NOTEWORTHY COLLEGE FOOTBALL RESULTS FROM OCTOBER 20TH, 2012

A DYNASTY IN FREEFALL? – The (10) OSHKOSH TITANS (helmet at left) defeated the (5) WHITEWATER WARHAWKS in a 28-13 rout in their own house yesterday. Not only are the Warhawks the defending champions of NCAA Division 3 football, but they have been one of the two most dominant gridiron dynasties of the past decade. Whitewater has played in the past 7 D3 national championship games in a row against the other D3 football dynasty, Mount Union, and have won 4 of those 7. Oshkosh’s victory over the Warhawks was the 2nd loss for UWW this year, handing them more losses in one year than they had over the previous four seasons COMBINED! Earlier this season the Warhawks lost to unranked Buffalo State in one of their lowest-scoring games of the 21st Century. Congratulations to the Titans, of course, for this historic accomplishment!

HOW ‘BOUT THEM PIONEERS? – The NAIA’s WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY PIONEERS are in their first year of intercollegiate football since the 1940’s but have already logged their program’s SECOND victory of this inaugural season. Yesterday the Pioneers marked their new era’s very first Homecoming with a 58-37 smackdown of the SOUTHWESTERN ASSEMBLIES OF GOD LIONS. Earlier this year WBU notched their revived program’s initial win by taking down the HOWARD PAYNE UNIVERSITY YELLOW JACKETS in a 27-23 nailbiter. To put this 2nd win this season in persepective, Point University and Bluefield are also in their debut seasons but haven’t notched their 1st win yet. Ave Maria University is in year number TWO of their football program but have yet to win a single game.

TOP 25 UPSETS – NAIA – The 9th ranked ST FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS were on the road against the number 5 WILLIAM PENN UNIVERSITY STATESMEN and seized another W for Coach Kevin Donley, already the winningest coach in NAIA football history. The final score was 28-19. ### … And the unranked DAKOTA WESLEYAN TIGERS toppled the 20th ranked DOANE TIGERS in a 28-24 Instant Classic. ### The scheduled game between the number 22 TABOR COLLEGE BLUE JAYS and the MCPHERSON BULLDOGS was canceled to mourn the loss of Tabor football player Brandon Brown.

TOP 25 UPSETS – NCAA DIVISION 2 – The 13th ranked MISSOURI WESTERN GRIFFONS were visiting D2’s defending champions, the number 8 (previously number 1) PITTSBURG (KS) STATE GORILLAS who were fresh off their first loss of the year to Northwest Missouri. The Griffons knocked PSU down even further with a 63-14 annihilation. ### The (23) HILLSDALE CHARGERS plucked the feathers off the visiting 14th ranked team, the SAGINAW VALLEY STATE CARDINALS by a score of 34-17. ### The unranked HARDING BISONS (they go by Bisons, not Bison) played road warriors and brought down the number 15 OUACHITA BAPTIST TIGERS 34-14. ### The NORTHEASTERN STATE RIVERHAWKS edged the (21) CENTRAL MISSOURI MULES in a 24-23 homestand. ### The NORTHERN STATE WOLVES likewise won a one-point game against the visiting 24th ranked ST CLOUD STATE HUSKIES 28-27. ### … And the number 25 MICHIGAN TECH HUSKIES fell on the road to the FERRIS STATE BULLDOGS by a score of 56-49.

TOP 25 UPSETS – NCAA DIVISION 3 – The unranked WHEATON THUNDER (helmet at left), from the home city of Bob Woodward and John Belushi, knocked off the visiting 12th ranked ILLINOIS WESLEYAN TITANS in a 38-35 game for the ages. ### The number 17 ROWAN UNIVERSITY PROFS fell on the road to the CORTLAND STATE RED DRAGONS 24-21. ### … And the PACIFIC LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY LUTES (how can you not love that name) trounced the 22nd ranked WILLAMETTE BEARCATS by a score of 41-27.

THE KEY TO THE CITY GAME – Rivalries between college teams in the same state are notoriously intense. When the two college teams are in the same CITY the rivalry’s intensity gets amped up to the Nth degree. Yesterday was the First Annual Key To The City Game between the two teams that call Sioux Falls, SD home. The AUGUSTANA VIKINGS welcomed the UNIVERSITY OF SIOUX FALLS COUGARS in a game that more than lived up to the hype. It took TWO OVERTIME PERIODS to bring an end to the game with the Cougars at last emerging with a 32-31 victory.

THE ADMIRAL’S CUP (Insert your own sophomoric joke here) – The MAINE MARITIME MARINERS out of Castine, ME played their rivals the MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME BUCCANEERS in their yearly battle for the Admiral’s Cup. The Buccaneers came out focused and ready to play, handing the Mariners a 42-23 smackdown in their own house. The Admiral’s Cup is one of my all-time favorite college football trophies, second only to the Commodore’s Truss. (I’m kidding!)

SUCCESS AT LAST! – The DORDT COLLEGE DEFENDERS out of Sioux Center, IA, came into yesterday at 0-5 but finally notched their first victory of the 2012 season. The Defenders (love that name) triumphed over the visiting DAKOTA STATE TROJANS by an authoritative 24-7. ### … And after 4 losses in a row the NEWPORT NEWS APPRENTICE SCHOOL BUILDERS managed to notch their second win of the year by defeating the ALFRED STATE PIONEERS in a 35-21 homestand.

THE CHEESE BOWL – No, it’s not a wedding gift, it’s a rivalry game played between two college football teams from the land of the cheese-heads – Wisconsin. The LAKELAND COLLEGE MUSKIES face off against the CONCORDIA (WI) FALCONS in a truly blood-curdling (sorry) affair. For the 2012 edition of this neglected gridiron rivalry the Falcons won 23-16 in a tense and memorable game that the attendees will be telling their grandchildren about.

