Just as the divisions of college football covered here at Balladeer’s Blog start earlier than the other divisions their postseason also starts earlier. Here are this year’s NAIA playoff teams. Games begin Saturday.
The SOUTH-WESTERN COLLEGE MOUND-BUILDERS (Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference) will host the UNIVERSITY OF ST. FRANCIS COUGARS (Mid-States Football Association).
Kickoff will be at 1:00PM Eastern Time.
The DICKINSON STATE BLUE HAWKS (North Star Conference) will host the KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY COYOTES (Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference).
Kickoff will be at 3:00PM Eastern Time. Continue reading
As always, because the college football divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog kick off their regular season a few weeks earlier than the other divisions their playoffs begin earlier, too. 
The MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS (Frontier Conference) will host the DICKINSON STATE BLUE HAWKS (North Star Athletic Association)
The DORDT UNIVERSITY DEFENDERS (Great Plains Athletic Conference) will host the OTTAWA UNIVERSITY BRAVES (Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference) 
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS and the KEISER UNIVERSITY SEAHAWKS battled it out for the NAIA title on Saturday. After a scoreless 1st Quarter, Halftime arrived with things knotted up at 7-7. The Red Raiders went on top 21-17 in the 3rd Quarter, and an action-packed 4th saw Northwestern College defeat the Seahawks 35-25. * THE RED RAIDERS ARE NAIA CHAMPIONS * 
The competing teams are the NORTH-WESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS and the KEISER UNIVERSITY SEA HAWKS. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 Noon ET. 
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES OREDIGGERS took the field against the SHEPHERD UNIVERSITY RAMS in this game. A 3-0 1st Quarter edge for the Orediggers turned into a 17-3 advantage by Halftime. After the break the Colorado School of Mines limited the Rams to just 10 points in the 4th Quarter while piling up points for themselves. The final score was Orediggers 44 Shepherd U. 13. 
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. 
VICTORY BOWL – This season-ending showcase game in the NCCAA pitted the OLIVET NAZARENE UNIVERSITY TIGERS against the SOUTHWESTERN ASSEMBLIES OF GOD UNIVERSITY LIONS. By Halftime the Tigers were on top 21-3 and the Lions cut that to 21-10 to end the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th, Olivet Nazarene won the game by a final score of 21-16. 
NEPTUNE BOWL – This Bowl game features the USCAA facing NCAA Division 3. From the USCAA the NEWPORT NEWS APPRENTICE SCHOOL BUILDERS (think Shipbuilders) played D3’s BRIDGEWATER COLLEGE EAGLES. After a scoreless 1st Quarter, the Builders had a 14-7 lead at the Half. That became 21-7 in the 3rd Quarter before an explosive 4th saw NNAS log a 38-28 victory. 
GAME ONE – The LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS took on the REINHARDT UNIVERSITY EAGLES (should be the Rottweilers). It was all defense in the 1st Half, leaving the Blue Raiders with a mere 3-0 edge at the midpoint. After the break Lindsey Wilson College put up 20 points to Reinhardt U’s 22 to win out 23-22. 
VICTORY BOWL – The 2022 edition of this showcase game in the NCCAA will pit the defending Victory Bowl champions – the SOUTHWESTERN ASSEMBLIES OF GOD UNIVERSITY LIONS – against the OLIVET NAZARENE UNIVERSITY TIGERS. 
The MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS – the defending National Champions – will play the ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM. 
SECOND QUARTERFINAL – In this game the GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS played the CONCORDIA (MI) CARDINALS. A 7-3 Cardinals edge in the opening Quarter became a 17-10 Vikings lead at the Half. The 3rd Quarter ended with Concordia University trailing by just 17-16 but it was all Grand View U in the 4th as they won the game 31-16. 
ROUND ONE: GAME TWO – In this game the MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS welcomed the SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE MOUNDBUILDERS. The Knights led 6-3 in the 1st Quarter but the Moundbuilders were out in front 17-6 by the midpoint. Marian U made it a 17-14 game in the 3rd Quarter before coming from behind in the 4th to win it 21-17. 
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