DURHAM, N.C. — In a thrilling display of skill and determination, Jackson Waring was instrumental in securing the NAIA national championship for No. 2 Grand View, who triumphed over the top-ranked Keiser with a score of 35-7 on Saturday. His standout performance included four touchdown passes and a remarkable 203 rushing yards.

Waring, previously a player at Illinois State, showcased his versatility by completing 11 of 18 passing attempts for a total of 132 yards. On the ground, he was relentless, carrying the ball 21 times with a remarkable longest run of 53 yards. The Vikings faced an early setback when they fumbled the ball on just their second play, but they regrouped effectively and dominated the remainder of the first half. They outperformed the Seahawks offensively, racking up nearly 100 more yards and accumulating 202 rushing yards, with the majority coming from Waring himself, who contributed 148 yards.

The Vikings surged ahead with a convincing three-touchdown lead, thanks to two of Waring’s touchdown passes to Aisea Toki and another to Triston William. The defending champions, Keiser, managed to find the end zone just before halftime with a 26-yard touchdown pass from Shea Spencer to Maurico Porcha, bringing the score to 21-7.

In the second half, Waring continued to shine, connecting on a 20-yard touchdown pass to Corey Phillips, pushing the Vikings ahead 28-7 late in the third quarter. The final nail in the coffin came from Dalten Van Pelt, who scored on an 11-yard run in the fourth quarter to give Grand View the comfortable 35-7 lead. Van Pelt finished the game with an impressive 107 rushing yards on 16 carries.

For Grand View, based in Des Moines, Iowa, this victory marks their second national championship, with their previous title won in 2013. The team has an undefeated record of 14-0 this season, having previously been runners-up in 2021. In stark contrast, Keiser, located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, ended their season with a 12-1 record. Shea Spencer was responsible for most of Keiser’s passing offense, completing 22 of 45 attempts for 277 yards, with Porcha also having a notable game, receiving for 102 yards.

This championship win continues the rivalry between Grand View and Keiser; they met earlier in 2022 during the semifinals, where Keiser secured a victory of 38-21. That match paved the way for the Seahawks’ consecutive appearances in the championship game, now totaling three.