The divisions covered here kick off the 2015 season this Friday, August 21st! Here’s another of my preseason Top 25 lists.
NCAA D2 – 1. COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY AT PUEBLO THUNDER WOLVES (Defending Champions) ### 2. MINNESOTA STATE MAVERICKS ### 3. NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE BEARCATS ### 4. UNIVERSITY OF WEST GEORGIA WOLVES ### 5. UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA AT DULUTH BULLDOGS ### Continue reading
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As always several dozen REAL student- athletes from the divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog moved on to the NFL. The most-taken position was Wide Receiver for the second year in a row.
As just one example, the NAIA’s OTTAWA (KS) UNIVERSITY BRAVES Wide Receiver Joshua Stangby moved on to the Atlanta Falcons.
Continuing with the Falcons here’s a look at all the NFL teams and the players taken from the divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog.
Atlanta Falcons
Joshua Stangby (see above)
Chris Brown (OT from the TARLETON STATE TEXANS)
Cody Clay (OL from the AZUSA PACIFIC UNIVERSITY COUGARS) Continue reading
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Here’s one final shout of congratulations to this year’s college football champions from the SEVEN divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog.
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics)
National Champions – SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY RAIDERS
Runners-Up – Marian University Knights
2013 Champions – Grand View University Vikings
NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association)
National Champions – NORTH GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS
Runners-Up – Shorter University Hawks
2013 Champions – Azusa Pacific University Cougars Continue reading
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* NAIA *
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – From Daytona Beach, FL this year’s 59th Annual NAIA Championship Game pitted the SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY RAIDERS against the MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS, who were trying for their 2nd title in the past 3 years. The Raiders capitalized on every Marian mistake and by the end of the 1st Quarter led 24-7. That dominance extended into the 2nd Quarter as SOU seized a 38-10 advantage by Halftime.
In the 3rd Quarter the Knights shut out their opponents and pulled to within 14 points at 38-24. In the 4th Southern Oregon’s record-setting QB Austin Dodge simply pressed down on the accelerator and extended his team’s lead again. When the dust settled SOU had won the game 55-31. * CONGRATULATIONS TO SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY, THE CHAMPIONS OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS! *
* NCAA DIVISION TWO * Continue reading
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* CCCAA CHAMPIONSHIP *
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The MOUNT SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE MOUNTIES did battle with the CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO RAMS to see which one of these two storied programs could add another title to their haul. A 3-3 1st Quarter tie became a 13-10 advantage for the Mounties by Halftime. Mt San Antonio outscored the Rams 14-7 in the 3rd Quarter and, after a scoreless 4th the Mounties grabbed the championship with a 27-17 victory. *** CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MOUNTIES ON THEIR FOURTH CCCAA CHAMPIONSHIP! ***
* NCAA DIVISION TWO *
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The MINNESOTA STATE MAVERICKS had little trouble defeating the visiting CONCORD UNIVERSITY MOUNTAIN LIONS. Minnesota State led 30-7 at the break on their way to a 47-13 beatdown of the Mountain Lions. The Mavericks improve to 14-0 and move on to their first appearance in the D2 championship game. Continue reading
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* NJCAA CHAMPIONSHIP *
ALL THREE OF EAST MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE’S HELMETS
MISSISSIPPI BOWL – This Bowl was the National Championship Game this year and pitted the number 1 Defending Champions – the EAST MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE LIONS – against the 2nd ranked IOWA WESTERN COLLEGE REIVERS – who happen to be the 2012 NJCAA Champions. This clash of the most recent champions went the Lions’ way from start to finish. East Mississippi led 21-7 by Halftime and kept up the pressure in the 2nd Half, doubling up on the Reivers 34-17 for their 2nd title in a row and their 3rd in the last 4 years! * CONGRATULATIONS TO THE LIONS – THE NJCAA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS FOR 2014! *
* NAIA PLAYOFFS *
FIRST SEMIFINAL – In a rematch of the 2012 National Championship Game the MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS took on the homestanding MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS. The end result was the same, too, with the Knights coming from behind for the win. Marian trailed 7-0 in the 1st Quarter and 21-14 at Halftime. After the break the Knights shut out the Mustangs while piling up points themselves, ultimately winning in a 41-21 rout. Marian QB Hayden Northern had 2 Touchdowns by air and 1 more on the ground. Continue reading
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* NAIA PLAYOFFS *
“DON’T START PLAYING TIL THE FOURTH QUARTER” – The SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY RAIDERS made THE road comeback of the season in the NAIA! In this Second Round playoff game the Raiders had traveled to face the top seeded CARROLL COLLEGE FIGHTING SAINTS. SOU trailed 28-12 by Halftime and 35-18 to end the 3rd Quarter before outscoring CC 27-7 in the 4th for a heart-pounding 45-42 come-from- behind victory! The Raiders had 4 TD’s by air and 3 on the ground.
