Here’s one last round of congratulations to this year’s college football champions in the SEVEN divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog.
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics)
National Champions – UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS COUGARS
Runners-Up – Baker University Wildcats
2015 Champions – Marian University Knights
NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association)
My National Champions – WARNER UNIVERSITY ROYALS
Runners-Up – University of Northwestern (MN) Eagles
2015 Champions – Southwestern Assemblies of God University Lions Continue reading
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The FULLERTON COLLEGE HORNETS and the AMERICAN RIVER COLLEGE BEAVERS played each other for the CCCAA title. The Beavers managed a 3-0 lead to end the 1st Quarter but by Halftime the Hornets held a 14-13 edge. After the break it seemed Fullerton College was putting it out of reach as they compiled a 29-13 lead but American River College came back to within 29-21 to end the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th a missed 2-point conversion by the Beavers gave the Hornets a 29-27 win and the 2016 title. 
SEMIFINAL ONE – This game pitted the NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE BEARCATS – the Defending Champions of D2 football – against the visiting FERRIS STATE BULLDOGS. The Bearcats led 21-13 at the break following which the two teams exchanged Touchdowns in the 3rd Quarter. Northwest Missouri State scored another TD in the 4th, making the score 35-20 and ending the scoring with just 4:45 left to play. The Bearcats return to the title game. 
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS TOPPLED – The 10th seeded EASTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY MOUNTAINEERS traveled to face the top seeded Defending National Champions of NAIA football – the MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS. After a scoreless 1st Quarter the Mountaineers put the Knights on upset alert with a 10-0 Halftime lead. Following the break Eastern Oregon consummated the upset by bringing down Marian U in a 17-0 shutout. 
HIGH DESERT BOWL – In this game the ANTELOPE VALLEY COLLEGE MARAUDERS took on the VICTOR VALLEY COLLEGE RAMS. The teams went blow for blow, with a 7-7 1st Quarter tie and a 14-14 Halftime draw. After the break the Marauders got some separation from the Rams, ultimately winning the game 35-21. 
GOLDEN STATE BOWL – The MOUNT SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE MOUNTIES clashed with the COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS COUGARS in this year’s Golden State Bowl. The Mounties actually fell behind 3-0 in the 1st Quarter but never let the Cougars score again. By the midpoint Mount SAC led 17-3 and in the 2nd Half coasted to a 27-3 victory. 
OVERTIME MAGNUM OPUS – The (8) LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS hosted the (9) GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS in a typically tight 8 seed versus 9 seed game. The Blue Raiders came back from being down 3-0 in the 1st Quarter to take a 17-10 lead into Halftime. The Vikings retook the lead 27-24 to end the 3rd Quarter, with a 4th Quarter Field Goal from Lindsey Wilson forcing OT with a 27-27 tie. The Blue Raiders scored 7 on their possession then shut out Grand View for a 34-27 triumph.
THE WAR OUT WEST – The (6) MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS took the field against the visiting (11) DICKINSON STATE BLUE HAWKS. The Orediggers seized a 14-0 advantage in the 1st Quarter with the two teams exchanging a Touchdown apiece in the 2nd. After the break the Blue Hawks edged closer but Montana Tech kept them off at just enough distance for a 28-21 victory. 
DOUBLE OVERTIME DYNAMITE – The SANTA BARBARA CITY COLLEGE VAQUEROS played host to the CITRUS COLLEGE OWLS in a game for the ages. The Vaqueros trailed the Owls 7-0 in the 1st Quarter and 14-10 at Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with Citrus College on top 28-17 but Santa Barbara City College came back to force Overtime with a 31-31 tie to end Regulation. The teams exchanged TDs in the 1st OT but in the 2nd the Vaqueros’ Carlos Benitez returned a blocked PAT for 2 points, cutting it to a 44-40 Owl lead. From there a TD run made it a 46-44 SBCC win. 
NUMBER THREE TAKES A FALL – The 6th ranked SADDLEBACK COLLEGE GAUCHOS welcomed the number 3 FULLERTON COLLEGE HORNETS for a Battle Royal. The Gauchos trailed the Hornets 14-6 in the 1st Quarter and 21-17 by Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with Fullerton College clinging to a 24-23 edge but Saddleback College managed a 4th Quarter comeback for a 30-27 victory. 
TAKING DOWN NUMBER TWO – The unranked GOLDEN WEST COLLEGE RUSTLERS engaged in a gridiron grudge match with the visiting 2nd ranked SADDLEBACK COLLEGE GAUCHOS. After a scoreless 1st Quarter the Rustlers managed a 7-0 edge by Halftime. From there Golden West College clung to a 14-10 lead over the Gauchos to end the 3rd Quarter and held their opponents off for a 20-17 upset win. 
MONARCHS ARE SIX AND OH – The 17th ranked LOS ANGELES VALLEY COLLEGE MONARCHS remained unbeaten following their defeat of the homestanding MOUNT SAN JACINTO COLLEGE EAGLES. The Monarchs seized a 20-0 lead in the 1st Quarter and didn’t let up from there, ultimately clobbering the Eagles by a final score of FIFTY-FIVE to FOURTEEN! 
DAWN FOR THE DONS – At the other extreme the SANTA ANA COLLEGE DONS finally got off the schneid for 2016. The Dons were on the road against the LOS ANGELES SOUTHWEST COLLEGE COUGARS and parlayed a 14-7 1st Quarter edge into a 38-14 Halftime advantage. Santa Ana College coasted from there for a 52-22 blowout win. 
