The Purple Raiders won a third-straight National Title for the second time in school history while earning a seventh National Championship overall with a 48-7 rout of Trinity (Texas) at the Stagg Bowl.
Running back Dan Pugh earned National Player of the Year honors rushing for 2,303 yards on 384 carries – good for a 6.0 yard per carry average, with 35 rushing scores and a then NCAA All-Divisions single-season record 41 total touchdowns. Including playoffs, Pugh totaled 4,514 yards rushing during his Raider career.
Quarterback Rob Adamson finished his Raider career with a perfect 25-0 mark as a starter as he completed 139 of 231 passes (.602) for 2,424 yards, with 30 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Wide receiver Randell Knapp hauled in 56 passes for 1,016 yards and 11 scores while tight end Josh Liddell added 40 receptions for 564 yards and five touchdowns. Wide receiver Derrick Leach had 26 receptions, averaged 24.2 yards per grab and had eight scores.
Defensively, end Matt Campbell had 101 hits, 25 tackles for loss and 13 sacks, outside linebacker Stan Watson finished with 89 hits, end Chris Carter had 77 hits, 16 tackles for loss and nine sacks, cornerback Chris Kern finished with 53 hits, four interceptions and 10 passes broken up, and safety Matt Sotcan had 31 hits and 17 passes broken up.
