The Blinn Buccaneers hadn't lost since their last minute heartbreaker to Hinds in the 1994 Mineral Water Bowl. They were the defending national champions, ranked number 1 and trying to do what no team had ever accomplished, win back to back NJCAA Championships. The Coffeyville Red Ravens were the Jayhawk Conference champions at 9 and 1, the NJCAA's top rushing team and ranked third in the nation.  

Coffeyville got off to a fast start when JoJo Polk recovered a fumbled punt snap and returned it 29 yards for a touchdown. Blinn was sluggish early but an 80 yard scoring run late in the first quarter by Vaughn Inniss seemed to spark them. They scored ten unanswered points in the second with a Garrett Courtney field goal and a 1 yard run by fullback Mike Green. Then held the powerful Coffeyville rushing game in check until Derrick Foster broke loose for 77 yards and a touchdown in the last minute of the half to make it 17-14.  

But the third quarter was the ball game. Michael Bishop hit Michael Courville with a 10 yard TD pass early in the quarter, then Green and Inniss added scores to give Blinn a 36-14 lead. The Buc defense led by Hanson Caston, John Davis and Ray Lacey took over the line of scrimmage. The Red Ravens had no passing game and runners Mike Jenkins and Gerald Neasman had no room to run.  

By the time Green scored his third touchdown with 8 minutes left the suspense was gone. But the final gun brought a huge release from the tension the Blinn team had been feeling. Defensive end Lacey said, "The pressure to repeat was incredible, this is a relief. We don't have to worry about it anymore. We're a part of history, a great team with a great coach." 

"I had tears in my eyes when it was all over," said center Frank Firestone. "What a feeling, it's awesome."