Tag Archives: D3 football

COLLEGE FOOTBALL RANKINGS FROM BALLADEER’S BLOG: SEPTEMBER 17TH

HELMETMorningside_IANAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) –    1. MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS (2012 runners-up)    ###    2. CARROLL COLLEGE FIGHTING SAINTS    ###    3. UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS PATRIOTS    ###    4. SAINT XAVIER UNIVERSITY COUGARS    ###    5. GEORGETOWN COLLEGE (KY) TIGERS    ###    6. SAINT AMBROSE UNIVERSITY FIGHTING BEES (love that name)    ###

North Greenville CrusadersNCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) –    1. NORTH GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS    ###    2. POINT UNIVERSITY SKYHAWKS    ###    3. GREENVILLE COLLEGE PANTHERS (defending champions)    ###    4. GENEVA UNIVERSITY GOLDEN TORNADOES    ###    5.  Continue reading

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL RESULTS FROM SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2013

Siena Heights SaintsSIENA HEIGHTS RULES THE WORLD – Regular readers of Balladeer’s Blog are aware that at LEAST one NAIA football team upsets a team from higher divisions every single week of the season. Yesterday the SIENA HEIGHTS UNIVERSITY SAINTS took it on the road against NCAA Division TWO’s SAINT JOSEPH’S COLLEGE PUMAS. The Saints schooled yet another NCAA team on how well they play football in the NAIA by defeating them in a 35-31 Instant Classic. SHU trailed 17-14 at the half, then led 21-17 for a time before repeated lead changes set in. 

Lindsey_Wilson_KYLINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE ALSO RULES THE WORLD – The NAIA’s (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS also upset an NCAA Division TWO team yesterday. The Blue Raiders were on the road against D2’s KENTUCKY WESLEYAN COLLEGE PANTHERS. Lindsey Wilson improved to 3-0 on the season with an authoritative 39-20 victory.   

North Greenville CrusadersNORTH GREENVILLE WANTS IN ON SOME OF THIS ACTION, TOO – NCAA Division 2’s NORTH GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS did some world-ruling of their own yesterday. They had traveled to face NCAA Division ONE’s Virginia Military Institute Keydets (yes, Keydets) and in a very impressive display of gridiron oomph they upset VMI by a final score of 37-24.  

Lincoln (MO) Blue Tigers helmetLINCOLN UNIVERSITY REDUCES GRAMBLING TO PAPER TIGERS – Another NCAA Division 2 team, the LINCOLN (MO) UNIVERSITY BLUE TIGERS, upset a Division One team. The Blue Tigers welcomed the Grambling State Tigers, fresh off of firing their coach Doug Williams. Lincoln took the storied Grambling program down a few pegs with a Continue reading

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL RESULTS FROM SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2013

* NCAA DIVISION 2 *

West Texas A&MOH, GIVE ME A HOME WHERE THE BUFFALO ROAM … – Last night the WEST TEXAS A&M BUFFALOES hosted the CHADRON STATE COLLEGE  EAGLES in one of the best games of the night. This Lone Star Conference versus Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference clash was a thrilling back and forth affair but when all was said and done the Buffaloes came out on top by a final score of 34-31.  

Mars Hill College helmetLIONS, HAWKS AND A LIGHTNING DELAY – The MARS HILL COLLEGE LIONS traveled to Georgia to take on the SHORTER UNIVERSITY HAWKS in a game that suffered a lightning delay for more than an hour. The Hawks saw a 23-14 halftime lead evaporate in the 2nd half as the Lions retained their composure and stormed ahead for a 41-30 triumph. Things don’t get any easier for the 0-2 Hawks – their next opponents are D2’s defending champions, the VALDOSTA STATE BLAZERS.

Emporia StateSTUNG BY THE HORNETS – The EMPORIA STATE UNIVERSITY HORNETS welcomed the UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA- KEARNEY LOPERS last night. The Hornets struck swiftly, getting off to a very early lead and reducing the Lopers to endlessly playing catch-up for the Continue reading

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL RESULTS FROM SEPTEMBER 7TH, 2013

* EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD * 

There were so many NCAA Division Two teams upsetting Division ONE teams this past weekend I need an entire section to cover all of them:

Merrimack College helmetTHE WARRIORS CAME OUT TO PLAAA- AAAAAY – Friday night D2’s MERRIMACK COLLEGE WARRIORS got a jump on the weekend’s orgy of upsets. The Warriors traveled to Staten Island to face Division 1’s Wagner College Seahawks under the lights. Both offenses lit up the scoreboard but in the end Merrimack College emerged with a 42-41 triumph in an undeniable Instant Classic!

Delta_StDUEL ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER DELTA – On Saturday the DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY STATESMEN from Division Two took it on the road to battle Division One’s Mississippi Valley State University Delta Devils. MVSU may be the alma mater of the legendary Jerry Rice but the Statesmen proved to be more than a match for them, winning a gripping 24-14 gridiron epic.

