COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Iowa Western back in NJCAA championship game

Iowa Western rode a blistering first quarter and a stubborn red-zone defense to a 41–29 win over third-ranked and previously unbeaten Tyler Junior College on a frigid Friday night at Titan Stadium. The win sent the nation’s second-ranked Reivers to a very familiar place: Back to the NJCAA Division I National Championship game for the fifth straight season. The Reivers turned four takeaways and a 223–55 rushing advantage into another December home playoff victory. After both teams traded punts on their opening series, Iowa Western seized control in a six-minute burst late in the first quarter. Starting near midfield, the Reivers finally cracked Tyler’s front when quarterback Malachi Marshall...