With the victory, Azusa Pacific moves into the NAIA Championship game, where the Cougars will meet Olivet Nazarene University on Saturday, Dec. 19 in Savannah, Tenn.

"It's a dream come true to get this opportunity twice in one year," said Daichendt. "I told myself if the opportunity happens again, then all the glory goes to God."

Two weeks ago in the opening round of the playoffs, Daichendt kicked a 27-yard field goal with 8 seconds left to give Azusa Pacific a 31-28 victory over Taylor.

For nearly 3 quarters the Cougar defense held the NAIA's top-scoring offense in check, taking a 23-14 lead into the fourth quarter. However, Huron scored 2 touchdowns in a matter of 6 minutes to assume a 24-23 lead with 5:13 left to play. Daichendt's missed PAT on the Cougars' final TD (1:11 in the third quarter) appeared to come back and haunt the Cougars. However, the Cougars got one last chance and drove 69 yards on 14 plays in the final 5 minutes to set up Daichendt's heroics. On the game-winning drive Azusa Pacific converted a fourth-and-seven at the Huron 38-yard line when senior QB Geoff Buffum hit All-American wide receiver Dexter Davis on a 27-yard pass play to take the ball to the Screaming Eagles' 11-yard with less than 2 minutes to play. From there Azusa Pacific positioned itself for Daichendt's field goal.

"That fourth-and-seven play epitomizes our season," said fourth-year Azusa Pacific coach Vic Shealy. "The percentages were against us, but we earned this win. When your players refuse to quit, you have the opportunity to win. Jim's kick was beautiful."

Huron then fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Cougar Luke Jerome recovered the ball at Huron 23-yard line to ice the game.

"I saw the whole season as he bobbled it, so I put my head in his numbers and the Lord provided," said Jerome.

The Cougars got on the board first when Buffum hit Caleb Willis for a 24-yd TD pass with 13:23 left in the first half. Then Daichendt kicked a 35-yard field goal to give the Cougars a 10-0 lead. Huron scored with 1:05 remaining in the second half when QB Casey Veenhoff ran around end 4 yards to put it at 10-7.

On the Cougars opening drive of the second half, freshman FB Adam Shelly scored on a 1-yard run, his 4th TD of the playoffs, and it gave Azusa Pacific a 17-7 lead.

Huron responded with an 8:06 drive, and cut the lead to 17-14 with a 1-yard Artis Bishop run with 2:28 left in the 3rd quarter. However, just over a minute later, Cougar RB Jack Williams scored on a 35-yard run, breaking several tackles and following a Buffum block on the 3-yard line. But the Screaming Eagles blocked Daichendt's PAT, making it 23-14.

"My style of running is to just keep running, even if I get hit," said Williams, who finished with 175 yards on 29 carries and a TD. "I just kept running until I got into the end zone."

With 11:21 left in the 4th quarter, Bishop scored from 3 yards out, cutting the Cougar lead to 23-21. After a few changes of possession, Huron kicker Ron Chirken nailed a 37-yard field goal to give the Screaming Eagles a 24-23 lead with 5:13 remaining in the game, setting up Daichendt's heroics.

Buffum finished 17-for-30 passing for 215 yards and 1 touchdown.

"Usually it is just football, but when we had that 4th (and 7) I was nervous," said Buffum. "All I had to do was give it to Dexter and he did the rest, just like he has all season."

Senior Matt Zaengle was named Defensive Player of the Game after recording a team-high 13 tackles with an interception and a fumble recovery. The fumble recovery led to the Daichendt 35-year field goal.

"I just keep showing up where the ball does," said Zaengle, who now has 11 interceptions on the season. "They ran right to me so I just lowered my head and made the tackles."

The NAIA title is a rematch of a regular season game. Back on September 12, Azusa Pacific defeated Olivet Nazarene, 31-24, in Azusa.

After Azusa Pacific defeated Olivet Nazarene, Shealy said he wouldn't be surprised if both teams met again.

"That was a very prophetic statement, but I didn't think it would be in the championship game," said Shealy. "We look forward to seeing them again."

Olivet Nazarene defeated Tri-State (Ind.) 33-28 in the other semifinal game.

Scoring by Quarters
Huron (S.D.)              0   7    7   10 -- 24
Azusa Pacific             0  10   13    3 -- 26

               INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
SCORING
APU -Caleb Willis (AP) 24 pass from Geoff Buffum, 13:23 2nd quarter (Jim Daichendt kick)
APU - Jim Daichendt (AP) 35 FG, 7:43 2nd quarter
HU - Casey Veenhoff (HU) 4 run, 1:05 2nd quarter(Ron Chirken kick)
APU - Adam Shelly (AP) 1 run, 10:34 3rd quarter (Daichendt kick)
HU - Artis Bishop (HU) 1 run, 2:28 3rd quarter (Chirken kick)
APU - Jack Williams (AP) 35 run, 1:11 3rd quarter (kick failed)
HU - Artis Bishop (HU) 3 run, 11:21 4th quarter (Chirken kick)
HU - Ron Chirken (HU) 37 FG, 5:13 4th quarter,
APU - Jim Daichendt (AP) 23 FG, 1:02 4th quarter

PASSING
Geoff Buffum (AP) 17-30, 215 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Casey Veenhoff (HU) 5-10, 53 yds, 0 TD, 1 INT

RUSHING
Jack Williams (AP), 29 att., 175 yds
Artis Bishop (HU), 29 att., 154 yds

RECEIVING
Dexter Davis (AP), 6 rec., 69 yds
Justin Duarte (AP), 4 rec., 51 yds
Jim Willoughby (HU), 4 rec., 43 yds
Caleb Willis (AP), 2 rec., 41 yds
           TEAM STATISTICS
               APU          HU
FIRST DOWNS     21          18
TOTAL YARDS   419 yds     274 yds
RUSHING       204 yds     221 yds
PASSING       215 yds      53 yds
FUMBLES/LOST    2-1         3-2
FORCED FUMB.     1           0
PENALTIES/YDS   6-61        4-30
3rd DOWNS       8-14        6-14
4th DOWNS       1-1         1-1
TIME OF POSS.  28:59       31:01