Category Archives: college football

December 16, 2011 · 12:35 am

COLLEGE FOOTBALL’S CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND KICKS OFF TONIGHT

 The final 3 championship games of the year for the divisions of college football covered by Balladeer’s Blog will be played tonight and tomorrow. NCAA Division 3 gets things started tonight in Salem, VA, where the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl will see the 7th straight clash between the Whitewater Warhawks (helmet at left) and the Mount Union Purple Raiders.

Yes, remarkably, both teams have survived the D3 playoff field of 32 teams for 7 YEARS IN A ROW, emerging when the dust settles to square off for the national championship. The teams have won 3 titles each in the preceding 6 years, so this is the rubber game of the match (so far). Adding to all that drama is the fact that Continue reading →

21 Comments

Filed under college football

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

December 11, 2011 · 2:03 am

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 Continue reading →

32 Comments

Filed under college football

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

December 10, 2011 · 4:24 pm

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF GAMES FOR DECEMBER 10TH

 The only down-side to Christmas drawing nearer is the fact that it means we’re down to fewer and fewer college football playoff games and Bowl games in the divisions covered by Balladeer’s  Blog. The NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) championship game, to be played between the defending champion CC Fighting Saints and the St Xavier University Cougars, won’t be until next Saturday, the 17th. Today we have 1 division’s championship game plus semifinal matchups in 2 others for a total of just 5 games for the day.

Last Saturday saw the crowning of the NJCAA Football Champions as the Arizona Western College Matadors fell to the East Mississippi Lions in the El Toro Bowl. A few Saturdays back the National Christian College Athletic Association’s football season came to an end with their signature event, the Victory Bowl, which saw the Campbellsville Tigers defeat the Greenville College Panthers.

Anyway, let’s all relish the few remaining games as the 2011 college football season approaches its end.

CCCAA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

The Mount San Antonio College Mounties, the Continue reading →

10 Comments

Filed under college football

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

December 4, 2011 · 4:20 pm

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF AND BOWL RESULTS DECEMBER 3RD

 NAIA SEMIFINALS – The ST XAVIER  UNIVERSITY COUGARS came into Indianapolis determined to make up for their lone regular season loss. That loss came at the hands of the MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS who, by virtue of their win in that game became the number 1 team in the polls and the top seed in the playoffs. SXU sank to the 5 seed but after today’s sweet revenge advance to the championship game in Rome, GA on December 17th. SXU came out on top 30-27 in this post-season Instant Classic.

Meanwhile, in the other NAIA semifinal the defending champions, the CC FIGHTING SAINTS, proved as potent as ever, embarrassing the visiting GEORGETOWN (KY) TIGERS by a score of 35-3. The score was 14-3 at halftime but apparently the Fighting Saints were just toying with Georgetown like a cat playing with a mouse. The Hellions from Helena have won 6 of the past 9 NAIA football titles and the SXU Cougars will have a difficult time dethroning them. But who knows? St Xavier put itself on the national football map for good in 2006 by upsetting CC in Helena, so maybe they have a decent shot in a neutral stadium in Rome, GA.

NJCAA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

   EL TORO BOWL – The EAST MISSISSIPPI  LIONS won their 1st national championship in any sport yesterday in a 55-47 shootout win over the ARIZONA WESTERN COLLEGE MATADORS. The Continue reading →

14 Comments

Filed under college football

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

December 3, 2011 · 3:41 am

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS AND BOWLS DECEMBER 3RD

 Welcome to another wonderful Saturday of postseason college football! The NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) playoffs are down to their semi-finals today. The defending champions, the CC Fighting Saints, welcome fellow traditional football power the Georgetown (KY) Tigers while the other semi-final matchup brings us a rematch. Just a few weeks ago the St Xavier University Cougars and the Marian University Knights were ranked one and two in the nation, respectively, when the Knights brought down Mike Feminis’ Cougars. Now the two teams play again in Marian’s house for the right to advance to the NAIA Championship Game in Rome, GA.  

The NJCAA Championship Game will be played today in the El Toro Bowl and will pit the Arizona Western College Matadors against the East Mississippi Lions. Kickoff is at 2:30pm PT.

