The NAIA championship will feature two explosive offenses which are fueled by two effective quarterbacks.

Today, in the second segment of our preview package, we’ll take a closer look at the two signal-callers — Marian’s Adam Wiese and Morningside’s Joel Nixon.

The Matchup: Morningside (13-0) vs. Marian (11-1)

When, Where: Thursday, Barron Stadium, 6:30 p.m.

THE STARTING QUARTERBACKS

l MORNINGSIDE’S JOEL NIXON l

Amazingly, Nixon had never played a down as a collegiate quarterback prior to this season, but he seems to be a natural fit for the position.

He is the 2012 GPAC Offensive Player of the Year and is the national leader with a pass efficiency rating of 180.4.

Nixon, a 6-0, 205 lb. senior quarterback from Wakefield, Neb., has been named the Offensive Player of the Game in each of the Mustangs’ three NAIA playoff victories.

Nixon accounted for 367 yards total offense and figured in five of the Mustangs’ seven touchdowns in their 47-19 victory against Saint Xavier in the semifinals.

He is second in the nation with an average of 337.2 yards total offense per game and sixth in the nation with an average of 278.0 yards passing per game. He has completed 240 of 375 pass attempts (64.0 percent) for 3,614 yards and a school-record 47 touchdowns with only 11 interceptions. Nixon’s 47 touchdown passes broke the former Morningside record of 41 TD passes in a season first set by Craig Fobbe in 2005 and matched by Ian Gilworth in 2008.

Nixon’s 3,614 yards passing is the third highest single-season total in Morningside history. Nixon is also the Mustangs’ leading rusher with 770 yards and four touchdowns in 150 attempts for an average of 5.1 yards per carry.

l MARIAN’S ADAM WIESE l

Wiese, a senior, has completed 256-of-372 passes this season (68 percent). He has thrown for 2,990 yards with 27 touchdowns. He has also rushed for an additional 170 yards on 60 attempts with a touchdown. He completed 15-of-27 passes for 148 yards in last week’s semifinal victory.

Last season, he was a member of the MSFA Mideast League champions after he guided the Knights to a 12-1 record and a berth in the NAIA playoffs and eventually the semifinals.

Also during his junior season, Wiese earned All-MSFA Mideast Second Team honors after finishing fourth in the MSFA in passing.