# 2009 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game

The 2009 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game was a postseason college football game between the Villanova Wildcats and the Montana Grizzlies. It was played on December 18, 2009, at Finley Stadium, home field of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. The culminating game of the 2009 NCAA Division I FCS football season, it was won by Villanova, 23–21.

## Teams

The participants of the Championship Game were the finalists of the 2009 FCS Playoffs, which began with a 16-team bracket.

### Montana Grizzlies

Montana finished their regular season with an 11–0 record (8–0 in conference). As the first-seed in the tournament, the Grizzlies defeated South Dakota State, Stephen F. Austin, and Appalachian State to reach the final. This was Montana's second consecutive and seventh overall appearance in an FCS/Division I-AA championship game, having previously won in 1995 and 2001, and having lost in 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008.

### Villanova Wildcats

Villanova finished their regular season with a 10–1 record (7–1 in conference). As the second-seed in the tournament, the Wildcats defeated Holy Cross, New Hampshire (who had given Villanova their only loss during the regular season), and William & Mary to reach the final. This was Villanova's first appearance in an FCS/Division I-AA championship game.

## Game summary
### Scoring summary

Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | MONT | NOVA |
| 1 | 5:12 | 5 | 79 | 3:55 | NOVA | 23-yard field goal by Nick Yako | 0 | 3 |
| 1 | 3:15 | 5 | 69 | 1:57 | MONT | Marc Mariani 24-yard touchdown reception from Andrew Selle, Brody McKnight kick good | 7 | 3 |
| 2 | 6:48 | 9 | 80 | 4:13 | MONT | Jabin Sambrano 4-yard touchdown reception from Selle, McKnight kick good | 14 | 3 |
| 2 | 3:34 | 7 | 66 | 3:14 | NOVA | Matt Szczur 5-yard touchdown run, Yako kick no good | 14 | 9 |
| 3 | 5:27 | 13 | 81 | 7:28 | NOVA | Chris Farmer 3-yard touchdown reception from Chris Whitney, Yako kick good | 14 | 16 |
| 4 | 11:04 | 10 | 95 | 4:47 | NOVA | Szczur 3-yard touchdown run, Yako kick good | 14 | 23 |
| 4 | 1:07 | 5 | 93 | 1:10 | MONT | Sambrano 53-yard touchdown reception from Selle, McKnight kick good | 21 | 23 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 21 | 23 |

### Game statistics

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 1 Grizzlies | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| No. 2 Wildcats | 3 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 23 |
| Statistics | MONT | NOVA |
| First downs | 18 | 22 |
| Plays–yards | 56–425 | 64–493 |
| Rushes–yards | 19–60 | 51–351 |
| Passing yards | 365 | 142 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 28–37–0 | 10–13–1 |
| Time of possession | 26:33 | 33:27 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Montana | Passing | Andrew Selle | 27–35, 351 yds, 3 TD |
| Montana | Rushing | Chase Reynolds | 15 car, 64 yds |
| Montana | Receiving | Marc Mariani | 9 rec, 178 yds, 1 TD |
| Villanova | Passing | Chris Whitney | 10–13, 142 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Villanova | Rushing | Matt Szczur | 14 car, 159 yds, 2 TD |
| Villanova | Receiving | Matt Szczur | 4 rec, 68 yds |