Quarter-final games will be played in NCAA Division 2 and in Division 3 where there is still a chance for a seventh consecutive title game between the Whitewater Warhawks, the reigning champs, and the other dominant D3 football dynasty, the Mt Union Purple Raiders. In addition there will be Bowl games in Continue reading →

14 Comments

Filed under college football

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

November 27, 2011 · 12:48 am

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF RESULTS FROM NOVEMBER 26TH

 NAIA FOOTBALL DOWN TO ITS FINAL FOUR TEAMS – The MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS, who are the Top Ranked and Top Seeded team in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, completely annihilated the 11th seeded ST FRANCIS (IL) FIGHTING SAINTS by a score of 49-7. The Fighting Saints pulled off the upset of the 6 seeds from Morningside last Saturday, but the Knights would have none of it. Marian played focused on both sides of the ball and made St Francis’ trip to Indiana a nightmare for them.  

COUGARS CLAW THE PIONEERS – The SAINT XAVIER COUGARS, who were ranked at number one in the polls for the bulk of the 2011 season saw their one loss – to then- number 2 Marian in the next- to the last game of the regular season – drop them to a 5 seed in the playoffs. They rose above that bizarre snub and have taken care of business in the first 2 rounds, yesterday slapping around the 4th seeded MIDAMERICA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY PIONEERS by a score of 29- 14. Mike Feminis’ boys move on to the semi- finals and you can’t want to play this team with the roll they’re on.

NO, NOT THAT GEORGETOWN – The GEORGETOWN (KY) TIGERS clashed with their fellow NAIA football power the ST FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS in this quarterfinal matchup. Home standing Georgetown College came out on top 26- 14. 

TWO MINUTE DRILL – With barely two minutes left in regulation, the CC FIGHTING SAINTS, the defending champions of NAIA football, wrested the lead from the AZUSA PACIFIC UNIVERSITY COUGARS and won by a score of 17- 14. Just like last year an eventful season for APU was cut short by the Hellions from Helena.

CCCAA PLAYOFFS

INSERT YOUR OWN DUDLEY DO- RIGHT JOKE HERE – If the CCCAA was the NFL yesterday would have been the NFC and AFC championship games. The MT SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE MOUNTIES, the defending champs of BOTH the SCFA and the CCCAA, won an Instant Classic over the visiting CERRITOS  COLLEGE FALCONS. The Mounties won 17-14, notch another SCFA title and go on to play in the CCCAA championship game on December 10th.

RAM ON RAM VIOLENCE – The Continue reading →

20 Comments

Filed under college football

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

November 26, 2011 · 3:40 pm

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SCOREBOARDS FOR NOVEMBER 26TH

 Yes, newbies to Balladeer’s Blog, the divisions of college football covered here settle their seasons on the field. Today the CC Fighting Saints, the defending champions of NAIA football, welcome the Azusa Pacific Cougars to Helena, MT for quarter- final action. Will CC once again derail the Cougars’ post season run or will APU rise up and dethrone the champs? Watch and see.

Meanwhile the NAIA’s Top Seeded Marian University Knights will host the University of St Francis (IL) Fighting Saints and the St Xavier University Cougars, who spent most of the 2011 season ranked at number 1 in the polls, travel to take on the MidAmerica Nazarene Pioneers.

In SCFA college football the Mt San Antonio College Mounties, the defending SCFA champs as well as the defending CCCAA champs, welcome the Cerritos Falcons for the SCFA crown. The winner will play for the CCCAA title against the winner of the NCFA championship game today between the Fresno City College Rams and the defending NCFA title holders, the San Francisco Rams.

