The playoffs will begin this coming weekend in the divisions of college football covered by Balladeer’s Blog. Here are the first round matchups.
The (1) MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS (Great Plains 
Athletic Conference Champs and Defending National Champs) will host the (16) DICKINSON STATE BLUE HAWKS (North Star Athletic Association Champs)
The (2) MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS (MSFA Mideast Division 
Champs) will host the (15) REINHARDT UNIVERSITY EAGLES (Mid-South Conference Appalachian Division Champs)
The (3) KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY COYOTES (Kansas 
Collegiate Athletic Conference Champs) will host the (14) BAKER UNIVERSITY WILDCATS (Heart of America Athletic Conference South Champs) Continue reading
NAIA OVER NCAA D2 – Another NAIA team played giant-slayer against a higher division team yesterday. The NAIA’s ALLEN UNIVERSITY YELLOW JACKETS traveled to face the NCAA Division Two team the ELIZABETH CITY STATE VIKINGS. It took Overtime to do it, but in the end the Yellow Jackets prevailed by a final score of 32-29. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER THREE – Down in NCAA Division Three, the UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT OSHKOSH TITANS welcomed the number 3 team in the nation – the UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT WHITEWATER WARHAWKS. By Halftime the Titans held a 14-13 edge but the Warhawks went up 20-14 in the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th UW-Oshkosh roared back for a 27-20 victory. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER NINE – Staying in D3, the 17th ranked UNIVERSITY OF SAINT THOMAS TOMMIES took the field against the visiting number 9 BETHEL (MN) ROYALS. A 7-0 1st Quarter lead for the Tommies became a 14-7 lead at the Half. The 2nd Half was nearly all defense with the University of Saint Thomas adding a Field Goal in the 4th Quarter to win out 17-7. 
NCAA Division Three 1. UNIVERSITY OF MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR CRUSADERS ### 2. UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT UNION PURPLE RAIDERS ### 3. MUHLENBERG COLLEGE MULES ### 4. WHEATON COLLEGE THUNDER ### 5. UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT WHITEWATER WARHAWKS ### 
6. SALISBURY UNIVERSITY SEA GULLS ### 7. CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY PANTHERS ### 8. UNION (NY) COLLEGE DUTCHMEN ### 9. SAINT JOHN’S UNIVERSITY JOHNNIES ### 10. BETHEL (MN) UNIVERSITY ROYALS ### 
TAKING DOWN NUMBER SIX – In NCAA Division Two the GLENVILLE STATE PIONEERS traveled to play the number 6 team in the nation – the NOTRE DAME COLLEGE FALCONS (School Motto: “No, not THAT Notre Dame”). The Pioneers needed Overtime to do it, but they brought down the Falcons 23-20 in the extra session. 
NUMBER NINE NOOGIED – Over in the NAIA the CENTRAL METHODIST UNIVERSITY EAGLES welcomed the country’s 9th ranked EVANGEL UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS. The Eagles proceeded to make the Crusaders their prison brides, thrashing them by a final score of 42-7.
WAS THE OVER-UNDER ONE HUNDRED-FORTY POINTS? – Defense was apparently optional in yesterday’s D3 game between the FDU-FLORHAM DEVILS and the visiting ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY GOLDEN WOLVES. The Devils won this mega-shootout by a tally of EIGHTY-FOUR to FIFTY-SIX!
WE WENT TO A FOOTBALL GAME BUT A BASEBALL GAME BROKE OUT – At the other end of the scoring spectrum, the ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM found themselves on the road against the LYON COLLEGE SCOTS. This defensive epic ended in a 9-7 win for the Firestorm. 
FAIRMONT STATE ON THE ROAD – The FAIRMONT STATE FIGHTING FALCONS traveled to face the URBANA UNIVERSITY BLUE KNIGHTS last night. A 7-0 1st Quarter lead for the Fighting Falcons turned into a 14-7 advantage by Halftime. After the break Fairmont State shut out the Blue Knights while adding 17 more points for themselves to win it 31-7. 
NCAA Division Two – 1. MINNESOTA STATE MAVERICKS ### 2. VALDOSTA STATE BLAZERS ### 3. FERRIS STATE BULLDOGS ### 4. TARLETON STATE TEXANS ### 5. COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES OREDIGGERS ### 
6. UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL MISSOURI MULES ### 7. COLORADO STATE AT PUEBLO THUNDER WOLVES ### 8. NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE BEARCATS ### 9. OUACHITA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY TIGERS ### 10. HARDING UNIVERSITY BISON ### 
NUMBER FOUR TAKES A FALL – In NCAA Division Three the CONCORDIA (Moorhead) COBBERS visited the number 4 team in the nation – the SAINT JOHN’S UNIVERSITY JOHNNIES. The Cobbers were on top 10-6 by Halftime but the Johnnies tied things up at 12-12 to force Overtime. In the extra session Concordia won the game 19-18 off a missed PAT by Saint John’s U. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER SEVEN – Up in NCAA Division Two the LINDENWOOD UNIVERSITY LIONS welcomed the country’s 7th ranked UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS GREYHOUNDS. After a scoreless 1st Quarter the Lions put the Greyhounds on Upset Alert with a 14-10 lead at the Half. From there Lindenwood University fulfilled the Upset by a final score of 34-27. 
AND NUMBER EIGHT CAME TUMBLING AFTER – Back in D3 the number 25 UNION (NY) DUTCHMEN took it on the road against the number 8 ITHACA COLLEGE BOMBERS. A 10-7 1st Quarter edge for the Dutchmen became 17-14 by the break. After a scoreless 3rd Quarter Union went on to a 31-21 win over the Bombers. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER SIX – In the NAIA the 18th ranked SIENA HEIGHTS UNIVERSITY SAINTS took it on the road against the number 6 team in the nation – the UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS. The Saints stunned the Cougars and the prognosticators by toppling USF by a final score of 24-14. 
MARATHON GAME OF THE DAY – This distinction goes to the clash between the NICHOLS COLLEGE BISON and their hosts the UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND NOR’EASTERS. The 4th Quarter ended in a 38-38 tie. One Overtime wasn’t enough. Two weren’t enough. Three weren’t enough. In the FOURTH OVERTIME the Bison emerged with a 51-48 triumph. 
USCAA SPOTLIGHT GAME – USCAA stands for United States Collegiate Athletic Association. The WILLIAMSON COLLEGE OF THE TRADES MECHANICS took the field against the visiting NEW JERSEY WARRIORS yesterday. The Mechanics led 7-3 at the Half before going on to win the game 14-3. 
EIGHT AND O – In NCAA Division Two the 4th ranked OUACHITA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY TIGERS traveled to face the SOUTHERN NAZARENE UNIVERSITY CRIMSON STORM. The Crimson Storm led 7-0 in the 1st Quarter and 13-7 come Halftime. After the break the Tigers went on top 20-13 in the 3rd Quarter before winning it 27-13 to remain undefeated. 
ONE-POINT WONDER – Down in the NJCAA the ITAWAMBA COLLEGE INDIANS were on the road against the NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE RANGERS. These two teams went blow for blow and score for score until the Indians ultimately emerged with a 22-21 victory. 
PRC THRILLER – The (9) PEARL RIVER COLLEGE WILDCATS hosted the MISSISSIPPI DELTA COLLEGE TROJANS. The Wildcats converted a 7-6 1st Quarter edge into a 17-6 advantage at the Half. The 3rd Quarter ended with Pearl River College up 24-13 and in the 4th the Wildcats held on to win it 24-19. 
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