SHEPHERDSTOWN - North Alabama scored 17 second-quarter points to take a 10-point halftime lead and then held off Shepherd in the second half of a 23-13 win in a Division II national semifinal football contest Saturday.
The win propels North Alabama (11-1) into the NCAA Division II national championship game at 3 p.m. next Saturday in Kansas City, Missouri. Shepherd saw its season end at 13-1.
The Lions will be making their fifth championship-game appearance, and the first since winning the last of three straight titles in 1995.
The Rams' normally potent offense was limited to just 245 total yards, with quarterback Zeff Ziemba finishing just 11 of 28 for 112 yards.
The Lions were paced by senior quarterback Jacob Tucker, who rushed for 113 yards and a TD while throwing for 178 yards and another score.