Balladeer’s Blog takes a look at yesterday’s college football results in a few less-covered divisions.
NCAA DIVISION TWO
TAKING DOWN NUMBER TWELVE – The PITTSBURG (KS) STATE GORILLAS traveled to face the 12th ranked UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-KEARNEY LOPERS. A 7-0 Lopers lead in the 1st Quarter became a 21-14 advantage for them by Halftime. The Gorillas went on top 28-14 going into the 4th Quarter, then won the game by a final score of 35-28.
MARATHON MEN – In this game the UNIVERSITY OF CHARLESTON GOLDEN EAGLES visited the FAIRMONT STATE FALCONS. The Golden Eagles led the Falcons 21-7 at the Half but Fairmont State came back to knot things up 28-28 to end Regulation. The 1st Overtime ended in a 35-35 deadlock and the 2nd with the score 38-38. Neither team mustered points in the 3rd OT, and the University of Charleston won with a Safety, 40-38, in the FOURTH OVERTIME. Continue reading
SOUTHEASTERN U CONQUERS DIVISION TWO – Every year multiple NAIA teams upset higher division teams and yesterday saw the SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY FIRE bring down NCAA Division Two’s SAVANNAH STATE TIGERS. Neither team scored in the 1st Quarter, but the Fire went up 27-0 by Halftime. After a scoreless 3rd Quarter, Southeastern University consummated the Upset in the 4th with a 34-14 triumph. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER FOUR – Down in NCAA Division Three, the number 5 team in the nation – the SAINT JOHN’S UNIVERSITY JOHNNIES – hosted the 4th ranked UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT WHITEWATER WARHAWKS. The Johnnies put the Warhawks on Upset Alert at the Half with their 9-3 lead, then carried through with a 24-10 victory. 
CHARGERS ON THE ROAD – In NCAA Division Two, the storied HILLSDALE COLLEGE CHARGERS took it on the road against the LAKE ERIE COLLEGE STORM. The Chargers were chasing the Storm 14-0 in the opening Quarter and 21-14 at the break. The 3rd Quarter ended with Lake Erie College on top 28-21, but in the 4th Hillsdale College stormed from behind to win the game 35-31. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER THREE – The number 5 team in the nation – the GRAND VALLEY STATE LAKERS – welcomed the 3rd ranked COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES OREDIGGERS. After a scoreless 1st Quarter the Lakers led 7-0 at Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with Grand Valley State out in front 17-6, but the Lakers had to hold on against a furious 4th Quarter rally by the Orediggers. The final score was Grand Valley State 25 Colorado School of Mines 22.
WORKING OVERTIME – The SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA STATE SAVAGE STORM won a 41-34 Overtime affair against the visiting ARKANSAS TECH WONDERBOYS ### Meanwhile, the BLUEFIELD STATE BIG BLUES survived a 35-34 OT visit from the JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY GOLDEN BULLS ### And the MCKENDREE UNIVERSITY BEARCATS defeated their hosts the NORTHERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS 31-24 in the extra session. 
*** NCAA DIVISION TWO – 1. NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE BEARCATS ### 2. VALDOSTA STATE BLAZERS ### 3. FERRIS STATE BULLDOGS (Defending National Champions) ### 4. GRAND VALLEY STATE LAKERS ### 
5. COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES OREDIGGERS ### 6. HARDING UNIVERSITY BISON ### 7. UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA ARGONAUTS ### 8. UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT KEARNEY LOPERS ### 
FINAL FOUR: FIRST BERTH – In this game the 3 seeds – the SULLIVAN COUNTY COLLEGE GENERALS – took on the 6th seeded CECIL COLLEGE SEAHAWKS. 
NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – Yesterday the MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS clashed with the GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS (should be the Zebras) for the NAIA title. In the 1st Half the teams went blow for blow and score for score, resulting in a 21-21 deadlock at Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended in a 28-28 tie but in the 4th the Mustangs pulled away for a 38-28 victory and their 3rd title in 4 years. 
NCAA DIVISION TWO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – This title tilt pitted the FERRIS STATE BULLDOGS against the storied VALDOSTA STATE BLAZERS. It looked like a shootout was in store as the 1st Quarter ended in a 20-17 edge for the Bulldogs. In reality, however, Ferris State shut out the Blazers the rest of the way, leading 41-17 at the Half on their way to a resounding FIFTY-EIGHT to SEVENTEEN blowout win. 
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The VALDOSTA STATE BLAZERS took on the COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES OREDIGGERS in this game. A 10-3 1st Quarter lead for the Blazers turned into a 24-14 advantage by Halftime. Valdosta State made it a 34-14 game to end the 3rd Quarter, then withstood an Orediggers rally in the 4th for a 34-31 victory. 
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS were on the road against the defending National Champions of NAIA football – the LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS. A 14-7 Vikings lead in the 1st Quarter became a 21-20 Blue Raiders edge by Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with Lindsey Wilson College on top 28-26 but the 4th saw Grand View U win the game 34-28. 
FIRST QUARTERFINAL – The NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS took the field against the MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS. The Red Raiders led 6-3 in the 1st Quarter and 19-10 come Halftime. In the 3rd Quarter the Knights pulled to within 19-17 before Northwestern College won out in the 4th 25-20. 
VICTORY BOWL – The season-ending event in the NCCAA saw the SOUTHWESTERN ASSEMBLIES OF GOD UNIVERSITY LIONS take on the STERLING COLLEGE WARRIORS this year. The Lions grabbed a 10-0 lead in the 1st Quarter and by Halftime held a 17-7 advantage over the Warriors. After the break SAGU outscored Sterling College 14-7 for a 31-14 triumph. 
ROUND ONE: GAME ONE – The KEISER UNIVERSITY SEA HAWKS took it on the road against the REINHARDT UNIVERSITY EAGLES (should be the Rottweilers). After a scoreless opening Quarter Reinhardt U led 6-3 at the Half. The 3rd Quarter ended with the Sea Hawks on top 10-6 and the game ended in a 16-13 win for Keiser University. 
ROUND ONE: GAME TWO – In this game the MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS welcomed the SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE MOUNDBUILDERS. The Knights led 6-3 in the 1st Quarter but the Moundbuilders were out in front 17-6 by the midpoint. Marian U made it a 17-14 game in the 3rd Quarter before coming from behind in the 4th to win it 21-17. 
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