CSU-PuebloHOW ‘BOUT THEM THUNDERWOLVES? – The COLORADO STATE-PUEBLO THUNDERWOLVES came into yesterday ranked number 6 in Division 2. They battled Division 1’s University of Northern Colorado Bears in a game for the ages. The Thunderwolves’ faithful will be talking about this clash for years as CSU-Pueblo toppled the Bears in their own house by a final score of 41-36.

 Florida Tech Panthers helmetABSOLUTE BEGINNERS – The FLORIDA TECH PANTHERS played their very first intercollegiate football game yesterday. Florida Tech, from Division 2, took on Division 1’s Stetson University Hatters, who were playing just their second football game since reviving their pigskin program this season. Despite the Hatters’ one-game edge in experience the Panthers came out on top in a Continue reading

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL RESULTS FROM SEPTEMBER 5TH, 2013

* NAIA *

Concordia (NE) BulldogsCONCORDIA- NEBRASKA RULES THE WORLD – As always during college football season every week brings us at least one NAIA team upsetting upper division teams from the NCAA. Last week two teams upset Division ONE teams. Last night the CONCORDIA (NE) BULLDOGS doubled- up on NCAA Division 2’s WILLIAM JEWELL COLLEGE CARDINALS in their own house! The final score in this game was Bulldogs 30  Cardinals 15.

Belleville Lynx helmetTEAMS KICKING BUTT – The BELLEVILLE LYNX are in just their 2nd year of intercollegiate football but are already 2-0 for this season. Last night they notched a road win over the veteran CENTRAL METHODIST UNIVERSITY EAGLES in a 41-14 rout.   ###   Also last night the PIKEVILLE UNIVERSITY BEARS eviscerated the BLUEFIELD COLLEGE RAMBLIN’ RAMS by a final score of 53-16. Bluefield is in just their 2nd year of intercollegiate football as well.  

* NCAA DIVISION 2 *

Northwest_Missouri_StBEARCATS GROWLING – The 3rd ranked NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE BEARCATS were the highest- ranked D2 team in action last night. These perennial D2 football powers welcomed the number 18 SAGINAW VALLEY STATE CARDINALS and plucked their feathers to the tune of 45-24.

North_Carolina-PembrokeTOP 25 UPSETS – Yesterday saw 2 upsets of ranked teams. The UNC-PEMBROKE BRAVES toppled the visiting 8th ranked WINSTON-SALEM STATE RAMS in a 25-21 nailbiter.   ###   And the SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA BULLDOGS sent the number 25 HARDING UNIVERSITY BISON home stinging from Continue reading

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D3 COLLEGE FOOTBALL: BALLADEER’S BLOG’S PRESEASON TOP 25

With the college football season set to kick off on Friday August 23rd in the divisions covered by Balladeer’s Blog here is my preseason Top 25 for NCAA Division 3. Previously I presented my Top 25 for the NAIA and NJCAA.

Mount Union Purple Raiders1. UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT UNION PURPLE RAIDERS (Defending Champions)      ###      2. UNIVERSITY OF MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR CRUSADERS      ###      3. UNIVERSITY OF SAINT THOMAS TOMMIES (2012 Runners-Up)      ###      4. LINFIELD COLLEGE WILDCATS      ###     

Oshkosh Titans5. UW-OSHKOSH TITANS      ###      6. HOBART COLLEGE STATESMEN      ###      7. UW-WHITEWATER WARHAWKS      ###      8. Continue reading

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2012 COLLEGE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS

The college football season in the divisions covered by Balladeer’s Blog has come to a close. Here’s one final round of congratulations to the champions of those six divisions.

Marian U Knights helmetNAIA

(National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics)

Champions: MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS

Runners-up: Morningside College Mustangs

2011 Champions – St Xavier University Cougars

Greenville College PanthersNCCAA

(National Christian College Athletic Association)

Champions: GREENVILLE COLLEGE PANTHERS

Runners-up: Northwestern (MN) College Eagles

2011 Champions – Campbellsville University Tigers

Valdosta_StNCAA Division 2

(National Collegiate Athletic Association)

Champions: VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY BLAZERS

Runners-up: Continue reading

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF RESULTS: DECEMBER 8TH, 2012

*** NAIA CHAMPIONSHIP ***

The NAIA championship game between the Marian University Knights and the Morningside College Mustangs will be played this Thursday December 13th, at 6:30pm ET in Rome, GA.

*** CCCAA CHAMPIONSHIP ***

Bakersfield College RenegadesTHE STREETS OF BAKERSFIELD – The BAKERSFIELD COLLEGE RENEGADES completed their fairytale postseason run today in the CCCAA championship game. Compared to last year’s CCCAA title game the 2012 edition lacked a certain amount of drama with the Renegades dominating from start to finish. Bakersfield dethroned the reigning champs, the CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO RAMS, in a 35-14 spanking. After compiling a 28-14 lead by halftime the Renegades coasted through the rest of the game to become the 2012 CCCAA champions! 