All this plus 2nd round playoff action in NCAA Divisions 2 and 3. Here are links to updating scoreboards for the divisions covered by Balladeer’s Blog:

NAIA – http://www.victorysportsnetwork.com/sport/0/14.php

D3 – Continue reading →

12 Comments

Filed under college football

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

November 24, 2011 · 1:34 pm

THANKSGIVING COLLEGE FOOTBALL RIVALRY: TUSKEGEE VS ALABAMA STATE

 The HBCU gridiron rivalry between the TUSKEGEE GOLDEN TIGERS and the ALABAMA STATE HORNETS can’t help but be anything but flattering to Tuskegee. The Golden Tigers are, after all, Division 2 while the Hornets are 1AA (FCS if you’re a spineless conformist). In that respect it’s like the Continue reading →

4 Comments

Filed under college football

Tagged as , , , ,

November 20, 2011 · 3:33 pm

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF AND BOWL RESULTS FROM NOVEMBER 19TH

 It’s Thanksgiving week and college football is as much associated with that holiday as pumpkin pie and leftovers. Yesterday the divisions of college football covered by Balladeer’s Blog played a variety of playoff games and Bowl games. Since my blog serves as a light introduction to these other divisions of college football let me emphasize that last statement for newbies: these divisions settle their seasons on the field.

Fans who forever moan and groan about the lack of a playoff in college football’s semi- professional division are seeing the light one person at a time and beginning to appreciate the post- season in the NAIA and the other divisions I cover. And now a look at yesterday’s results.

Campbellsville UniversityVICTORY BOWL – Yesterday saw the final event in the football season for the National Christian College Athletic Association. Because the two teams tied at the top of the NCCAA standings, Azusa Pacific and North Greenville, both made the playoffs in their respective divisions the Victory Bowl pitted the GREENVILLE COLLEGE PANTHERS against the CAMPBELLSVILLE TIGERS. Campbellsville notched an authoritative 21-7 win to close out their 2011 campaign.

NAIA PLAYOFFS

Marian U Knights helmetWHERE HAVE ALL THE VIKINGS GONE? – Heading into the NAIA’s opening playoff round there were no less than 3 teams called VIKINGS in the mix. All of them were eliminated in one afternoon. The Top Seeded MARIAN KNIGHTS and the 2nd seeded CC FIGHTING SAINTS shut out their Viking opponents with the Knights routing GRAND VIEW 31-0 and the Fighting Saints crushing VALLEY CITY STATE by a score of 47-0. The 10th seeded ST FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS completed the Hat Trick of Viking elimination by doubling up on the 7 seeds of MISSOURI VALLEY COLLEGE 28-14.   

Saint Francis Fighting SaintsANOTHER SATURDAY, ANOTHER 4TH QUARTER RALLY – Yesterday marked the 3rd game in a row that the ST FRANCIS (IL) FIGHTING SAINTS, seeded at number 11, mounted a 4th quarter comeback to snag a win. This time they did it on the road against the Continue reading →

12 Comments

Filed under college football

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , ,

November 19, 2011 · 2:50 pm

COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCOREBOARDS FOR NOVEMBER 19TH

 Today brings us the opening round of the NAIA college football playoffs, and they’re joined, of course, by some of the other divisions of college football covered by Balladeer’s Blog. There are also several Bowl games scheduled for today as well. See my preview earlier in the week for your favorite team’s matchup.

The National Christian College Athletic Association’s Victory Bowl will also be played today with the Greenville College Panthers taking on the Campbellsville Tigers. See below for the video link.

Naturally I’ll have my usual pithy recaps of the day’s gridiron action tomorrow morning. For today, spread the word to fans of NCAA Division 1 football that they can see the kind of intercollegiate football playoff action they can’t get from D1. And now, links to updating scoreboards for the divisions of college football covered here at Balladeer’s Blog:

NAIA – http://www.victorysportsnetwork.com/sport/0/14.php

D3 – http://d3football.com/scoreboard/composite

D2 –  http://www.d2football.com/scores/

NJCAA – http://www.njcaa.org/sports_schedules.cfm?category=Schedules%2FScores&sid=11&divid=0&slid=5

SCFA – http://www.scfafootball.com/statistics/scoreboard.html

NCFA – http://www.cccaasports.org/football/men/ 

AND FOR STREAMING VIDEO OF THE NCCAA’S VICTORY BOWL CLICK HERE – http://www.campbellsville.edu/wlcutv

Leave a comment

Filed under college football

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , ,