SAVANNAH, Tenn. -- Junior RB/CB Jack Williams scored on a 4-yard TD run, and converted a 2-point conversion with 8:34 remaining in the 4th quarter, then intercepted a Brad Odgers pass in the final minutes to lift No. 8 Azusa Pacific (12-2) to a come-from-behind 17-14 victory over No. 11 Olivet Nazarene (11-3) in the 1998 NAIA National Football Championship game at Jim Carroll Stadium in Savannah, Tenn. Saturday afternoon.

It is the Cougars' first ever national championship in football, and the 15th in Azusa Pacific history.

Finishing the season 12-2, Azusa Pacific has now won 10 consecutive games, which is the longest current streak in the NAIA. Olivet Nazarene ended the season at 11-3.

"I never thought we'd lose," said Azusa Pacific head coach Vic Shealy. "If anyone ever says we don't have a chance to win, then they don't understand this team."

With 10:16 remaining in the final period, the Cougars drew within 14-9 following a safety. Senior LB Elbert Baker forced Odgers into fumbling the ball near the Cougars end zone and Odgers kicked it out of the end zone for a Cougar safety. That set up Williams' heroics on the ensuing drive.

Following the free kick, Azusa Pacific grabbed its only lead of the game, driving 46 yards in five plays. Williams capped the winning drive with a four-yard run. After the two-point conversion, the Cougars led 17-14 and were able to thwart the Tigers' remaining possessions.

Williams, who finished with a game-high 108 yards rushing on 22 attempts, named the game's Offensive Player of the Game. The two-way starter also halted Olivet Nazarene's final drive with an interception with just over one minute left in the contest.

"After the first day of practice, the coaches and players thought we could win the championship," said Williams. "I'm really excited that we were able to win this championship."

Olivet Nazarene defensive lineman Greg Reid was named the game's Defensive Player of the Game. The junior lineman deflected three passes and had two tackles for the contest. Two of his three breakups came on the same drive early in the contest.

The Tigers grabbed the lead on their first possession as they mounted a nine-play, 64-yard drive that ended with a Hollist Brown one-yard push into the endzone. Chad Martin's kick gave Olivet Nazarene a 7-0 lead with 10:50 left in the first quarter.

Azusa Pacific tied the contest early in the second quarter as quarterback Geoff Buffum hooked up with senior wide receiver Dexter Davis for a one-yard touchdown with 11:14 remaining in the first half. This score was set up by a 57-yard run by Williams that ended inside the Tiger five-yard line. Senior Jim Daichendt nailed the point after to knot the score, 7-7.

On a long fourth-down play with 1:00 left in the half, Odgers hit sophomore wideout Jon Ross for a 42-yard score to give Olivet Nazarene the 14-7 halftime advantage.

The second half belonged primarily to the Cougars. After Azusa Pacific's offense experienced its worst first-half performance of the season (130 total yards), Olivet Nazarene's offense struggled in the second half, posting only 23 yards.

"The defense did a great job of keeping them off the scoreboard in the second half," commented Shealy. "The game clearly turned on the safety but throughout the third quarter our defense was shutting them down."

After allowing a 32-yard drive to start the third quarter, the Cougars held Olivet Nazarene to seven total yards on the next two Tiger drives in the quarter. On four fourth-quarter possessions, the Tigers totalled nine plays for -39 yards.

"It almost felt like we played two seasons," said Olivet Nazarene head coach Mike Conway. "We had the chance to play a very good football team twice. My hat is off to Coach Shealy and his staff for a great victory today."

The two teams met earlier in the season on September 12, when the Cougars needed a late goal-line stop to post a 35-28 win.