*** NCAA D2 PLAYOFFS ***

Valdosta State BlazersBLAZING A TRAIL TO THE TITLE GAME – The first semifinal in Division 2 today was played between the VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY BLAZERS and the homestanding MINNESOTA STATE MAVERICKS. The first half was a tightly contested affair with the Blazers leading at half-time 14-10. The second half saw the Continue reading

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2012 D3 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF TEAMS

For the past 7 years in a row the NCAA D3 championship game had been monopolized by the Whitewater Warhawks and the Mt Union Purple Raiders, who were the last 2 teams standing in the playoffs all those years. The Warhawks won 4 of those clashes, 3 of them in a row, but had a rough 2012 season and have missed making the playoffs at all this time around. Here are the 32 teams that make up the 2012 playoff field for D3, in 4 regions by top seed. This Saturday’s matchups are listed. I’ll have the NJCAA and CCCAA postseason matchups next.

MT UNION PURPLE RAIDERS (helmet at left) vs the CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY CAPTAINS   ###   JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY BLUE JAYS vs the WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON PRESIDENTS   ###   SALISBURY UNIVERSITY SEAGULLS vs the ROWAN UNIVERSITY PROFS   ###   WIDENER PRIDE vs the BRIDGEWATER STATE COLLEGE BEARS

MARY HARDIN BAYLOR UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS (helmet at left) vs the LOUISIANA COLLEGE WILDCATS   ###   ADRIAN BULLDOGS vs the FRANKLIN COLLEGE GRIZZLIES   ###   CORTLAND STATE RED DRAGONS vs the FRAMINGHAM STATE RAMS   ###   WESLEY WOLVERINES vs the MOUNT IDA MUSTANGS Continue reading

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NOTEWORTHY COLLEGE FOOTBALL RESULTS FROM NOVEMBER 10TH, 2012

THE LANGSTON LIONS RULE THE WORLD – Regular readers of Balladeer’s Blog are familiar with the way each week in college football season brings at LEAST one NAIA team upsetting a team from NCAA Division 2. For newbies to these divisions this is like when a 1AA (FCS) team upsets a 1A (FBS) team. The NAIA’s Lions took it on the road and brought down D2’s PANHANDLE STATE AGGIES  27-20. This is Langston’s 2nd such upset this season after several in 2011, too.

Honorable mention goes to the CONCORDIA (AL) HORNETS who earlier this year toppled both a D2 team and a DIVISION ONE team. Yesterday the Hornets fell short in a 28-26 road loss to D2’s STILLMAN TIGERS.

NUMBER THREE TAKES A FALL – The 3rd ranked team in NCAA Division 2, the storied NORTHWEST MISSOURI BEARCATS, were hosting the number 9 MISSOURI WESTERN GRIFFONS (helmet at left) in a game that ensured the winner would take this year’s conference title in the MidAmerica Intercollegiate Athletics Association. The Griffons rose up against their rivals and emerged with a 21-20 victory in this undeniable Instant Classic.

TOP 25 UPSETS – NAIA – The number 12 team in the rankings, the SOUTHERN OREGON RAIDERS (helmet at left), won a homestand against the 7th ranked MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS and ended their stellar 2012 regular season with a 46-28 loss. This win earned the Raiders a share of the Frontier Conference title.   ###   … And at number 15 the WILLIAM PENN UNIVERSITY STATESMEN tried to make up for last week’s disappointment by upsetting the visiting 9th ranked GRAND VIEW VIKINGS in a 17-12 nailbiter. Balladeer’s Blog will cover how this affects the NAIA playoff seedings later on.

TOP 25 UPSETS – NCAA DIVISION 2 – The INDIANA UNIVERSITY- PENNSYLVANIA CRIMSON HAWKS were in the unlucky number 13 spot in the rankings but toppled the visiting number 10 team, the SHIPPENSBURG RED RAIDERS, in a 41-10 drubbing.   ###   … And the unranked SAGINAW VALLEY CARDINALS held serve to bring down the 17th ranked GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY LAKERS in a 55-52 shootout for the ages. 

TOP 25 UPSETS – NCAA DIVISION 3 – The WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON PRESIDENTS (helmet at left) invaded the home of the number 18 WAYNESBURG YELLOW JACKETS and handed them a 31-14 veto.   ###   … And the ADRIAN BULLDOGS likewise played road warriors, eking out a 17-16 victory over the 17th ranked HUNTINGDON HAWKS.   ###   The (13) HEIDELBERG STUDENT PRINCES had a close call but held on at home to win a 35-34 contest with the Continue reading

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