Here are this weekend’s playoff and Bowl matchups in the divisions of college football covered here at Balladeer’s Blog.
NCCAA
VICTORY BOWL – The 2022 edition of this showcase game in the NCCAA will pit the defending Victory Bowl champions – the SOUTHWESTERN ASSEMBLIES OF GOD UNIVERSITY LIONS – against the OLIVET NAZARENE UNIVERSITY TIGERS.
Kickoff is set for 7:00PM Eastern Time this Friday, November 18th.
USCAA vs NCAA DIVISION THREE
NEPTUNE BOWL – Out of the USCAA the NEWPORT NEWS APPRENTICE SCHOOL BUILDERS (think Shipbuilders) will face D3’s BRIDGEWATER COLLEGE EAGLES.
Kickoff is set for 2:00PM Eastern Time this Saturday, November 19th.
NAIA PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND
Saturday, November 19th – Kickoffs set for 1:00PM local time.
The MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS – the defending National Champions – will play the ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM. Continue reading
TOPPLING NUMBER SIX – In NCAA Division 2 the 16th ranked INDIANA UNIVERSITY IN PENNSYLVANIA CRIMSON HAWKS welcomed the number 6 team in the nation – the SHEPHERD UNIVERSITY RAMS. The Crimson Hawks led 7-0 in the 1st Quarter and 10-7 come Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with IUP on top 24-7, but they had to hold on in the 4th against a furious Rams rally for a 24-21 win. 
CLOSE CALL FOR NUMBER TWO – Down in NCAA Division 3 the number 2 UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT WHITEWATER WARHAWKS paid a visit to the BALDWIN WALLACE UNIVERSITY YELLOW JACKETS. This odd game saw the Warhawks out in front 17-0 at the Half. After a scoreless 3rd Quarter the Yellow Jackets rallied for 21 points in the 4th but fell short. UW-Whitewater won out 23-21.
LINCOLN TOPPLES NCAA DIVISION TWO – The unaffiliated LINCOLN (CA) UNIVERSITY OAKLANDERS took it on the road against NCAA Division 2’s BLUEFIELD STATE BIG BLUES. In a blow to the pride of the upper divisions, the Oaklanders emerged with a 20-17 Upset win in this Instant Classic. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER SEVEN – In NCAA D2 the 24th ranked UNIVERSITY OF WEST GEORGIA WOLVES traveled to face the number 7 team in the country – the DELTA STATE STATESMEN. The Statesmen led 14-7, 28-17 and 35-24 in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Quarters respectively. In the 4th, the Wolves exploded for 28 points and a 52-42 comeback victory. 
NUMBER TWO TAKES A FALL – Down in the NJCAA the number 8 COFFEYVILLE COLLEGE RED RAVENS welcomed the 2nd ranked IOWA WESTERN COLLEGE REIVERS yesterday. Believe it or not the Red Ravens held the Reivers to just 7 points and those came in the opening Quarter. Coffeyville led 16-7 at Halftime before winning the game 23-7. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER THREE – In the NAIA the number 6 team in the nation – the BETHEL (TN) WILDCATS – traveled to face the 3rd ranked LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS. A 7-7 tie at Halftime turned into a 21-13 Wildcats lead to end the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th Bethel U. held on for a 21-16 Upset of the Blue Raiders. 
NUMBER SEVEN TAKES A FALL – Down in NCAA Division Three the 19th ranked SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY RIVER HAWKS played host to the number 7 JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY BLUE JAYS. The River Hawks put the Blue Jays on Upset Alert at the midpoint with a 14-12 edge. Each team scored 12 points in the 2nd Half for a 26-24 Susquehanna victory. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER NINE – Up in NCAA Division 2 the storied HILLSDALE COLLEGE CHARGERS welcomed the number 9 ASHLAND UNIVERSITY EAGLES. After a 7-7 1st Quarter tie the Chargers led 14-10 at the Half and then 22-20 in the 3rd Quarter before winning out by a final score of 36-20. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER THREE – In NCAA Division 3 the UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT PLATTEVILLE PIONEERS welcomed the number 3 team in the land – the UW-WHITEWATER WARHAWKS. The Pioneers put the Warhawks on Upset Alert at Halftime with a 14-10 lead, then kept them at arm’s length the rest of the way for a 17-13 victory.
