Previewing Thursday's NAIA championship game

• Marian (Ind.), Morningside (Iowa) each making first appearance in final

Morningside (Iowa) (13-0) vs. Marian (Ind.) (11-1)

in Rome, Ga.

Time/TV: 6:30 p.m. ET/CBS Sports Net.

Surface: Artificial.

Synopsis: This is going to be a first for somebody, as both schools are making their initial appearance in the championship game. Recent history, in which the lower seed has won five of the last six finals, would appear to favor Marian, seeded fifth, against the No. 3 Mustangs. But Morningside figures to be confident after outlasting Southern Oregon in overtime in the quarterfinals, then in last week's semifinals toppling defending champ Saint Xavier (Ill.), a member of Marian's conference. Setting the tone for the Mustangs is Joel Nixon, a senior but a first-year starter at QB. He's made up for lost time by throwing for 3,614 yards and 47 TDs. His most frequent recipients are FB Joel McCabe and WR Kyle Schuck. DE Seth Vondersaar (team-high 81 tackles, including six sacks) will lead Marian's effort to bother him. The Knights can throw it a bit, too, with QB Adam Wiese entering the title game with 2,999 yards and 27 TDs. He gets considerable ground support from TB Tevin Lake, who has 1,490 rushing yards and 16 scores. He was named first-team All-American on Wednesday by the American Football Coaches Association. Marian WR John Hasty and TE Nathan Jones will challenge an active Mustangs secondary featuring FS Jared Goforth, another AFCA All-American, and CB Colby Henderson.