DAYTONA BEACH, Florida — Craig Howard knows what a championship quarterback looks like better than most.

When he first recruited Austin Dodge from Central Washington in 2011, Howard knew he would be making history. He just didn't think it would take this long.

"I found the right school, 31 miles from where I grew up," said Howard, who coached Tim Tebow to a state title at Florida's Ponte Vedra Beach Nease High School in 2005. "I found the right players to play in this plan and the right coaches to implement it. So I'm a lucky man. I wanted to do it Year 2."

Howard, who grew up in nearby Grants Pass, Oregon, inherited a program with only one winning season in its previous eight. On Friday, he watched Dodge lead Southern Oregon to a convincing 55-31 over Marian (Indiana) at Daytona Beach's Municipal stadium to capture its first NAIA national title in program history.

The Raiders (13-2) had never advanced past the quarterfinals before this season, and didn't let the opportunity pass by. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound senior threw for 429 yards and three touchdowns and was named the offensive player of the game.

"When I look for quarterbacks, I look for winners and leaders off the field," Howard said. "Guys who have a special it factor. Timmy Tebow had the it factor and so does Austin Dodge."

Dodge displayed some of that mettle when Marian (11-3) showed a faint pulse in the third quarter.

Down 38-10 at the break, the Knights scored 14 straight points to cut the deficit to 38-24.

Two plays into the fourth quarter, however, Dodge found Ryan Retzlaff for a 9-yard score that pushed the lead to 45-24.

Anthony Jones Jr., who had 17 catches for a school-record 234 yards and three touchdowns, provided Marian one last gasp. On their next offensive play, he took Hayden Northern's pass and raced 75 yards to pay dirt.

Dodge didn't flinch, leading a 12-play, 57-yard drive that ended with an Aldrick Rosas' 38-yard field goal — his second of the game — and then sealed the win with a 36-yard strike to Dylan Young with 8:35 remaining.

Given the nature of Howard's quick-strike offense, Dodge said the team wasn't concerned.

"Coach Howard and this coaching staff have really preached to this offense and this team that the longer we play, the better we get," Dodge said. "And that really has held true."

Howard said he believes Dodge will have a chance to play at the next level. But if this is the last game of his career, it won't be easy to forget.

The NAIA national player of the year leaves with his name stamped in the record books. He finished as the NAIA's leader in passing yards (17,250), completions (1,253) and touchdowns (154).

Not bad for a player who began his Southern Oregon career listed eighth on the depth chart. After the Raiders started 0-3, Howard promoted Dodge, who has gone 33-11 as a starter since.

While Dodge's long passes set the tone early on, it was tailback Melvin Mason and the Southern Oregon defense that put points on the board.

Mason notched four first-half touchdowns, including a broken screen he took 64 yards to the house.

Julius Rucker, the defensive player of the game, scored the game's first touchdown when he intercepted Northern and ran it back 54 yards. Rucker finished with two interceptions, Jaylenn Hart added three, and Southern Oregon picked off a school-record six passes. Defensively, they forced eight Marian turnovers, including a fumble recovery by linebacker Laurence Calcagno.

"We just came out and coach told us that defense wins championships," Rucker said. "We caused eight turnovers, got our offense on the field, left us on the sideline. From there, that was all we needed."

-- Danny Klein, Special to The Oregonian