Taking a look at Thursday night’s games:
NCAA DIVISION TWO
DOWN GOES NUMBER THREE – The number 5 team in the nation – the GRAND VALLEY STATE LAKERS – welcomed the 3rd ranked COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES OREDIGGERS. After a scoreless 1st Quarter the Lakers led 7-0 at Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with Grand Valley State out in front 17-6, but the Lakers had to hold on against a furious 4th Quarter rally by the Orediggers. The final score was Grand Valley State 25 Colorado School of Mines 22.
WORKING OVERTIME – The SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA STATE SAVAGE STORM won a 41-34 Overtime affair against the visiting ARKANSAS TECH WONDERBOYS ### Meanwhile, the BLUEFIELD STATE BIG BLUES survived a 35-34 OT visit from the JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY GOLDEN BULLS ### And the MCKENDREE UNIVERSITY BEARCATS defeated their hosts the NORTHERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS 31-24 in the extra session. Continue reading
FMU UPSETS DIVISION TWO – Every year multiple NAIA teams topple teams from higher divisions. Yesterday the FLORIDA MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY LIONS started 2022 by knocking off NCAA Division Two’s EDWARD WATERS UNIVERSITY TIGERS. The Lions led 26-0 at the Half, then held on against a furious Tigers rally for a 39-34 triumph.
SAFETY FIRST – This game pitted the TABOR COLLEGE BLUE JAYS against their hosts the IOWA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY TIGERS (should be the Purple Tigers). The first points scored in this clash came on a 1st Quarter Safety, giving the Blue Jays a 2-0 edge which remained unchanged come Halftime. From there the Tigers led Tabor College 10-8 in the 3rd Quarter only to see the Blue Jays win out 17-13 in the 4th. 
UNDER THE RADAR CLASSIC – The BLUEFIELD COLLEGE RAMBLING RAMS paid a visit to the THOMAS MORE UNIVERSITY SAINTS. A 21-7 1st Quarter lead for the Saints became a 21-21 tie at the break. The Rambling Rams led 35-21 going into the 4th Quarter, then held on to win the game 42-35. 
WORKING OVERTIME – The UNIVERSITY OF JAMESTOWN JIMMIES welcomed the VALLEY CITY STATE VIKINGS. The Jimmies led 7-0 in the 1st Quarter and 14-0 at Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with the University of Jamestown on top 21-7, but the Vikings forced Overtime with a 21-21 tie to end Regulation. In the extra session, VCSU notched a Field Goal, following which the Jimmies scored a Touchdown to win the game 27-24. 
VALOR AND PRIDE – In this game the EVANGEL UNIVERSITY VALOR took the field against the visiting CLARKE UNIVERSITY PRIDE. A 17-13 edge for the Valor at Halftime became a 24-20 advantage over the Pride headed into the 4th Quarter. Evangel University added another Touchdown for a 31-20 victory. 
NCAA DIVISION THREE – 1. UNIVERSITY OF MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR CRUSADERS (Defending National Champions) ### 2. UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT UNION PURPLE RAIDERS ### 3. UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT WHITEWATER WARHAWKS ### 4. NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE CARDINALS ### 
5. UNIVERSITY OF SAINT JOHN’S JOHNNIES ### 6. LINFIELD COLLEGE WILDCATS ### 7. WHEATON (IL) COLLEGE THUNDER ### 8. HARDIN-SIMMONS UNIVERSITY COWBOYS ### 
*** NCAA DIVISION TWO – 1. NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE BEARCATS ### 2. VALDOSTA STATE BLAZERS ### 3. FERRIS STATE BULLDOGS (Defending National Champions) ### 4. GRAND VALLEY STATE LAKERS ### 
5. COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES OREDIGGERS ### 6. HARDING UNIVERSITY BISON ### 7. UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA ARGONAUTS ### 8. UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT KEARNEY LOPERS ### 
*** 1. IOWA WESTERN COLLEGE REIVERS ### 2. NEW MEXICO MILITARY INSTITUTE BRONCOS (should be the Cavalry), the defending National Champions ### 3. HUTCHINSON COLLEGE BLUE DRAGONS ### 4. SNOW COLLEGE BADGERS ### 
5. GARDEN CITY COLLEGE BRONCBUSTERS ### 6. NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE RANGERS ### 7. IOWA CENTRAL COLLEGE TRITONS ### 8. JONES COLLEGE BOBCATS ### 
*** 1. MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS (Defending National Champions) ### 2. NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS ### 3. GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS ### 4. MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS ### 
5. SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE MOUNDBUILDERS ### 6. LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS ### 7. CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY (MI) CARDINALS ### 8. KEISER UNIVERSITY SEAHAWKS ### 
Over 10 million viewers watch the first night of the NFL draft every year. While those figures pale in comparison to the Super Bowl, you can bet industry insiders are all glued to their screens. Pundits endlessly pore over pick possibilities in the lead-up and will start speculating on how new arrivals will contribute to their franchise the second a draftee puts on his new team’s cap for the cameras. 
NCAA DIVISION TWO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – This title tilt pitted the FERRIS STATE BULLDOGS against the storied VALDOSTA STATE BLAZERS. It looked like a shootout was in store as the 1st Quarter ended in a 20-17 edge for the Bulldogs. In reality, however, Ferris State shut out the Blazers the rest of the way, leading 41-17 at the Half on their way to a resounding FIFTY-EIGHT to SEVENTEEN blowout win. 
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The VALDOSTA STATE BLAZERS took on the COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES OREDIGGERS in this game. A 10-3 1st Quarter lead for the Blazers turned into a 24-14 advantage by Halftime. Valdosta State made it a 34-14 game to end the 3rd Quarter, then withstood an Orediggers rally in the 4th for a 34-31 victory. 
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