Here’s one last round of congratulations to this year’s college football champions in the SEVEN divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog.
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics)
National Champions – MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS
Runners-Up – Marian University Knights
2018 Champions – Morningside College Mustangs
NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association)
My National Champions – CONCORDIA (MI) CARDINALS
Runners-Up – Ottawa University (AZ) Spirit
2018 Champions – Olivet Nazarene University Tigers
USCAA (United States Collegiate Athletic Association)
My National Champions – NEWPORT NEWS APPRENTICE SCHOOL BUILDERS
Runners-Up – Williamson College of the Trades Mechanics
2018 Champions – Newport News Apprentice School Builders Continue reading
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA ARGONAUTS were not only THE story of the D2 playoffs once again but this time they sealed the deal against their opponents the MINNESOTA STATE MAVERICKS! A 14-14 1st Quarter tie turned into a 38-21 Argonauts lead by the Half. 
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The RIVERSIDE CITY COLLEGE TIGERS battled the COLLEGE OF SAN MATEO BULLDOGS for the CCCAA title. The 1st Quarter ended with the Bulldogs up 7-3 before the Tigers grabbed a 24-7 lead by the Half. The College of San Mateo pulled to within 24-14 in the 3rd Quarter but Riverside won out 31-14. * THE TIGERS ARE CCCAA CHAMPIONS *
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The number 1 team in the nation – the MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST COLLEGE BULLDOGS – took on the 2nd ranked LACKAWANNA COLLEGE FALCONS for the NJCAA crown. A 7-0 Bulldogs lead in the 1st Quarter became a 13-10 advantage for the Falcons by Halftime. Neither team scored in the 3rd Quarter but Mississippi Gulf Coast exploded in the 4th to win the game 24-13. * THE BULLDOGS ARE NJCAA CHAMPIONS * 
BLUE SATURDAY – The LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS took it on the road against the KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY COYOTES. The Blue Raiders went up 7-0 in the 1st Quarter and made that a 21-10 lead by Halftime. The Coyotes pulled to within 28-24 to end the 3rd Quarter before Lindsey Wilson College won it 35-24 in the 4th. 
GRAND VICTORY – The GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS welcomed the COLLEGE OF IDAHO YOTES in this 2nd Round game. A 3-0 1st Quarter edge for the Yotes became a 14-3 Vikings lead at the Half. The defenses dominated the 2nd Half with the College of Idaho’s 3rd Quarter Field Goal the only points scored. Grand View University notched a 14-6 victory.
SHUTOUT – The MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS played host to the UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS PATRIOTS. The Knights achieved defensive perfection, leading the Patriots 6-0 in the 1st Quarter and 16-0 at the break on their way to a 30-0 shutout of their opponents. 
PATRIOTS ON THE ROAD – The UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS PATRIOTS traveled to face the KEISER UNIVERSITY SEAHAWKS for their 1st Round game. A 7-0 1st Quarter lead for the Patriots became a 14-7 Seahawks advantage by Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended in a 21-21 tie before UC went on to win the game 28-24. 
COUGARS WITH THE UPSET – The SAINT XAVIER UNIVERSITY COUGARS visited the NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS. The Red Raiders led 3-0 in the opening Quarter but the Cougars went on top 10-6 at the Half. Northwestern College pulled to within 16-13 in the 3rd Quarter before SXU went on to win it 25-20 in the 4th. 
ONE SEEDS – VALDOSTA STATE BLAZERS (Gulf South Conference), the defending national champions AND the overall One Seed. The 3 others are the FERRIS STATE BULLDOGS, MINNESOTA STATE MAVERICKS and THE ROCK of SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY. 
The 2nd Seeded TARLETON STATE TEXANS (Lone Star 
Conference) will host the 7th seeded TEXAS A&M AT COMMERCE LIONS (Also out of the Lone Star Conference) Kickoff will be 2PM Eastern Time. 
The 3rd seeded COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES OREDIGGERS 
(Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) will host the 6th seeded UNIVERSITY OF SIOUX FALLS COUGARS (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) Kickoff will be 2PM Eastern Time. 
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. 
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. 