DURHAM, NC (WNCN) – On Saturday Durham was filled with football fans not only from North Carolina, but from all over the country. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics championship football game was hosted at Durham County Memorial Field.
“Today is the pinnacle for us for NAIA football, a National Championship is special, the battle for the red flag is special,” said Austin Bennett, with the NAIA.
The football teams from Keizer University and Northwestern College went head-to-head in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics championship game, bringing some fans who traveled hours to be there.
“Long haul, about 24 hours,” said one fan. “We drove.”
“How cool is that? Keizer University from West Palm Beach, Florida coming to town, Northwestern College from Orange City, Iowa, bringing their friends, family and fans here to Durham for the National Championship event,” said Marcus Manning, with the Durham Sports Commission, of who helped organize the event.
Before kick-off, some overseas fans took the time to see what the local area has to offer.
“We went to the University of North Carolina and checked out all those buildings and the football stadium, it was cool,” said one fan.
Organizers say it took a while to get it all together.
“It takes a total team effort, kind of a group,” Manning said.
But all that effort paid off, with NAIA officials saying Durham couldn’t have been a better host.
“I’ve heard nothing but great things, the hospitality, the experiences that the people at the Durham Sports Commission have created, the hospitality from the community from the hotels, to the restaurants, to everyone they interact with has been first rate. class,” Bennett said.
The Northwestern University Red Raiders took home the victory with a final score of 35-25.
