BALLADEER’S BLOG: COLLEGE FOOTBALL

HEADLINES

TOPPLING NUMBER THREE – In NCAA Division Three the UNIVERSITY OF MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR CRUSADERS visited the division’s 3rd ranked UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT WHITEWATER WARHAWKS. The Crusaders grabbed a quick 21-0 1st Quarter lead and kept up the pressure after the break, ultimately winning by a score of 35-17.

NUMBER EIGHT TAKES A FALL – Staying in D3 for a moment, the 22nd ranked SALISBURY UNIVERSITY SEA GULLS traveled to take on the country’s number 8 JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY BLUE JAYS. The Blue Jays held a 13-10 edge at the Half, but were shut out from there. The Sea Gulls put up 10 points in the 3rd Quarter and 21 in the 4th for a 41-13 smackdown.

KNOCKING OFF NUMBER NINE – Up in the NAIA the 20th ranked SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY RAIDERS (should be Sea Gulls) hosted the number 9 team in the land – the COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES. By Halftime Southern Oregon was on top 21-6, and after the break they squeezed out a bit more separation from the Yotes for a 45-27 Upset victory.

ALMA CONQUERS DIVISION TWO – Back down in D3, the ALMA COLLEGE SCOTS took it on the road against NCAA Division Two’s NORTHERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS. By the midpoint the Scots had compiled a 30-10 lead over NMU. That became a mere 30-20 edge to end the 3rd Quarter, but in the 4th Alma College completed the Upset 44-27. 

SECOND HALF COMEBACK – In this game the WILLIAMSON COLLEGE OF THE TRADES MECHANICS took the field against the visiting CAPP ACADEMY CRUSADERS. A 12-6 lead for the Crusaders in the 1st Quarter became an 18-6 advantage at the Half. From there the Mechanics roared back for a 32-20 triumph.

BUILDING A BLOWOUT – The NEWPORT NEWS APPRENTICE SCHOOL BUILDERS (Shipbuilders) welcomed the THADDEUS STEVENS TECHNICAL COLLEGE BULLDOGS. The Builders led 7-0, 20-0 and 34-6 in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Quarters, respectively, on their way to winning the game 34-13.

NUMBER ONE TAKES A FALL -Way down in the CCCAA, the number 6 MODESTO COLLEGE PIRATES played host to the division’s top ranked team – the COLLEGE OF SAN MATEO BULLDOGS. The Pirates put the College of San Mateo on Upset Alert with their 23-12 lead at Halftime, then consummated the takedown, winning out 23-20. 

NAIA VS NCAA D3

Every year Balladeer’s Blog covers the rivalry between the NAIA and D3.

HISTORY WAS MADE – In this NAIA over D3 affair, the WILLIAM WOODS UNIVERSITY OWLS, who are in their very first year of intercollegiate football, got their first ever win! It came at D3’s WESTMINSTER (MO) BLUE JAYS. This milestone game found the Owls up 30-16 at Halftime on their way to a 50-35 triumph.

ROAD DAWGS – Up next the NAIA’s UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA-WESTERN BULLDOGS clashed with NCAA Division Three’s LEWIS & CLARK COLLEGE PIONEERS. A 14-14 1st Quarter tie turned into a 21-17 Bulldog’s edge at the midpoint. In the 2nd Half UM-Western pulled away from the Pioneers, and ultimately won the game 56-39.   

*** The NAIA won both clashes this week and now lead the season 2 weeks to 1.

NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics)

CLOSE CALL FOR NUMBER FIVE – The nation’s 5th ranked MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS found themselves on the road against the LAWRENCE TECH BLUE DEVILS. At Halftime the Blue Devils were on top 10-7, and the 3rd Quarter ended with Lawrence Tech clinging to a 17-14 edge. The 4th saw the Knights make it a 17-17 tie and finally a 24-23 victory.

UNDER THE RADAR CLASSICS – The BETHEL (KS) THRESHERS did battle with the visiting AVILA UNIVERSITY AVALANCHE (now the Eagles) and edged them 20-17   ###   Meanwhile, the FRIENDS UNIVERSITY FALCONS survived a 28-26 visit from the KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY COYOTES   ###   And the MAYVILLE STATE COMETS won 26-20 at the UNIVERSITY OF JAMESTOWN JIMMIES.