DEFENDING CHAMPS ELIMINATED – The MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS pulled off the 2nd Round’s other big upset but did it in less nail-biting fashion. The Knights visited the defending champion GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS and were in control from start to finish. A 7-0 Marian lead in the 1st Quarter became 13-0 at the break, then 20-6 in the 3rd. The Knights added 14 more points in the final frame for a tally of 34-6. QB Hayden Northern passed for 258 yds and 3 TD’s in the win. Continue reading
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*** NCCAA CHAMPIONSHIP ***
VICTORY BOWL – The Victory Bowl is the annual Championship Game in the National Christian College Athletic Association. This year’s matchup saw the NORTH GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS take on the SHORTER UNIVERSITY HAWKS. A 7-7 1st Quarter tie became a 10-7 advantage for the Hawks by Halfime.
The Crusaders quickly grabbed a 14-10 lead in the 2nd Half which stood at 21-16 to end the 3rd Quarter. From there NGU shut out Shorter in the 4th while exploding offensively for a 42-16 blowout win. QB Nelson Hughes passed for 267 yds and 2 TD’s. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CRUSADERS FOR THEIR FOURTH NCCAA CHAMPIONSHIP!
*** NAIA PLAYOFFS ***
CATFIGHT – The SAINT XAVIER UNIVERSITY COUGARS welcomed the CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY TIGERS yesterday in the Opening Round of the NAIA playoffs. The Cougars and Tigers were tied at 7-7 in the 1st Quarter but by the break SXU trailed Campbellsville 21-17. The Cougars came back to seize a 31-28 advantage in the 3rd Quarter and held on for a 38-35 victory. SXU QB John Rhode threw for 416 yards and 3 Touchdowns in the win! Continue reading
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* HEADLINES *
NUMBER ONE TAKES A FALL – The NAIA’s DOANE COLLEGE TIGERS welcomed the number one team in the nation – the MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS – to Crete, NE on a cold and snowy Saturday. The Tigers trailed the storied Mustangs 27-7 after 1 Quarter of play but Coach Matt Franzen kept his team calm and focused, guiding them to a 27-27 tie at Halftime. In the 3rd Quarter Doane took a 41-27 lead that had the Morningside faithful chewing their nails but the Mustangs fought back to retake the lead 48-41 with just 2:07 left to play in the 4th.
Soon, on 4th and 4 from the Morningside 13 with 21 seconds on the clock QB Brandon Stuart connected with Nick Reed for a TD to pull within 48-47. From there Doane went for the win on a 2 point Conversion which saw Stuart throw to Holden Wetzler in the End Zone for a 49-48 upset that shocked the nation!
WESLEY FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT – The NCAA Division Three’s 4th ranked WESLEY COLLEGE WOLVERINES showed the kind of courage Mt Union NEVER shows, taking it on the road against Division ONE’s Charlotte Forty-Niners. The Wolverines nearly pulled off the upset as it turned out. A 14-14 1st Quarter tie became a 28-24 lead for Charlotte by the Half. Both teams exchanged blows nearly evenly in the 2nd Half with Wesley losing by just 38-33. Continue reading
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* HEADLINES *
SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY RULES THE WORLD – Once again an NAIA football team has toppled a team from the NCAA Division TWO. For newbies this is like a 1AA team upsetting a 1A team. The NAIA’s SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY FIRE welcomed D2’s LIMESTONE COLLEGE SAINTS and proceeded to rough them up. In the end the Fire more than doubled up on the Saints, defeating them FORTY-FOUR to TWENTY!
NUMBER FOUR TAKES A FALL – The 25th ranked CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY TIGERS managed their SECOND upset of a Top 5 team this season! The Tigers played host to the number 4 team in the nation – the FAULKNER UNIVERSITY EAGLES. The Senior Day spectators in C-Ville witnessed an Instant Classic of a game which at length ended in a 30-21 triumph for the home team. Continue reading
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