HEADLINES
NAIA OVER NCAA DIVISION TWO – The NAIA’s FLORIDA MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY LIONS traveled to face the higher NCAA Division Two team the ALLEN UNIVERSITY YELLOWJACKETS. Allen University parlayed their 10-7 1st Quarter edge into a 31-21 advantage by Halftime. From there the Lions shut out their opponents and came from behind for a 38-31 Upset.
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER THREE – Down in NCAA Division Three, the 5th ranked team in the nation – the WHEATON COLLEGE THUNDER – played host to the number 3 UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT UNION PURPLE RAIDERS. The Thunder put Mount Union on Upset Alert with their 17-7 lead at the Half only for the Purple Raiders to tie things up at 17-17 in the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th, Wheaton College managed a 24-23 victory. Continue reading
VIKING TOUGH – The VALLEY CITY STATE VIKINGS welcomed the DICKINSON STATE BLUE HAWKS last night. A 3-0 Blue Hawks lead in the 1st Quarter turned into a 10-7 edge at Halftime. A big 3rd Quarter for the Vikings put them up 21-10, but they had to hold on against Dickinson State in the 4th for a 28-25 win.
UPSETS IN THE RANKINGS – The INDIANA UNIVERSITY (PA) CRIMSON HAWKS took it on the road against the number 12 team in the nation – the ASHLAND UNIVERSITY EAGLES and notched a 34-24 victory over them ### And the 24th ranked UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA AT DULUTH BULLDOGS toppled the visiting number 13 AUGUSTANA (SD) UNIVERSITY VIKINGS 30-23.
NAIA OVER NCAA DIVISION TWO – Another Upset of a D2 team by an NAIA football team. The BETHEL (TN) WILDCATS took the field against the visiting MILES COLLEGE DRAGONS. The Wildcats grabbed a quick 13-3 advantage in the 1st Quarter, then made that 16-3 by Halftime. It was all defense from there as neither team added any more points to the scoreboard. 16-3 was the final count as well.
NCAA DIVISION TWO OVER NCAA DIVISION ONE – In this game D2’s ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY LAKERS traveled to take on D1’s CHICAGO STATE COUGARS. Chicago State led 7-3 in the opening Quarter, but the Lakers took over from there. At the Half, Roosevelt U. was on top 27-14, which morphed into a 37-21 lead to end the 3rd Quarter. The teams exchanged TDs in the 4th as the Lakers won out 44-28.
DOWN GOES NUMBER THREE – Back in the NAIA, the nation’s 7th ranked MORNINGSIDE UNIVERSITY MUSTANGS welcomed the number 3 BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS. A 7-7 1st Quarter tie became a 14-7 Mustangs advantage by the midpoint of the game. In the 3rd Quarter the Ravens went up 21-20 only to see Morningside University come back in the 4th for a 35-28 triumph.
NAIA OVER NCAA DIVISION ONE – Every year NAIA teams upset some teams in the higher division aka NCAA Div 2. Less frequent are the times that NAIA teams defeat NCAA Div ONE teams, but such upsets do happen. Last night the LOUISIANA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS visited D1’s NORTHWESTERN STATE DEMONS. At Halftime the Demons led 27-14, but a big 3rd Quarter put the Wildcats up 35-30. The teams exchanged TDs in the 4th as LCU toppled Northwestern State 42-37.
NAIA OVER NCAA DIVISION TWO – The KENTUCKY CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS welcomed D2’s KENTUCKY WESLEYAN COLLEGE PANTHERS. The Knights parlayed a 14-3 1st Quarter lead into a 35-3 advantage at Halftime. After the break, the Panthers rallied but fell far short as Kentucky Christian University won by the comfortable margin of 44-24.
CHAR-BROILED – The number 2 team in the nation – the HUTCHINSON COLLEGE BLUE DRAGONS – welcomed the CISCO COLLEGE WRANGLERS. The Blue Dragons proceeded to fold, spindle and mutilate Cisco College, leading them 21-0 to end the 1st Quarter, 42-7 at Halftime, and 52-7 in the 3rd Quarter before logging a FIFTY-NINE to SEVEN triumph over the Wranglers in the 4th.
ANOTHER ROSWELL INCIDENT – In Roswell, NM the NEW MEXICO MILITARY INSTITUTE BRONCOS (should be Cavalry) took the field against the visiting DODGE CITY COLLEGE CONQUISTADORS. The Conquistadors led the Institute 7-3 in the opening Quarter, but the Broncos went up 23-20 by the Half. The 3rd Quarter ended with NMMI leading 30-20 before winning out 37-20 in the end.
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics)
Independent College Football Teams
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – This year’s title tilt featured the 2023 champions – the IOWA WESTERN COLLEGE REIVERS – against the 2024 champions – the HUTCHINSON COLLEGE BLUE DRAGONS.
ROUND TWO: GAME ONE – The BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS played host to the CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY TIGERS. The Ravens led 7-0 in the 1st Quarter but Campbellsville U. was on top 17-7 by Halftime. From there, Benedictine College shut out the Tigers while adding a Touchdown in the 3rd and 4th Quarters each. The Ravens won 21-17.
ROUND TWO: GAME TWO – In this game the MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS entertained the DORDT UNIVERSITY DEFENDERS. A 6-0 opening Quarter edge for the Knights became 14-0 at the Half. After the break, the Defenders outscored Marian University 18-12 but that still left them short as the Knights logged a 26-18 triumph.
ROUND TWO: GAME THREE – The MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS took the field against the visiting CARROLL (MT) COLLEGE FIGHTING SAINTS. The Orediggers had it all their own way at first and took a 17-0 advantage into the locker room. The Fighting Saints rallied in the 3rd Quarter, pulling to within 24-21 of Montana Tech, but the Orediggers won out 31-21 in the 4th.
ROUND ONE: GAME ONE – The SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY FIRE welcomed the REINHARDT UNIVERSITY EAGLES (should be Rottweilers). The Fire led 14-7 in the opening Quarter and 21-10 by Halftime. Neither team scored in the 3rd Quarter, but Reinhardt University mounted a fierce rally in the 4th. Southeastern University held on for a 24-22 victory.
ROUND ONE: GAME TWO – A more lopsided affair was to be had in Oskaloosa, IA as the WILLIAM PENN UNIVERSITY STATESMEN played host to the TEXAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY RAMS. The 1st Half ended with the Statesmen out in front 21-3. After the break, William Penn U. outscored the Rams 17-6 to win the game 38-9.
ROUND ONE: GAME THREE – The UNIVERSITY OF ST. FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS took the field against the visiting EVANGEL UNIVERSITY VALOR. A 7-0 opening Quarter advantage for the Valor became a mere 10-7 edge come Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with the Cougars within 12-10, then in the 4th they came from behind for a 13-12 triumph.