As 2022 nears its end here’s one last round of congratulations to the college football champions from all the divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog.
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics)
National Champions – NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS
Runners-Up – Keiser University Seahawks
2021 Champions – Morningside College Mustangs
NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association)
My National Champions – OTTAWA UNIVERSITY (AZ) SPIRIT
Runners-Up – Olivet Nazarene University Tigers
2019 Champions – Concordia University (MI) Cardinals (No champs in 2021 or 2020) Continue reading
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The KEISER UNIVERSITY SEA HAWKS visited the GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS (should be the Zebras) in this game. The 1st Quarter ended with the Sea Hawks up 7-0 before expanding that to a 21-7 advantage by Halftime. After the break, Keiser University outscored Grand View 17-14 for a 38-21 Upset and a trip to the title game on December 17th. 
SECOND SEMIFINAL – Up next the NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS took the field against the INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS. A 17-0 Red Raiders lead in the opening Quarter remained unchanged at the Half. The 3rd Quarter ended with Northwestern College on top 31-0 and the 4th in a 38-7 Red Raiders win. It will be Red Raiders and Sea Hawks in the Championship Game. 
FIRST QUARTERFINAL – The COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES OREDIGGERS faced their hosts the ANGELO STATE RAMS. The Orediggers led 14-7 in the 1st Quarter and 21-10 at the break. From there Colorado School of Mines managed a bit more separation from the Rams for a 42-24 Upset victory. 
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. 
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. 
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. 
GALLOPING TO A WIN – The KENTUCKY STATE THOROBREDS scored 4 rushing Touchdowns on the road against the SAVANNAH STATE TIGERS. A 7-0 1st Quarter lead for the Thorobreds turned into a 21-6 advantage by Halftime. Each team added another TD to their tally in the 3rd Quarter before a scoreless 4th as KSU won out 28-13. 
TIGER ON TIGER VIOLENCE – In this game the EDWARD WATERS UNIVERSITY TIGERS got off the schneid for 2022 against the visiting MOREHOUSE COLLEGE MAROON TIGERS. The Tigers were on top of their Maroon opponents 28-7 by the Half and kept up the pressure from there. The final score was Edward Waters 49 Maroon Tigers 20. 
ONE-POINT WONDERS – The UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT PEMBROKE BRAVES welcomed the FROSTBURG STATE BOBCATS and snuck past them by a score of 10-9 ### And the TUSCULUM COLLEGE PIONEERS won 14-13 at the BARTON COLLEGE BULLDOGS. 
BLOWOUT – In this game the JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY GOLDEN BULLS took the field against the ELIZABETH CITY STATE VIKINGS. The 1st Quarter ended in a 14-14 tie, but from there the Golden Bulls took control. By Halftime Johnson C. Smith University was up 35-14 on their way to a 49-14 triumph. 
A DOUBLE-SHOT OF THAT OT LOVE – This game pitted the (7) SAN DIEGO MESA COLLEGE OLYMPIANS against their hosts the EAST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE HUSKIES. A 7-0 1st Quarter lead for the Olympians was cut to a 14-13 edge by Halftime. The Huskies went up 19-17 to end the 3rd Quarter but the 4th ended in a 25-25 tie. Neither team scored in the 1st OT but in the 2nd San Diego Mesa College logged 8 points to win the game 33-31. 
TWO IN A ROW – The COMPTON COLLEGE TARTARS took the field against the visiting SANTA MONICA COLLEGE CORSAIRS. The scoring in this game was as odd as the Tartars winning two in a row. Compton College led the Corsairs 6-0 in the opening Quarter and 12-0 at the break … And then no more points were scored, so the Tartars improved to 2-1 with this 12-0 win. 
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