Like the NAIA, the NJCAA’s 2020 college football season extended into this year because of Covid delays.
NJCAA
ONE-POINT WONDER – The closest game of the opening salvo pitted the SNOW COLLEGE BADGERS against the home-standing IOWA WESTERN COLLEGE REIVERS. The Reivers led their opponents by a score of 7-0 in the 1st Quarter, 13-8 at Halftime and 27-18 to end the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th the Badgers came roaring from behind for a 31-30 victory.
TEXAS TUSSLE – The NAVARRO COLLEGE BULLDOGS welcomed the TYLER COLLEGE APACHES. The opening Quarter ended with the Bulldogs on top 14-10, which became a 24-19 edge at the Half. In the 3rd Quarter Navarro College extended their lead to 38-29 before having to hold on against a furious Apaches rally in the 4th. The final count was Bulldogs 53 Tyler College 50. Continue reading
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – Grambling Stadium was the site of the NAIA title game. The last two teams standing were the LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS and the NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS. This all-Raiders affair saw Lindsey Wilson College go up 7-0 in the 1st Quarter. 
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS took down the two-time defending national champions, the MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS. The Red Raiders visited the champs and spent most of the game chasing them. A 14-9 1st Quarter edge for the Mustangs became 27-23 by Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with Morningside College on top 34-29 but in the 4th Northwestern College roared back to win the game 44-41. 
SECOND QUARTERFINAL – This game pitted the 2-time defending National Champions – the MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS – against the visiting BAKER UNIVERSITY WILDCATS. The Wildcats were as tough as ever, leading the Mustangs 14-9 in the opening Quarter and holding a 21-9 lead at the Half. After the break Morningside College came stampeding back, going up 24-21 in the 3rd Quarter, then winning out by a comfortable final count of 45-29. 
ROUND ONE: GAME ONE – The BAKER UNIVERSITY WILDCATS hosted the OLIVET NAZARENE UNIVERSITY TIGERS (should be the Purple Tigers). By Halftime in this shootout the score was knotted up at 24-24. The 3rd Quarter ended with the Tigers on top 41-38 but the Wildcats came from behind to win the game in the 4th. The final score was Baker U 59 Olivet Nazarene 54. 
NORTHWEST (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS 
KEISER UNIVERSITY SEAHAWKS 
TUSSLE IN THE TOP ELEVEN – The number 10 team in the nation – the MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS – traveled to take on the 11th ranked UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS. Though the Cougars led 3-0 to end the 1st Quarter, by Halftime the Knights were on top 20-3. That became a 27-11 advantage going into the 4th Quarter, in which Marian U had to survive a furious Saint Francis rally, holding on for a 41-34 victory. 
WHEN RANKED TEAMS CLASH – The 6th ranked COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES found themselves on the road against the number 20 EASTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY MOUNTAINEERS. By the midpoint of this game between these two familiar Frontier Conference opponents the Mountaineers were leading the Coyotes 28-21. The 3rd Quarter ended with EOU clinging to a 31-28 edge before the College of Idaho came from behind to win it 49-38 in the 4th. 
DOUBLING UP ON THE COMPETITION – The (24) SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE MOUNDBUILDERS took it on the road against the OTTAWA UNIVERSITY (KS) BRAVES yesterday. A 7-7 1st Quarter tie remained unchanged by the Half. After the break, the Moundbuilders had an explosive 3rd Quarter, going on top by a score of 28-14. The defenses shut out both teams in the 4th Quarter, so 28-14 was the final tally as well. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER TWO – The CONCORDIA (MI) CARDINALS played host to the 2nd ranked team in the nation – the MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS. In this very odd game the Knights grabbed a quick 7-0 lead in the 1st Quarter, only to see the Cardinals go up 16-14 by Halftime. After the break the defenses dominated and 16-14 wound up being the final score as well. 
OTHER UPSETS IN THE RANKINGS – The 24th ranked ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM took it on the road against the 16th ranked OTTAWA UNIVERSITY (AZ) SPIRIT and toppled them 45-35 ### And the INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS downed their guests the number 22 SIENA HEIGHTS UNIVERSITY SAINTS in a 17-10 clash. 
FOURTH QUARTER COMEBACK – The POINT UNIVERSITY SKYHAWKS traveled to face the BLUEFIELD COLLEGE RAMBLING RAMS. A 7-7 1st Quarter tie became a 20-7 advantage for the Rambling Rams at the Half. The 3rd Quarter ended with the Skyhawks pulling to within 20-14 before exploding in the 4th for a magnificent 28-23 comeback victory. 
DEFENSIVE DONNYBROOK – The defenses were the story in this clash between the WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY PIONEERS (should be the Flying Ws) and their guests the LYON COLLEGE SCOTS. Both teams were shut out in the 1st Quarter, but the Pioneers went up 7-0 by Halftime. After a scoreless 3rd Quarter Wayland Baptist University added a Field Goal in the 4th for a 10-0 victory.
LAKERS STILL ROLLING – The ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY LAKERS made it 3 victories in a row as they went up against the visiting UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IL) FIGHTING SAINTS. The teams were knotted up at 7-7 in the opening Quarter and 14-14 at the midpoint. The Lakers went up 28-14 in the 3rd Quarter and ultimately won out by a final tally of 28-20. 
GETTING STUNG – This game pitted the SAINT AMBROSE UNIVERSITY FIGHTING BEES against the visiting UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IL) FIGHTING SAINTS. The Fighting Saints grabbed a quick 6-0 lead in the 1st Quarter only to see the Fighting Bees go up 7-6 by the Half. After the break came a scoreless 3rd Quarter before Saint Ambrose University clinched a 14-6 win in the 4th. 