COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF RESULTS FROM DECEMBER 10TH

CCCAA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

 BORING HELMETS, EXCITING GAME – The defending CCCAA champs, the MT SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE MOUNTIES, fell to the CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO RAMS in a thrilling finish followed by an unfortunate brawl. The final score of 52-42 doesn’t do justice to how exciting the game was. At first it looked like the Rams might win in a blowout as they seized a 28-7 lead with half-time approaching, but a pick-6 by the Mounties made it 28-14 instead. In the 2nd half the shootout was on, and with 6:40 left in the game CCSF led “Mount SAC” by a score of 38-35. The Rams added another TD with 3:53 left but the ever- tough Mounties responded with 7 points of their own at the 2:47 mark. With just 41 seconds left in the game the 45-42 CCSF lead became 52- 42 and an unfortunate fight resulted. Both teams, after all, have a lot of players who may well transfer to Division 1 schools next year (rimshot). The Mounties failed to score in the time remaining and 52-42 was the final.  

NCAA DIVISION 3

SEVEN IN A ROW – Yes, for the 7th straight year, it will be the WHITEWATER WARHAWKS, the defending champs, taking on the MT UNION PURPLE RAIDERS in the NCAA Division 3 Championship Game, better known as the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl. The teams have split 3 titles each during that run so this will be the rubber game of the match, at least until the 2012 Stagg Bowl probably finds these same 2 juggernauts clashing yet again. Whether you’re excited about this rivalry or yawning about it, let’s review yesterday’s semi-finals.

 The WESLEY WOLVERINES deserve huge props for the fight they gave the Purple Raiders in their own house. The Wolverines actually led 14-13 at halftime, which by itself must have been very disconcerting for the Mt Union fans who are used to seeing their team dominate from kickoff to the final seconds. Before you knew it the Purple Raiders were leading 28-14 in the 3rd quarter and it looked like a blowout might be on. The ballsy Wolverines (You’ve heard of the NAIA’s Fighting Saints? Well, D3 has the Ballsy Wolverines) refused to panic and tightened up defensively. Mt Union wouldn’t score another point the rest of the game and when Wesley pulled within 7 points early in the 4th quarter an exciting finish was set up. After both offenses kept threatening but not actually scoring, the Purple Raiders punted to the Wolverines, pinning them inside their own 10 yard line with less than a minute left in the game. Wesley flailed around ineffectually on the final few desperation plays, culminating in a Mt Union interception that allowed them to run out the clock and start packing for Salem, VA.

 In the 2nd semifinal of the day, the Whitewater Warhawks slapped around the ST THOMAS  TOMMIES, shutting them out by a final score of 20-0. I’m equally fond of both Whitewater AND Mt Union, but there’s no denying that this 2nd game was as boring as most games between the Big Two and every other D3 football team usually is. We should give the Tommies some props, both for making it 1 round further in the playoffs than they did last year and also for avoiding the kind of 50-10 loss that most teams suffer to Whitewater and their archrivals from Alliance, OH. The Warhawks’ Levell Coppage (Official Balladeer’s Blog Nickname: Copper Man ) not only was the hero of the past 2 National Championship Games, but he’s about to become the NCAA’s all-time leading rusher. Anyway, for at least a little bit of a variation from last year’s Stagg Bowl the game will not be on Saturday afternoon, but will be played this Friday, December 16th at 7pm ET on ESPNU.

NCAA DIVISION 2

 If you hate expressions like “Cinderella keeps on dancing” then the outcome of the 1st D2 semi-final of the day wasn’t your cup of tea. The WAYNE STATE WARRIORS, one of the darkest of Dark Horses from this year’s playoff field confounded the experts again. Wayne State’s teams used to be called the Tartar Warriors, but after this year’s run to the championship game they should change their names to the Road Warriors instead. The Warriors’ matchup with the WINSTON- SALEM STATE RAMS was close throughout, but with the Rams playing catchup most of the way. The final score was 21-14. The Rams made history by advancing further in the playoffs than any other HBCU has ever done, so congratulations on an outstanding season!  

 The final game of the day wound up being pretty much of a non- event. The PITTSBURG (KS) STATE GORILLAS were the only team that showed up as it turned out and crushed the DELTA STATE STATESMEN. The Statesmen were last season’s runners- up in D2 football but played without any kind of competitive spirit. The Gorillas parlayed a quick 14-3 lead into a 35-13 halftime advantage. The Delta State defense stepped up big in the 3rd quarter and shut out Pitt State, but the lackluster DSU offense couldn’t muster any more points. Early in the 4th quarter the Statesmen proved they weren’t in the game to win it, settling for a field goal from inside the Pitt State 10. The Gorillas capitalized on Delta State’s loss of will by tacking on 2 more quick touchdowns, making the score 49-16. The Statesmen added a garbage score with less than a minute left in the game to make the final tally 49-23. The Gorillas move on to face the upstart Wayne State Warriors in next weekend’s championship game.