SEVERE BURNS – This game pitted the ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM against the home standing MONTANA STATE-NORTHERN LIGHTS. The Firestorm started scorching MSU-Northern early and often, shutting them out in the 1st Half while putting up 17 points themselves. The Lights made it 17-10 in the 3rd Quarter before ACU won the game 31-10.

SHUTOUTS – The SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE MOUNDBUILDERS were less than gracious hosts to the TABOR COLLEGE BLUEJAYS as they eviscerated them to the tune of 42-0    ###    And in the game between the DORDT UNIVERSITY DEFENDERS and the visiting HASTINGS COLLEGE BRONCOS the Defenders won FIFTY-EIGHT to NOTHING.

NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association)

GOLDEN DAYS – The GENEVA COLLEGE GOLDEN TORNADOES welcomed the THIEL COLLEGE TOMCATS on Saturday. The Tomcats were up 6-0 in the opening Quarter but trailed Geneva College 14-6 at Halftime. The Golden Tornadoes scored the only points in the 2nd Half to register a 21-6 victory.

VARYING DEGREES OF SPANKINGS – The OTTAWA UNIVERSITY (AZ) SPIRIT roughed up the TEXAS COLLEGE STEERS 51-26   ###   Elsewhere, the NELSON UNIVERSITY (formerly SAGU) LIONS won 39-8 against the ARKANSAS BAPTIST COLLEGE BUFFALOES   ###   And the CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY TIGERS trounced the BLUEFIELD COLLEGE RAMBLING RAMS 69-37.

STAFF APPRECIATION DAY – The BETHANY COLLEGE SWEDES evened up their record at 2-2 for the season against the visiting STERLING COLLEGE WARRIORS. The Warriors’ 14-13 1st Quarter edge became a 21-14 Swedes lead at the Half. Bethany College added 14 more points from there to win the game 35-14.

LAST SEASON BLUES – The UNIVERSITY OF ST. FRANCIS (IL) FIGHTING SAINTS traveled to face the storied CONCORDIA (MI) CARDINALS, whose university is ending intercollegiate sports after the 2024-2025 season. The Fighting Saints kept the Cardinals at just one win for the year so far by clobbering them 44-7.

NCAA DIVISION TWO

UPSETS IN THE RANKINGS – The JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY GOLDEN BULLS brought down the visiting 20th ranked VIRGINIA UNION UNIVERSITY PANTHERS 21-16    ###    And the CARSON NEWMAN UNIVERSITY EAGLES needed Overtime to defeat the number 23 WINGATE UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS 31-28.

GOOD DOGGOS – This game pitted the PACE UNIVERSITY SETTERS (Irish Setters) against the home standing POST UNIVERSITY EAGLES. A 7-7 1st Quarter tie was followed by a 14-7 Setters edge come Halftime. In the 3rd Quarter Pace University extended that to 17-7, then held on in the 4th against a furious Eagles rally to win the game 23-21.

MASH THE MARAUDERS – It was not a good day to be a team called the Marauders. The INDIANA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA CRIMSON HAWKS tripled up on their hosts the MILLERSVILLE UNIVERSITY MARAUDERS 42-14   ###   Next, the ALBANY (GA) STATE GOLDEN RAMS won 28-7 at the CENTRAL STATE MARAUDERS   ###   And the UM-DULUTH BULLDOGS crushed the UNIVERSITY OF MARY MARAUDERS 43-7.

INSTANT CLASSIC – The SETON HILL UNIVERSITY GRIFFINS welcomed the WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY GOLDEN RAMS. Neither team scored in the opening Quarter, but the Griffins were up 14-7 at the Half. The Golden Rams went on top 24-14 in the 3rd Quarter, only for Seton Hill University to storm back in the 4th for a 27-24 triumph.

NCAA DIVISION THREE

A DOUBLE SHOT OF THAT OT LOVE – In this game the UNIVERSITY OF PUGET SOUND LOGGERS took it on the road against the UNIVERSITY OF LA VERNE LEOPARDS. A 17-17 Halftime tie became a 38-38 deadlock to end Regulation. The 1st Overtime ended at 41-41 before the Loggers managed a 49-41 win over the Leopards in the 2nd OT.

