BALLADEER’S BLOG COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OCT 27th EDITION

HEADLINES

TEARING DOWN NUMBER ONE – In NCAA Division Two, the 4th ranked FERRIS STATE BULLDOGS paid a visit to the nation’s number 1 GRAND VALLEY STATE LAKERS. The Bulldogs were all over Grand Valley State, leading them 13-0 by Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with Ferris State on top of the Lakers 27-7 and the 4th with a 34-7 Bulldogs victory.

NUMBER FOUR TAKES A FALL – Over in the NAIA, the number 8 MORNINGSIDE UNIVERSITY MUSTANGS took it on the road against the country’s 4th ranked DORDT UNIVERSITY DEFENDERS. The Mustangs were up 21-7 in the 1st Quarter and 28-7 at the Half. From there, the Defenders outscored Morningside 14-3, but with so deep a deficit the Mustangs still won 31-21.

TOPPLING NUMBER NINE – Back in D2, the number 20 AUGUSTANA (SD) VIKINGS traveled to take on the 9th ranked MINNESOTA STATE MAVERICKS. The Vikings took a 7-0 1st Quarter lead, but the Mavericks went on top 9-7 by the midpoint. Augustana retook the lead in the 3rd Quarter – 24-9 – and the 4th saw them polish off MSU 34-16.   

KNOCKING OFF NUMBER TEN – Down in NCAA Division Three, this game pitted the 22nd ranked UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT LACROSSE EAGLES against the visiting number 10 UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT RIVER FALLS FALCONS. The opening Half ended with the Falcons clinging to a 17-14 edge, but the Eagles went on top 21-17 in the 3rd Quarter before winning out 28-24.

SENIOR DAY – The WILLIAMSON COLLEGE OF THE TRADES MECHANICS took the field against the visiting CAPP ACADEMY CRUSADERS. Seven Turnovers on the part of the Mechanics’ opponents helped make this a happy event for the twelve seniors on the team. Williamson led the Crusaders 20-6 at the midpoint of the game and won by a final tally of 34-8.

ANOTHER NUMBER ONE BITES THE DUST – Down in the NJCAA, the 13th ranked BUTLER (KS) GRIZZLIES were on the road against the number 1 team in the nation – the HUTCHINSON COLLEGE BLUE DRAGONS. The Grizzlies parlayed a 6-0 1st Quarter edge into 20-10 come Halftime. Neither team scored in the 3rd, and a Blue Dragon rally in the 4th fell short as Butler won 27-22.

HAPPY HILLSDALE – Back in D2 the storied HILLSDALE COLLEGE CHARGERS visited the KENTUCKY WESLEYAN COLLEGE PANTHERS. The 1st Half was largely a defensive struggle, but the Chargers had compiled a 13-0 lead. After the break Hillsdale’s offense exploded, outscoring the Panthers 28-7 for a 41-7 blowout victory.

EIGHTY-FOUR – This D3 game saw the ILLINOIS COLLEGE BLUEBOYS take on the visiting LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY VIKINGS. Not only did the Blueboys achieve defensive perfection against Lawrence U. but they piled on the points for themselves. In this bruising, lopsided game Illinois College put up 42 points in each Half for an EIGHTY-FOUR to NOTHING triumph. 

NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics)

OTHER UPSETS IN THE RANKINGS – The UNIVERSITY OF ST. FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS toppled the 18th ranked home standing MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS 31-28   ###   Meanwhile, the CARROLL COLLEGE FIGHTING SAINTS won 43-29 at the number 12 COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES   ###   And the traveling (20) EVANGEL UNIVERSITY VALOR downed the (19) FRIENDS UNIVERSITY FALCONS 24-21.

I SAY CUMBERLAND AND YOU SAY CUMBERLANDS – This game pitted the (25) CUMBERLAND UNIVERSITY PHOENIX against the home standing UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS PATRIOTS. A 14-0 1st Quarter lead for the Phoenix morphed into a 15-14 Patriots edge by Halftime. Cumberland U. went back up 35-18 to end the 3rd Quarter and won 49-25 in the 4th.

UNDER THE RADAR CLASSICS – The UNIVERSITY OF JAMESTOWN JIMMIES won 21-14 at the MAYVILLE STATE COMETS   ###   Elsewhere, the TEXAS COLLEGE STEERS survived a 30-24 visit from the OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE STATE AGGIES (should be Okies)   ###   And the BRIAR CLIFF UNIVERSITY CHARGERS beat the WALDORF U. WARRIORS 35-28. 

