Another college football season came to a close here at Balladeer’s Blog with the two final National Championship Games in the Divisions covered here.
NAIA
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The last two teams standing in the NAIA were the MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS and the BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS. “No more choking” seemed to be the Mustangs’ slogan this postseason as they closed the deal. It wasn’t a sure thing, though, as a 14-14 1st Quarter tie turned into a 20-14 lead for the Ravens come Halftime. Continue reading
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The UNIVERSITY OF MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR CRUSADERS are threatening to become the fiercest rivals of the dynastic UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT UNION PURPLE RAIDERS since UW-Whitewater. Last night the two teams squared off yet again for the D3 crown. 
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The VALDOSTA STATE BLAZERS welcomed the NOTRE DAME COLLEGE FALCONS yesterday. The Blazers grabbed a 9-0 lead in the opening Quarter only to see the Falcons eke out a 10-9 edge by Halftime. Valdosta State exploded for a 30-17 advantage to end the 3rd Quarter, then held on from there for a 30-24 triumph. The Blazers showed once again why the Gulf Coast Conference is called “the SEC of D2 Football.” 
SECOND SEMIFINAL – In this game the BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS traveled to take on the KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY COYOTES. Not only did this clash end in an Upset but it was an odd tale of two halves. By the break the Coyotes had come back from being down 13-0 in the opening Quarter to trailing the Ravens by a much tighter score of 20-14. 
INSTANT CLASSIC IN KANSAS – This game pitted the KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY COYOTES against the visiting DICKINSON STATE BLUE HAWKS. The Coyotes led 14-7 to end the opening Quarter but the Blue Hawks went up 28-21 at the Half. That was cut to a 34-28 Dickinson State edge in the 3rd Quarter before Kansas Wesleyan came from behind to win the game 43-40.
DEFENDING CHAMPS STILL ROLLING – The Defending National Champions – the UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS – hosted the BAKER UNIVERSITY WILDCATS yesterday. The Cougars trailed 7-0 in the 1st Quarter but went on top of the Wildcats 20-13 by Halftime. After the break USF outscored Baker 13-10 for a 33-23 victory. 
TROUBLE RIGHT HERE IN ORANGE CITY – The DICKINSON STATE BLUE HAWKS traveled to face Orange City, IA’s NORTHWESTERN COLLEGE RED RAIDERS. After a scoreless opening Quarter the Blue Hawks were on top of the Red Raiders 7-6 come Halftime. Neither team scored in the 3rd Quarter following which Dickinson State added 7 more points in the 4th for a 14-6 Upset. 
UPSET IN INDIANAPOLIS – The SAINT XAVIER UNIVERSITY COUGARS took it on the road against their familiar foes the MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS in this game. A 14-14 1st Quarter tie was unchanged at the break. In the 3rd Quarter the Cougars grabbed a 24-21 lead then added 10 more points from there to win it 34-21. 
DEFEAT FOR TWO NUMBER NINES – Over in the NAIA the number 14 BAKER UNIVERSITY WILDCATS took the field against the visiting 9th ranked EVANGEL UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS and toppled them 19-7 ### And down in NCAA Division Three the (22) BETHEL (MN) ROYALS downed the (9) UNIVERSITY OF SAINT THOMAS TOMMIES 21-15. 
THE FIRE THIS TIME – In the NAIA the 25th ranked SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY FIRE hosted the FAULKNER UNIVERSITY EAGLES (should be the Furies). A 13-10 1st Quarter edge for the Fire turned into a 16-13 lead for Faulkner U by Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with Southeastern University back on top 28-19 and from there the Fire won it 31-26. 
SAINTS PRESERVE US! – NCAA Division Three’s THOMAS MORE COLLEGE SAINTS borrowed a page from NAIA football yesterday by defeating a team from NCAA Division TWO – in this case the LAKE ERIE COLLEGE STORM. By Halftime the Saints had compiled a 28-0 advantage, then coasted to a 44-zip shutout of the higher division team. 
ANOTHER NUMBER FIVE TAKES A FALL – In NCAA Division Two the number 22 FORT HAYS STATE TIGERS were on the road against the country’s 5th ranked NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE BEARCATS. The Tigers grabbed a quick 14-0 lead in the 1st Quarter but the Bearcats cut that to just 14-10 by the Half. In the 3rd Quarter the Fort Hays State edge was whittled down to 17-16, which wound up as the final tally, too, since the Defenses dominated the 4th. 
NUMBER TEN FALLS – In D3 the UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT STEVENS POINT POINTERS welcomed the number 10 team in the nation – the UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT OSHKOSH TITANS. A 14-14 Halftime tie became a 17-14 edge for the Pointers to end the 3rd Quarter. From there UW-Stevens Point pulled off a 27-21 Upset. 
USCAA GAME OF THE WEEK – The NEWPORT NEWS APPRENTICE SCHOOL BUILDERS (Shipbuilders) traveled to face the COPPIN STATE EAGLES (C) in the Game of the Week in the USCAA (United States Collegiate Athletic Association). The Builders parlayed a 13-0 lead at the break into an authoritative 33-0 smackdown. 
THEIR OWN PRIVATE IDAHO – Up in the NAIA the COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES played host to the country’s number 18 EASTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY MOUNTAINEERS. The Coyotes held a 27-14 Halftime advantage, then got more and more separation from the Mountaineers. The final tally was College of Idaho 48 Eastern Oregon University 24. 
Balladeer's Blog 