Former Barrington Football Standouts Gain National Championship

Sam Ojuri and Ben LeCompte, two former Barrington football stars, can call themselves national champions.

Their North Dakota State Bison claimed the 2011-2012 NCAA Division I Football Championship Series crown with a 17-6 over Sam Houston State in Frisco, TX, on Saturday.

“To be a part of a national title team my freshmen year is unreal,” LeCompte said. “There's no words to describe it. I couldn’t ask for a better place to play football. The city of Fargo and their fans give you as much love as anywhere else in the country. It's been a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

LeCompte didn’t see playing time in the game as a freshman punter, but his senior counterpart Matt Voigtlander had a few heroic moments at punter for the Bison on Saturday. He had a 27-yard run on a fake punt, which set up a touchdown. He also booted a 66-yard punt and also pinned SHSU at the 1-yard line once. LeCompte had plenty to look up to on Saturday.

“My goals in the future are to be the Bison starting punter,” LeCompte said. “Then to win the Missouri valley conference and return to the title game again. Personally, I'd like to get All-American honors by the end of my career.”

Ojuri, a sophomore, had All-American type performances and numbers at running back all season for the Bison. He had a team-leading 1,105 yards and 11 touchdowns. The SHSU Bearkats contained him as he mustered 27 yards on 10 carries Saturday.

He had plenty of support around him though as the Bison offense still scored a pair of touchdowns to claim the title. The Bison defense stifled the Bearkats in allowing six points against a team that had scored 39.14 points per game going into Saturday.

Both Ojuri and LeCompte played prep football at Barrington High School.