DOUBLING UP ON THE COMPETITION – The KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY COYOTES traveled to face the UNIVERSITY OF ST. MARY SPIRES yesterday. The Coyotes seized a quick 21-0 advantage in the opening Quarter and led 38-7 at the Half. From there, the Spires managed to outscore Kansas Wesleyan 12-0 but still lost 38-19.

NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association)

TOP TEAMS ROLLING – The two teams tied at the top in the NCCAA won big. The OTTAWA UNIVERSITY (AZ) SPIRIT obliterated the LOUISIANA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS SEVENTY to FOURTEEN in their own house   ###   And the CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY TIGERS manhandled the visiting FAULKNER UNIVERSITY EAGLES (should be the Fury) 46-7.

WE WENT TO A FOOTBALL GAME BUT A BASEBALL GAME BROKE OUT – The CONCORDIA (MI) CARDINALS are playing their last season since their university is ending all sports programs at the end of this 2024-2025 season. On Saturday the Cardinals played their guests the SIENA HEIGHTS UNIVERSITY SAINTS and defeated them in a 9-0 defensive epic.

OFF THE SCHNEID – The STERLING COLLEGE WARRIORS did battle with the visiting OTTAWA (KS) BRAVES. In this tale of two Halves, the Warriors held a comfortable 27-7 lead at the midpoint of the game. After the break, Sterling College had to hold on by their fingertips for their first win of the season. The Braves rallied but fell short 27-21.

A VERY HAPPY HOMECOMING – The UNIVERSITY OF FT. LAUDERDALE EAGLES (should be Flamingos) welcomed the WEST BAY COLLEGIATE HAMMERHEADS yesterday. Fort Lauderdale obliterated their opponents, leading them 22-0, 37-0 and 43-0 in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Quarters, respectively before finishing them off 52-0.

NCAA DIVISION TWO

OTHER UPSETS IN THE RANKINGS – The EMORY & HENRY COLLEGE WASPS welcomed the 17th ranked CARSON NEWMAN UNIVERSITY EAGLES and beat them in a 17-10 thriller    ###    While that was going on the UNIVERSITY OF SIOUX FALLS COUGARS took it on the road against the number 23 WAYNE STATE (NE) WILDCATS, winning the game 23-13. 

MARATHON GAME OF THE WEEK – This distinction went to the clash between the NORTH GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY TRAILBLAZERS and the visiting DELTA STATE STATESMEN. The Trailblazers led 28-21 at Halftime but the Statesmen forced Overtime with a 34-34 tie. The 1st OT ended at 37-37, the 2nd at 45-45 with no change in the 3rd. In the FOURTH OVERTIME NGU won 47-45.

ALL NAME GAMES – The MISSOURI S&T MINERS tripled up on the LINCOLN (MO) BLUE TIGERS 63-21   ###   Meanwhile, the MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE CHOCTAWS clobbered the ERSKINE COLLEGE FLYING FLEET 42-7   ###   And the NORTHEASTERN STATE RIVERHAWKS handily shut out the LINCOLN (CA) OAKLANDERS 48-0.

ONE-POINT WONDER – Yesterday the LANE COLLEGE DRAGONS paid a visit to the SAVANNAH STATE TIGERS. A 7-0 Dragons lead in the 1st Quarter became a 7-7 tie at Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with the Tigers up 21-13 but Lane College made it a 21-21 deadlock to end Regulation. In the extra session a missed PAT spelled doom for Savannah State as the Dragons defeated them 28-27.

NCAA DIVISION THREE

HOOKING THE MUSKIES – The HEIDELBERG UNIVERSITY STUDENT PRINCES (I love that name and their reason for using it!) took the field against the visiting MUSKINGUM UNIVERSITY MUSKIES and routed them 52-24    ###    And the AURORA UNIVERSITY SPARTANS won a 49-14 massaacre at the LAKELAND COLLEGE MUSKIES.

WORKIN’ OVERTIME – The AUGSBURG UNIVERSITY AUGGIES played host to the red-hot ST. OLAF COLLEGE OLES in this game. Come Halftime the score was knotted up at 21-21, then the 3rd and 4th Quarters ended in a 28-28 deadlock. In the extra session a missed PAT was once again the difference as the Auggies edged the Oles 35-34.

