Well, the first night of NAIA football is in the books. Division 3 gets going next week for those of you wondering. Let’s recap last night’s action:
ST XAVIER COUGARS 49 over Bethel (TN) Wildcats 32. In a game that was tight until the 4th quarter, Cougars QB Anthony “Crop-Man” Kropp had a great game but Mike Maher set an SXU record for completion yards and TD receptions!
BEMIDJI STATE BEAVERS 24 over Minot State Beavers 7. Minot State got bashed in the 12th Annual Beaver Bash, but they were up against a D2 team in Bemidji State. For newbies to lower division sports just as 1A football teams schedule 1AA teams (I feel like such a rebel for continuing to say 1A and 1AA) it goes all the way down. 1AA teams often schedule Div 2 teams for their opening game and D2 teams often schedule D3 or NAIA teams for theirs.
DICKINSON STATE BLUE HAWKS 25 over Rocky Mountain Battlin’ Bears 21. In what was the closest final score of the night the Blue Hawks defense kept the Battlin’ Bears from scoring long enough for a Holland to Herr screen pass to put Dickinson State ahead for good.
CONCORD MOUNTAIN LIONS 72 over Southern Virginia Knights 21. Okay, I know Concord is D2 but still, for SVU this is the ultimate “just burn the game tape and move on” situation. I’m sure the Knights faithful would like as little said about this game as possible so let’s just move on ourselves.