whitewater with the National Championship on the line.

The North Central Cardinals come into Friday’s title game with a 13-1 record and riding a 10-game win streak. The Cardinals will bring a high-powered offense into Woodforest Stadium. North Central is averaging about 53 points a game while racking up just under 560 yards of total offense per game. On their road to Shenandoah, North Central pulled off a historic upset in the second round of the playoffs when they knocked off perennial contender No. 1 Mount Union. Mount Union, who has reached the National Championship game eight times since 2010, failed to advance past round two for the first time since 1994. Led by Gagliardi finalist (D-III Heisman) Broc Rutter, the Cardinals broke multiple school records on their way to the 59-52 victory.

Waiting on the opposite side of the bracket is a team that’s also familiar with Mount Union and playing in national championship games. The Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks are entering their 10th Stagg Bowl appearance with a 13-1 record, unbeaten in their last four games. The Warhawks’ offensive numbers aren’t as high as North Central (31 PPG/377 YPG), but defensively, they’re only giving up 16 points a game. For Whitewater, their signature win on the road to Shenandoah came in the semi-finals against No. 8 St. John’s. Junior kicker Wojciech Gasienica’s 37-yard field goal gave the Warhawks a 35-32 win over the Johnnies.

Prior to the Stagg Bowl, the city of Shenandoah will host the FanFest tailgate party at Woodforest Bank Stadium from 3 to 6 p.m. This event is open to the public and free with a Stagg Bowl ticket purchase and includes a concert by Texas country recording artist Jason Cassidy; free food and beverage; family-friendly entertainment and games; antique cars; Christmas-themed Longhorn photo op booth; and much more.

Of additional note, a book signing with Texas-born author, Jennifer Taylor Hall, who just published the biography of Amos Alonzo Stagg, the namesake of this bowl game. Her book is titled “Amos Alonzo Stagg: College Football’s Man in Motion,” and she’ll be on hand to answer questions as well as sell copies of her book.

Tickets are available for $30 online here. Tickets can also be bought by cash or card at 2:30 p.m. on Friday at the southwest ticket booth on the home side of Woodforest Bank Stadium nearest the natatorium. Seating is general admission and gates open at 5:30 p.m.