*** NAIA ***
The NAIA Championship Game will be played on 
December 16th, pitting the Defending Champs – the UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS against the REINHARDT UNIVERSITY EAGLES (Should be the Rottweilers).
*** CCCAA ***
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The Defending Champion FULLERTON COLLEGE HORNETS clashed with the COLLEGE OF SAN MATEO BULLDOGS for the CCCAA title. The Hornets led 7-2 in the 1st Quarter but the Bulldogs cut that to a 7-5 edge by Halftime. A 9-5 3rd Quarter Fullerton College advantage in this defensive epic became a 12-9 lead for the College of San Mateo in the 4th. The Hornets mustered that one final Touchdown to come back for a 16-12 victory. * THE HORNETS ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE CCCAA *
*** DIVISION TWO ***
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The 6th seeded UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA ARGONAUTS – in their very first post-season appearance for their two year old football program – have made history AGAIN! The Argonauts traveled to face the overall 1 seeds – the INDIANA UNIVERSITY IN PENNSYLVANIA CRIMSON HAWKS. West Florida actually shut out the Crimson Hawks in the 1st Half, leading them 17-0 at the break. From there IUP rallied but fell short as the Argonauts won the game 27-17. Continue reading
LIVING BREATH FOUNDATION BOWL – This annual Bowl game is played for charity and is one of the highlights of the CCCAA post-season. The game features a team from the Pacific 7 Conference – this year the LOS MEDANOS COLLEGE MUSTANGS – and a team from the Golden Coast Conference – this year the MERCED COLLEGE BLUE DEVILS. 
FIRST QUARTERFINAL – The SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY RAIDERS traveled to the Blue Grass State to play the LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS for the right to advance to the Semifinals. The Raiders led 14-0 in the 1st Quarter and 21-10 by Halftime but then had to withstand a furious comeback attempt by the Blue Raiders. Ultimately Southern Oregon University prevailed by a tight 34-29. 
SECOND QUARTERFINAL – In this game the REINHARDT UNIVERSITY EAGLES (should be the Rottweilers) hosted the GEORGETOWN (KY) COLLEGE TIGERS. The Tigers led the Eagles 10-7 after 1 Quarter of play but Reinhardt University went on top 14-10 by the break. From there it was mostly a defensive struggle with the Eagles moving on by a score of 17-10. 
WHITELAW BOWL – The 2017 edition of the Scotty Whitelaw Bowl pitted the ITHACA COLLEGE BOMBERS against the SALISBURY UNIVERSITY SEA GULLS. The two teams were tied 7-7 after 1 Quarter of play but the Sea Gulls were on top 10-7 by Halftime. That had become a 17-7 advantage as the 4th Quarter started. From there the Bombers came alive for TWENTY unanswered points to win the game 27-17. 
LYNAH BOWL – The ALFRED UNIVERSITY SAXONS battled the STEVENSON UNIVERSITY MUSTANGS in the James Lynah Bowl. The Mustangs grabbed a quick 3-0 1st Quarter edge but by the break the Saxons held a 21-3 lead. In the 2nd Half Alfred University kept their opponents at arm’s length for a 29-16 victory. 
NEW YORK BOWL – The very first New York Bowl presented a team from the Empire 8 Conference – the CORTLAND STATE RED DRAGONS – against a team from the Liberty League – the UNION COLLEGE DUTCHMEN. The Red Dragons dominated early, leading the Dutchmen 14-7 in the 1st Quarter and 28-7 at the Half. Union College came roaring back, however, causing Cortland State to hold on for a 35-28 triumph. 
VICTORY BOWL – Each year the season-ending event in the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) is the Victory Bowl. This year’s edition pitted the CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY TIGERS against the SOUTHWESTERN ASSEMBLIES OF GOD UNIVERSITY LIONS. The Lions led this catfight 7-6 in the 1st Quarter and 21-19 at Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with the Tigers on top 32-21 before they went on to win it 41-28. 
UPSET IN BALDWIN CITY – The 11th seeded GEORGETOWN (KY) COLLEGE TIGERS visited the 6 seeds – the BAKER UNIVERSITY WILDCATS – in this First Round clash. A 14-13 1st Quarter lead for the Tigers became a 26-20 Wildcats edge by the Half. The 4th Quarter started with Georgetown College back on top 34-33, and a Safety gave them a 36-33 victory. 
TOP SEEDS IN A THRILLER – The top seeds – the UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS – welcomed the 16th seeded BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS. After a lengthy lightning delay the Alpha and Omega of this year’s NAIA playoffs finally squared off. The Ravens gave the Cougars almost more than they could handle, but in the end the University of Saint Francis moved on to the Second Round with a 26-21 win. 
