It’s that time of year again! Balladeer’s Blog will, of course, offer coverage of every game in the NAIA playoffs. Here are this Saturday’s 8 Round One matchups.
(1) The MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS
Great Plains Athletic Conference Champions
host
(16) The ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE BATTLIN’ BEARS
Frontier Conference Champions
.
(2) The MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS
MSFA Mideast Division Champions
host
(15) The SAINT XAVIER UNIVERSITY COUGARS
MSFA Midwest Division Champions
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HEADLINES
NUMBER THREE GETS TAKEN DOWN – In NCAA Division Two the 6th ranked VALDOSTA STATE BLAZERS played host to the nation’s number 3 UNIVERSITY OF WEST GEORGIA WOLVES. A 10-7 1st Quarter edge for the Blazers turned into a 34-21 lead at Halftime. After the break Valdosta State coasted to a 47-31 upset of the Wolves.
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. Continue reading
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Getting a jump on the weekend …
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. Continue reading
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It was on November 6th, 1869 that Rutgers and Princeton played the very first college football game “on the banks of the Raritan” as the Rutgers fight song says. One of the things I love about college football is how far back its history goes.
It feels odd to think that Ulysses S Grant was in the White House when Continue reading
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HEADLINES
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.
DOWN GOES NUMBER FIVE – Up in the NAIA the 8th ranked BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS traveled to face the number 5 team in the nation – the GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS (should be the Zebras). A 7-7 1st Quarter tie became 10-10 at the break and then 13-13 to end the 3rd. From there the Ravens exploded offensively to win the game 25-13.
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. Continue reading
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HEADLINES
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. Continue reading
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HEADLINES
TOPPLING NUMBER FOUR – Yesterday the NAIA’s CUMBERLAND UNIVERSITY PHOENIX hosted the number 4 team in the nation – the LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS. The Phoenix put the Blue Raiders on Upset Alert with a 10-7 Halftime lead that became 17-13 to end the 3rd Quarter. In the end Cumberland U made it a happy Senior Day by holding on for a 24-21 triumph.
MARATHON GAME OF THE DAY – Down in NCAA Division Three came Saturday’s longest game. The WESTERN CONNECTICUT STATE COLONIALS faced the visiting BRIDGEWATER STATE BEARS and, though trailing 21-14 at the break, came back to force Overtime with a 28-28 tie. The 1st OT ended in a 34-34 deadlock, neither team scored in the 2nd and the 3rd ended at 42-42. In the FOURTH OVERTIME the Colonials won it 50-48.
NUMBER SIX GETS DEEP-SIXED – Back in the NAIA the MIDAMERICA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY PIONEERS took it on the road against the country’s 6th ranked EVANGEL UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS. The Pioneers were chasing the Crusaders 19-13 at the Half but in the 4th Quarter they outscored EU 20-7 for a stunning 33-26 Upset victory. Continue reading
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HEADLINES
NUMBER THREE FALLS ON THE ROAD – In NCAA Division Three the 8th ranked SAINT JOHN’S UNIVERSITY JOHNNIES played host to the number 3 team in the nation – the UNIVERSITY OF SAINT THOMAS TOMMIES. After a 7-6 1st Quarter lead for the Tommies the Johnnies went on top 19-7 and 33-20 in the 2nd and 3rd Quarters respectively. From there Saint John’s University won it 40-20.
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER SEVEN – Up in the NAIA the number 24 EASTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY MOUNTAINEERS visited the country’s number 7 team – the SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY RAIDERS (should be the Sea Gulls). The 1st Half was a defensive epic resulting in a 3-3 tie at Halftime. After the break the Mountaineers outscored SOU 24-14 for a 27-17 upset triumph.
SEVENTY-EIGHT – In the NJCAA the ASA (NY) COLLEGE AVENGERS took the field against their guests the CAPP CRUSADERS. The Avengers dominated on both sides of the ball, utterly annihilating the hapless Crusaders in the process. When all was said and done ASA College won by a final tally of SEVENTY-EIGHT to SIX! Continue reading
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Based on the Glitternight Index:
NJCAA – 1. GARDEN CITY COLLEGE BRONCBUSTERS ### 2. EAST MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE LIONS (Defending National Champions) ### 3. LACKAWANNA COLLEGE FALCONS ### 4. IOWA WESTERN COLLEGE REIVERS ### 5. NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI RANGERS ###
6. HUTCHINSON COLLEGE BLUE DRAGONS ### 7. SNOW COLLEGE BADGERS ### 8. EASTERN ARIZONA COLLEGE GILA MONSTERS ### 9. BLINN COLLEGE BUCCANEERS ### 10. ARIZONA WESTERN COLLEGE MATADORS ### Continue reading
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HEADLINES
DIVISION TWO OVER DIVISION ONE – The UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA ARGONAUTS, from NCAA Division Two, traveled to take on Division ONE’s UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA LIONS yesterday. A 10-10 Halftime tie became a 17-13 edge for the Argonauts in the 3rd Quarter and ultimately a 24-19 upset! This is like when a 1aa team topples a 1a team for you newbies.
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER TWO – Over in the NAIA the 21st ranked ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE BATTLIN’ BEARS welcomed the number 2 team in the nation – the SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY RAIDERS (should be the Sea Gulls). After a scoreless 1st Quarter the Battlin’ Bears put SOU on Upset Alert with a 17-14 lead at the break. In the 2nd Half Rocky Mountain College outscored the Raiders 17-7 for a 34-21 triumph.
FIRST-EVER WIN FOR U.N.E. – Moving to NCAA Division Three, the UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND NOR’EASTERS are in their very first year of intercollegiate football. On Saturday they took on the visiting CURRY COLLEGE COLONELS and came back from a 14-7 1st Quarter deficit to go on top 28-21 by the midpoint. From there the Nor’easters had to hold on for a 44-42 victory, the FIRST in program history. Continue reading
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