ALL NAME GAMES – The CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY CAPTAINS notched a 54-37 road victory over the GETTYSBURG COLLEGE BULLETS   ###   Meanwhile, the AMHERST COLLEGE MAMMOTHS defeated their hosts the HAMILTON COLLEGE CONTINENTALS 21-7   ###   And the UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND NOR’EASTERS beat the GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY BISON 27-13.

WILD FOURTH QUARTER – The MARITIME COLLEGE PRIVATEERS took the field against the visiting ANNA MARIA COLLEGE AMCATS. The Privateers were on top of the Amcats 20-7 at the break and 26-14 to end the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th, Maritime College held on against a furious AMC rally for a 32-27 win.

ROAD RAGE – The OHIO NORTHERN UNIVERSITY POLAR BEARS won a 52-27 affair at the HEIDELBERG UNIVERSITY STUDENT PRINCES   ###   The CENTENARY COLLEGE GENTLEMEN more than doubled up on the AUSTIN COLLEGE KANGAROOS 36-17   ###   And the PACIFIC LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY LUTES got a 27-17 win at the CAL LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY KINGSMEN.

NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association)

DOWN GOES NUMBER EIGHT – In this clash the DODGE CITY COLLEGE CONQUISTADORS traveled to face the number 8 team in the land – the HIGHLAND COLLEGE SCOTTIES. A defensive clinic was put on by both teams with the score standing at 0-0 through the first 2 Quarters. The 3rd also went scoreless, but in the 4th the Conquistadors pulled out a 9-6 victory.

HAPPY HOME STANDS – The CISCO COLLEGE WRANGLERS survived a thrilling 34-30 visit from the (10) TRINITY VALLEY COLLEGE CARDINALS   ###   Elsewhere, the CENTRAL GEORGIA TECHNICAL COLLEGE TITANS beat the DAYTONA ELITE ACADEMY WARRIORS 25-7   ###   And the HOCKING COLLEGE HAWKS roughed up the COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN COLLEGE LIONS 32-18.

ROAD WARRIORS – The ANDREW UNIVERSITY FIGHTING TIGERS found themselves on the road against the CLAYTON STATE LAKERS. The Fighting Tigers parlayed their 7-6 Halftime edge into a 14-13 tally in the 3rd Quarter. The 4th saw Andrew U. get some separation for a 27-21 win.

POTPOURI – The ITAWAMBA COLLEGE INDIANS won a 36-34 thriller at the EAST MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE LIONS   ###   Next, the LOUISBURG COLLEGE HURRICANES beat the visiting SUSSEX COUNTY COLLEGE SKYLANDERS 27-16   ###   And the (2) IOWA WESTERN COLLEGE REIVERS won 41-34 at the IOWA CENTRAL COLLEGE TRITONS.

CCCAA (California Community College Athletic Association)

OTHER UPSETS IN THE RANKINGS – The 8th ranked SAN DIEGO MESA COLLEGE OLYMPIANS visited the number 3 GOLDEN WEST COLLEGE RUSTLERS and defeated them 22-7    ###    And in the game between the MOUNT SAN JACINTO COLLEGE EAGLES and their guests the 13th ranked MOORPARK COLLEGE RAIDERS, MSJC won 22-16.

A TALE OF TWO HALVES – In this game the CITY COLLEGE OF SANTA BARBARA VAQUEROS welcomed the ORANGE COAST COLLEGE PIRATES. The first 2 Quarters were controlled by the Vaqueros, who led 16-0 by Halftime. From there, the Pirates made their move, but with City College of Santa Barbara holding on for a 24-19 triumph.

COMFORTABLE MARGINS – The CHABOT COLLEGE GLADIATORS logged a 39-21 victory at the CABRILLO COLLEGE SEAHAWKS yesterday   ###   Meanwhile, the MONTEREY PENINSULA COLLEGE LOBOS defeated the COLLEGE OF THE REDWOODS CORSAIRS 21-7   ###   And the (2) MOUNT SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE MOUNTIES won 41-19 at the (11) ALLAN HANCOCK COLLEGE BULLDOGS.

WORKING OVERTIME – Four Quarters weren’t enough for the FOOTHILL COLLEGE OWLS and their hosts the REEDLEY COLLEGE TIGERS. The Owls led 10-3 at the break, but the Tigers forced OT with a 20-20 tie to end the 4th Quarter. In the extra session Reedley notched a Field Goal, following which Foothill College scored a TD to win the game 26-23.

Helmets courtesy of NationalChamps.Net