TEN OVER SEVEN – Yes, it seems that no matter what the sport, 10 seed over 7 seed upsets are virtually a postseason tradition. In this particular game the 10th seeded NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS faced the 7 seeds – the LANGSTON UNIVERSITY LIONS. The Red Raiders proceeded to shock, then obliterate their hosts to the tune of FIFTY-FIVE to SEVEN! 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER TWO – The NAVARRO COLLEGE BULLDOGS took it on the road against the undefeated 2nd ranked team in the nation – the TYLER COLLEGE APACHES. Navarro trailed the Apaches 14-0 in the 1st Quarter and 26-13 at Halftime. After the break the Bulldogs made their move, shutting out Tyler College the rest of the way while notching 7 points in the 3rd Quarter and 17 in the 4th. Navarro College pulled off the mammoth upset by a final count of 37-26. 
AND ANOTHER UPSET IN THE TOP TEN – The storied ASA COLLEGE AVENGERS welcomed the number 10 LACKAWANNA COLLEGE FALCONS. After a scoreless 1st Quarter the Avengers and the Falcons were tied up at 7-7 by the Half. An action-packed 3rd Quarter saw ASA College go on top 19-14 and a Safety in the 4th cemented a 21-14 win for the Avengers. 
NUMBER TWO TAKES A HARD FALL – The 6th ranked COLLEGE OF SAN MATEO BULLDOGS welcomed the number 2 team in the rankings – the BUTTE COLLEGE ROADRUNNERS. The Bulldogs were unimpressed, grabbing a 17-0 lead in the 1st Quarter and never looking back from there. In the end the College of San Mateo devastated the Roadrunners by a count of FIFTY-ONE to TWELVE! 
WHEN RANKED TEAMS CLASH – The number 5 SADDLEBACK COLLEGE GAUCHOS took the field against the 7th ranked EL CAMINO COLLEGE WARRIORS and defeated them in a 48-45 Instant Classic ### The (1) FULLERTON COLLEGE HORNETS beat perennial powers the (4) MOUNT SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE MOUNTIES 49-23 ### And the (3) RIVERSIDE CITY COLLEGE TIGERS survived a 42-34 visit from the (12) VENTURA COLLEGE PIRATES. 
ROAD RENEGADES – The (15) BAKERSFIELD COLLEGE RENEGADES traveled to face the LOS ANGELES HARBOR COLLEGE SEAHAWKS in this game. The Renegades led 14-6 to end the 1st Quarter but that expanded to a massive 34-6 advantage by Halftime. Bakersfield College coasted from there, crushing the Seahawks by a final score of 47-6. 
NUMBER FOUR GETS SHOT DOWN – The storied CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO RAMS traveled to face the number 4 team in the rankings – the AMERICAN RIVER COLLEGE BEAVERS. A 20-6 1st Quarter lead for the Rams became 30-12 at Halftime and 30-26 in the 3rd Quarter. From there CCSF added 10 more points while shutting out the Beavers for a 40-26 wrapup. 
WHEN RANKED TEAMS CLASH – The 3rd ranked RIVERSIDE COLLEGE TIGERS found themselves on the road against the number 10 BAKERSFIELD COLLEGE RENEGADES. The Tigers put up 7 points in each of the 4 Quarters and led the Renegades 7-0 in the 1st Quarter, 14-6 at the Half and 21-13 in the 3rd. Bakersfield College nearly came back for a win but fell short as Riverside College won it 28-26. 
RUSTLING UP A BLOWOUT – The GOLDEN WEST COLLEGE RUSTLERS welcomed the CHAFFEY COLLEGE PANTHERS. The Rustlers kept the Panthers off the scoreboard until the 4th Quarter while producing 7, 13 and 7 more points in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Quarters respectively. The final tally in this lopsided game was Golden West College 27 Chaffey College 6. 
NUMBER TWO HAD A CLOSE CALL – After a blowout win to start the season the 2nd ranked AMERICAN RIVER COLLEGE BEAVERS barely survived this time around against the MODESTO COLLEGE PIRATES. The Beavers held a 20-14 lead at Halftime and a 34-28 edge to end the 3rd Quarter. The Pirates tied things up at 42-42 by the end of the 4th Quarter. The first Overtime ended in a 49-49 tie with American River College emerging with a 55-49 victory in the 2nd OT. (* Thank you to C.O. for catching an error I made in this post. It is now corrected.) 
DONS ON THE ROAD – The SANTA ANA COLLEGE DONS (as in Old California Dons) traveled to face the CITRUS COLLEGE OWLS on Saturday. The 1st Quarter ended in a 7-7 tie but the Owls grabbed a 14-10 lead by the break. Neither team scored in the 3rd Quarter and in the 4th the Dons proceeded to notch a 17-14 come from behind win on the road. 
WE WENT TO A FOOTBALL GAME BUT A POLO MATCH BROKE OUT – This game pitted the COLLEGE OF THE REDWOODS CORSAIRS against the home-standing GAVILAN COLLEGE RAMS. Neither team scored in the opening Quarter and the score was knotted up at 6-6 at the Half. The 3rd Quarter ended with the Rams on top 9-6 but the 4th Quarter saw the Corsairs put up 8 points for a 14-9 Polo Score triumph. 
Balladeer's Blog 