COOL NAME BOWLS – First, the CARTHAGE COLLEGE FIREBIRDS managed a thrilling 24-20 victory at the MILLIKIN UNIVERSITY BIG BLUE   ###   Then the TUFTS UNIVERSITY JUMBOS won a tight 27-24 affair at the WILLIAMS COLLEGE EPHS (“eephs”)   ###   And the NEBRASKA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY PRAIRIE WOLVES got a 40-14 road win at the LUTHER COLLEGE NORSE. 

ROUT (NOT ROUTE) SIXTY-SIX – You’ll see what I did there in this game between the LAKE FOREST COLLEGE FORESTERS and their guests, the RIPON COLLEGE REDHAWKS. A 14-0 opening quarter advantage for the Foresters was only the beginning as they went up 38-0 by Halftime on their way to a 66-0 shutout.

NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association)

OTHER UPSETS IN THE RANKINGS – The number 8 NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE RANGERS won a 37-35 Instant Classic against the visiting 6th ranked HOLMES COLLEGE BULLDOGS    ###    On top of that, the 12th ranked TYLER COLLEGE APACHES sent their guests the number 9 KILGORE COLLEGE RANGERS back home nursing a 16-13 Upset.

SHOWDOWN IN DODGE CITY – On Saturday the DODGE CITY COLLEGE CONQUISTADORS took the field against the visiting INDEPENDENCE COLLEGE PIRATES. A scoreless 1st Quarter was followed by a 14-0 Conquistadors lead at the Half and 20-0 in the 3rd. The Pirates finally decided to play in the 4th Quarter but came up just short as Dodge City triumphed 23-20.

SHUTOUTS – The (2) IOWA WESTERN COLLEGE REIVERS blanked their hosts, the (5) GARDEN CITY COLLEGE BRONCBUSTERS to the tune of 38-0   ###   Elsewhere, the CENTRAL GEORGIA TECHNICAL COLLEGE TITANS hammered the RIVER CITY PREP ADMIRALS 42-0   ###   While the ITAWAMBA COLLEGE INDIANS won 17-0 at the NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE TIGERS.

TRIPLING UP ON THE COMPETITION – In this game the NASSAU COUNTY COLLEGE LIONS welcomed the HUDSON VALLEY COLLEGE VIKINGS (should be the Dutch). Neither team scored in the opening Quarter, but Halftime found a 7-7 tie. The 3rd Quarter ended with the Lions out in front 21-7 and that held up as the final tally as well.   

CCCAA (California Community College Athletic Association)

DOWN GOES NUMBER TWO – The 12th ranked AMERICAN RIVER COLLEGE BEAVERS found themselves on the road against the number 2 BUTTE COLLEGE ROADRUNNERS. By the midpoint of the game the Roadrunners held a 21-10 advantage, but the Beavers forced Overtime with a 24-24 tie in the 4th Quarter. In OT American River College won 31-30 off a missed PAT.

ADDITIONAL OVERTIME AFFAIRS – Missed conversions after TDs continued to be the OT tale of the day. The LOS ANGELES VALLEY COLLEGE MONARCHS won 27-26 at the GLENDALE COLLEGE VAQUEROS   ###   Then the SAN JOSE CITY COLLEGE JAGUARS defeated their hosts the COALINGA COLLEGE FALCONS 50-48 in Double Overtime.   

TARTAR CONTROL – The SANTA ANA COLLEGE DONS traveled to play the COMPTON COLLEGE TARTARS. The Dons kept the Tartars off the scoreboard for every Quarter except the 3rd. Santa Ana College parlayed their 14-0 opening Quarter lead into a 42-0 tally at Halftime. When the dust settled the Dons logged a 56-6 road blowout.

OLYMPIAN STRUGGLE – In this game the SAN DIEGO MESA COLLEGE OLYMPIANS did battle with the home standing MT. SAN JACINTO COLLEGE EAGLES. The Olympians had the upper hand 21-7 in the 1st Quarter and 28-14 at the break. The 3rd Quarter ended with San Diego Mesa College up 35-14, but they had to hold on for dear life in the 4th to get a 35-28 victory.

Helmets courtesy of NationalChamps.net