This year’s match-up won’t be a rematch.

Although Sioux Falls (S.D.) will be returning to Rome for the NAIA championship game for the second straight year, Carroll College (Mont.) won’t be.

Carroll lost to Lindenwood, 42-35, in snowy conditions on Saturday in the NAIA semifinals, while defending champion Sioux Falls advanced by routing St. Xavier 48-6.

In two weeks, Sioux Falls (S.D.) will play Lindenwood (Mo.) at Barron Stadium in the NAIA championship game. Kickoff is at noon for the Dec. 19 contest.

Sioux Falls downed Carroll College in last year’s title game before a sellout crowd at Barron Stadium. The game was played amid steady rain as the teams sloshed through muddy field conditions.

Lindenwood (Mo.) 42, Carroll (Mont.) 35

For the second year in a row, the semifinal contest between the Lions and the Saints came down to the final minute but this time it was Lindenwood that finished on top to earn its first-ever trip to the title game.

Lindenwood junior quarterback Philip Stabeck was 25-of-35 passing with 374 yards and three touchdowns, including one to Matt Bramow with 55 seconds left, as the Lions out-gained Carroll 568 to 359.

Sioux Falls 48, St. Xavier 6

Quarterback Lorenzo Brown threw for 204 yards and three touchdowns as well as running 133 yards and another TD to lead Sioux Falls to its fourth consecutive national championship game.

The ground game clearly belonged to the Cougars as St. Xavier was out-gained 324-24 on the ground. St. Xavier had five turnovers in the game, including two interceptions.

Ryan Lowmiller led Sioux Falls’ running attack with 161 yards and a touchdown.