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER SEVEN – In the NAIA the UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA-WESTERN BULLDOGS faced the visiting number 7 COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES. A 20-14 Bulldogs edge at the Half became 34-28 to end the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th UM-Western won out 40-35.
WEST VIRGINIA EPIC – The FROSTBURG STATE BOBCATS welcomed the FAIRMONT STATE FALCONS in this game last night. A 7-7 1st Quarter tie became a 13-7 Bobcats lead come Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with Frostburg State up 16-7 and the Falcons pulling to within 16-14 in the 4th. 
UNDEFEATED – The number 7 team in the country – the DELTA STATE STATESMEN – improved to 8-0 on their visit to the SHORTER UNIVERSITY HAWKS. The Statesmen seized a 21-0 advantage in the opening Quarter and never looked back from there enroute to a 45-10 smackdown win. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER ONE – In NCAA Division 2 yesterday, the 2nd ranked GRAND VALLEY STATE LAKERS visited the number 1 FERRIS STATE BULLDOGS. A 7-7 1st Quarter tie turned into a 14-10 Bulldogs edge come Halftime. Ferris State made it a 21-10 game to end the 3rd Quarter but in the 4th the Lakers came storming back for a 22-21 Upset. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER EIGHT – Staying in D2 for now, the HENDERSON STATE REDDIES traveled to face the 8th ranked HARDING UNIVERSITY BISON. The Reddies saw their 3-0 lead in the 1st Quarter become a 7-6 Bison lead by the midpoint. Harding U was on top 14-6 in the 3rd but Henderson State ultimately won the game 15-14.
NUMBER NINE TAKES A FALL – Over in the NAIA the 24th ranked AVILA UNIVERSITY EAGLES (formerly the Avalanche) played host to the number 9 team in the nation – the BETHEL (KS) THRESHERS. The Threshers were on top 7-0 in the opening Quarter and 14-7 at the Half. Avila University took a 21-14 lead in the 3rd Quarter before winning out 28-14 in the 4th. 
FOUR QUARTERS WEREN’T ENOUGH – This bizarre game pitted the WEST LIBERTY UNIVERSITY HILLTOPPERS against the home standing FAIRMONT STATE FALCONS. Neither team scored in the entire 1st Half, then the Hilltoppers went on top 21-0 in the 3rd Quarter. The Falcons proceeded to score 21 unanswered points in the 4th to force Overtime. In the Extra Session, Fairmont State notched a Field Goal followed by a Touchdown for West Liberty U in a 27-24 win. 
DOUBLING UP ON THE COMPETITION – The ASSUMPTION UNIVERSITY GREYHOUNDS hosted the FRANKLIN PIERCE UNIVERSITY RAVENS. The Greyhounds kept the Ravens off the scoreboard until the 4th Quarter while putting up 7 points in all 4 stanzas. The final tally was Assumption U. 28 Franklin Pierce U. 14. 
THAT WAS NUMBER FIIIVE! – In the NAIA, the number 7 team in the nation – the INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS – traveled to face the 5th ranked MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS. The focus was on defense as the Wildcats led by a mere 9-3 count at Halftime. After a scoreless 3rd Quarter, Indiana Wesleyan won out 17-10 in the 4th. 
AND NUMBER SIX CAME TUMBLING AFTER – Staying in the NAIA for a moment, the 12th ranked BETHEL (KS) THRESHERS hosted the country’s number 6 team – the SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE MOUNDBUILDERS. The Threshers put the Moundbuilders on Upset Alert at the Half with a 14-13 edge, then outscored them from there 17-10 for a 31-23 win. 
GETTING A JUMP ON THE WEEKEND – On Friday night NCAA Division 3’s ROWAN UNIVERSITY PROFS won a 23-21 Instant Classic against the visiting COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY LIONS ### And the NAIA’s DORDT UNIVERSITY DEFENDERS won 44-29 at the MOUNT MARTY UNIVERSITY LANCERS. 
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