WE WENT TO A FOOTBALL GAME BUT A BASKETBALL GAME BROKE OUT – Yesterday saw a game in which the philosophy of both teams seemed to be that this whole defense thing is waaaaay overrated. The IOWA WESLEYAN COLLEGE TIGERS were hosting the WALDORF WARRIORS in a game that redefined the term “shootout”. In the end the Tigers walked away with a 66-65 win in a clash that taught both teams not to leave their defensive players on the bus next week.

HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON? – This week’s winner of the Marathon Game of the Week distinction is the clash between the FAYETTEVILLE STATE BRONCOS and the ST AUGUSTINE’S UNIVERSITY FALCONS. It took no less than THREE OVERTIMES before the Falcons won out 34-28. With this hard-fought victory St Augustine’s improves to 5-3 so far for the 2012 college football season.

A WIN IS A WIN – Two football teams that usually win in extremely dominant fashion found themselves in much closer – but still comfortable – games yesterday. The HUTCHINSON BLUE DRAGONS (helmet at let) were on the road against the FORT SCOTT GREYHOUNDS and won 37-14. ### Meanwhile the ASA COLLEGE AVENGERS welcomed the ERIE KATS and came away with a 24-10 victory. This was the first time in weeks that neither the Avengers nor the Blue Dragons scored at least 60 points.

UNDER THE RADAR CLASSICS – NAIA – The JAMESTOWN COLLEGE JIMMIES took it on the road yesterday against the VALLEY CITY STATE VIKINGS in a tight series they led 49-48-4. The Jimmies earned their 50th win over the Vikings in a 13-10 gridiron epic. ### The CULVER-STOCKTON WILDCATS defeated the BELLEVILLE LYNX in a gripping 21-14 contest. ### The (8) MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS logged a road victory over the EASTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY MOUNTAINEERS by a score of 28-20. ### … And the (25) CUMBERLAND UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS survived a 28-23 invasion from the reigning Victory Bowl champions, the CAMPBELLSVILLE TIGERS.

UNDER THE RADAR CLASSICS – D2 – The ARKANSAS TECH WONDERBOYS eked out a 24-21 home win over the UAM BOLL WEEVILS. ### The NORTH GREENVILLE CRUSADERS ground out a 4 point victory over the BREVARD COLLEGE TORNADOES 14-10. ### The UPPER IOWA PEACOCKS fell in a 38-37 nailbiter to the SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA MUSTANGS. ### The NORTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE RANGERS defeated the PANHANDLE STATE AGGIES by a score of 34-30. ### … And the MCMURRY WARHAWKS got past the INCARNATE WORD CARDINALS in a memorable 28-20 encounter.

UNDER THE RADAR CLASSICS – D3 – The EMORY & HENRY WASPS squeaked by the visiting CATHOLIC CARDINALS in a 15-14 gridiron Armageddon. ### The WILMINGTON QUAKERS managed a take-down of the MARIETTA COLLEGE PIONEERS by a score of 13-12. ### The MILLIKIN BIG BLUE fell in overtime to the visiting ELMHURST BLUE JAYS 45-42. ### The GREENVILLE COLLEGE PANTHERS defeated the EUREKA RED DEVILS 42-35. ### The EAU CLAIRE BLUGOLDS topped the STEVENS POINT POINTERS in a 17-14 contest. ### … And the MARITIME COLLEGE PRIVATEERS were edged out by the MT IDA MUSTANGS 24-21.

ANTI-CLASSICS – NJCAA – This was one of those Saturdays where one-score games between neglected teams were non-existent so I’ll focus on Anti-Classics instead. The ARIZONA WESTERN COLLEGE MATADORS (helmet at left) eviscerated the MESA THUNDERBIRDS 78-20. ### The TYLER APACHES kicked around the TRINITY VALLEY CARDINALS to the tune of 37-16. ### The COFFEYVILLE RED RAVENS got mauled by the BUTLER (KS) GRIZZLIES in a 45-13 laugher. ### … And the NORTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA A&M GOLDEN NORSEMEN pillaged the CISCO COLLEGE WRANGLERS 49-21 in their on house.

UNDER THE RADAR CLASSICS – CCCAA – The SAN DIEGO MESA COLLEGE OLYMPIANS held on for a 24-22 victory over the visiting VICTOR VALLEY RAMS. ### The CHABOT COLLEGE GLADIATORS won an Overtime road clash with the LANEY EAGLES by a score of 37-36. ### The PALOMAR COLLEGE COMETS fell in a 33-32 heart-breaker to the FULLERTON HORNETS. ### The RIVERSIDE TIGERS defeated the CITRUS PIRATES by a score of 21-18. ### … And the SANTA ANA DONS handed a loss to the GOLDEN WEST COLLEGE RUSTLERS in a 28-21 homestand.

GETTING A JUMP ON THE WEEKEND – Some memorable results from Thursday and Friday night’s games: The (16) JOHNS HOPKINS BLUE JAYS topped the GETTYSBURG COLLEGE BULLETS 49-35. ### The M.I.T. ENGINEERS eked out a 20-19 victory over the SALVE REGINA SEAHAWKS. ### The (6) NEW HAVEN CHARGERS notched a tight 45-41 road win over the STONEHILL SKYHAWKS. ### The EAST MISSISSIPPI LIONS, defending champs of the NJCAA, defeated the NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI RANGERS in a 56-49 shootout. ### … And the PIERCE COLLEGE BRAHMA BULLS gored the CITY COLLEGE OF SANTA BARBARA VAQUEROS by a score of 39-28.