The participants of the Championship Game were the finalists of the 1997 I-AA Playoffs, which began with a 16-team bracket.[4]
Youngstown State Penguins
Youngstown State finished their regular season with a 9–2 record (4–2 in conference).[5] Seeded eighth in the playoffs, the Penguins defeated ninth-seed Hampton, first-seed Villanova, and third-seed Eastern Washington to reach the final. This was the fifth appearance for Youngstown State in a Division I-AA championship game, having won three titles (1991, 1993, and 1994) against one loss (1992).
McNeese State Cowboys
McNeese State finished their regular season with a 10–1 record (6–1 in conference).[6] The Cowboys, seeded sixth, defeated 11-seed Montana, second-seed Western Illinois, and fourth-seed Delaware to reach the final. This was the first appearance for McNeese State in a Division I-AA championship game.
^ abcd"Youngstown State vs McNeese State". ysusports.com. December 20, 1997. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
^"Recipients Named For Seventh Annual Golden Whistle Merit Awards" (PDF). NCHSAA Bulletin. Vol. 65, no. 4. Summer 2013. p. 4. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
^ ab"Youngstown Wins 4th Championship Penguins Use Improvised Play To Squeeze By Mcneese State". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. AP. December 21, 1997. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
^"I-AA football playoffs". Missoulian. Missoula, Montana. November 24, 1997. p. D4. Retrieved February 8, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
^"Youngstown State Penguins 1997 Schedule". cfbinfo.com. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
^"McNeese State Cowboys 1997 Schedule". cfbinfo.com. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
^"NCAA I-AA Championship". The Advocate. Newark, Ohio. December 21, 1997. p. 2B. Retrieved February 21, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
Further reading
"Division I-AA Top 25". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. The Sports Network. November 27, 1997. p. C2. Retrieved February 21, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
Bonnette, Louis (November 12, 2012). "McNeese's 1997 football team to be recognized at Saturday's game". mcneesesports.com. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
External links
1997 McNeese Football National Championship Run Highlights via YouTube