As always, because the college football divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog kick off their regular season a few weeks earlier than the other divisions their playoffs begin earlier, too.
The NAIA is using a new format this year, expanding the playoff teams from 16 to 20 and with the top 12 seeds having a Bye in the 1st Round. November 18th’s matchups:
The MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS (Frontier Conference) will host the DICKINSON STATE BLUE HAWKS (North Star Athletic Association)
Kickoff will be at 3:00PM Eastern Time
The DORDT UNIVERSITY DEFENDERS (Great Plains Athletic Conference) will host the OTTAWA UNIVERSITY BRAVES (Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference)
Kickoff will be at 1:00PM Eastern Time Continue reading
NUMBER THREE TAKES A FALL – In the NAIA the CONCORDIA (MI) CARDINALS hosted the number 3 team in the nation, the INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS. A 7-0 1st Quarter lead for the Cardinals became 14-3 by Halftime. After a scoreless 3rd Quarter, the teams exchanged a Touchdown apiece in the 4th as Concordia University toppled the Wildcats 21-10. 
“THAT WAS NUMBER FIIIVE!” – Over in NCAA Division Two, the KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY GOLDEN BEARS took the field against the visiting 5th ranked SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY ROCK. The Golden Bears kept the forever-overrated Rock off the scoreboard until the 4th Quarter in a 31-7 Upset. 
AND ANOTHER NUMBER FIVE FALLS – Back in the NAIA, the SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY RAIDERS (should be Sea Gulls) went up against their guests, the number 5 COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES. SOU put the Coyotes on Upset Alert by the Half, leading them 14-7, then carried through by winning the game 31-16. 
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 that game was played. 
NUMBER THREE TAKES A FALL – In NCAA Division Two the 24th ranked MISSOURI WESTERN STATE GRIFFONS played host to the number 3 team in the nation – the PITTSBURG (KS) STATE GORILLAS. This Instant Classic saw the Gorillas on top 17-10 at Halftime but the Griffons up 24-17 in the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th, Missouri Western State held on against a Pittsburg State rally to win the game 31-30. 
WE WENT TO A FOOTBALL GAME BUT A BASKETBALL GAME BROKE OUT – Down in NCAA Division Three, the MUSKINGUM UNIVERSITY MUSKIES played the visiting WILMINGTON COLLEGE QUAKERS. Points flew like shrapnel as a 28-28 Halftime tie became 42-42 in the 3rd Quarter. The 4th saw the Muskies eke out a 64-63 triumph. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER SEVEN – In NCAA Division Two, the WINGATE UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS welcomed the number 7 team in the nation – the LENOIR-RHYNE UNIVERSITY BEARS. Halftime saw the Bulldogs on top 17-14 but the 3rd Quarter ended in a 20-20 tie. In the explosive 4th Wingate U. won the game 34-30. 
AND ANOTHER NUMBER SEVEN TAKES A FALL – Over in the NAIA, the number 9 GEORGETOWN (KY) COLLEGE TIGERS played host to the 7th ranked LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS. This was a defensive epic, with the Tigers leading by a mere 7-0 at the Half before beating the Blue Raiders 10-0. 
NUMBER EIGHT GOES TUMBLING AFTER – This game pitted D2’s 24th ranked VALDOSTA STATE BLAZERS against the number 8 UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA ARGONAUTS. A 21-21 Halftime deadlock remained unchanged in the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th the Blazers pulled off a last minute 31-28 upset. 
NCCAA OVER NCAA DIVISION TWO – This game pitted the NCCAA’s VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY OF LYNCHBURG DRAGONS against their hosts, D2’s LANE COLLEGE DRAGONS. VUL was chasing Lane College 28-21 at Halftime and 42-35 in the 3rd Quarter. The 4th saw VU-Lynchburg pull off a 45-42 come from behind Upset. 
NJCAA OVER USCAA – In another Upset, NJCAA team the MONROE COLLEGE MUSTANGS welcomed the NEWPORT NEWS APPRENTICE SCHOOL BUILDERS (Shipbuilders) from the USCAA. A 14-14 tie at the Half became 21-21 to end the 3rd Quarter and ultimately a 28-21 triumph for the Mustangs. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER FOUR – In NCAA Division Two action, the 21st ranked AUGUSTANA (SD) VIKINGS took on the visiting number 4 team in the nation – the MINNESOTA STATE MAVERICKS. After a scoreless opening Quarter, the Vikings led 7-3 at the midpoint and 14-3 in the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th, Augustana U. toppled the Mavericks 28-10. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER ONE – In NCAA Division Two, the 4th ranked GRAND VALLEY STATE LAKERS welcomed the number 1 team in the nation – the FERRIS STATE BULLDOGS. The Lakers were on top 35-21 by Halftime, then the Bulldogs made it a 35-28 game to end the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th, Grand Valley State pulled away for a 49-28 trumph. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER FOUR – Down in NCAA Division Three, the number 7 UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT WHITEWATER WARHAWKS visited the country’s 4th ranked UW-RIVER FALLS FALCONS. A 6-0 1st Quarter lead for the Warhawks became 15-7 at the Half. After the break Whitewater held off the Falcons to win the game 21-14. 
AND NUMBER SIX COMES TUMBLING AFTER – Back up in the NAIA, the FRIENDS UNIVERSITY FALCONS took the field against the visiting number 6 SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE MOUNDBUILDERS. The Falcons had the Moundbuilders faithful worried with a 12-0 Halftime advantage. Friends University pulled further and further away in the 2nd Half for a 35-20 Upset. 
TOPPLING NUMBER THREE – In NCAA Division Three, the 14th ranked UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT LACROSSE EAGLES visited the number 3 team in the nation – the UW-WHITEWATER WARHAWKS. A 7-7 1st Quarter tie became a 17-14 Eagles advantage by Halftime. Lacrosse extended their lead to 27-17 in the 3rd Quarter, then held on in the 4th for a 37-34 victory. 
WE WENT TO A FOOTBALL GAME BUT A BASEBALL GAME BROKE OUT – NCAA Division Two’s ARKANSAS TECH WONDERBOYS traveled to face the SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE BULLDOGS. Unyielding defense was the name of the game as the Bulldogs went up 7-0 in the opening Quarter, a score that held up at Halftime and at the end of the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th, the Wonderboys came from behind for a 9-7 triumph. 
HILLSDALE AT HOME – NCAA Division Two’s storied HILLSDALE COLLEGE CHARGERS played host to the NORTHWOOD UNIVERSITY TIMBER WOLVES. The Chargers proved their determination to right this disappointing season, leading the Timber Wolves 17-7 at Halftime before winning it in a 40-18 blowout. 
“THAT WAS NUMBER FIIIIIVE!” – In NCAA Division Three, the ENDICOTT COLLEGE GULLS welcomed the number 5 team in the nation – the HARDIN-SIMMONS UNIVERSITY COWBOYS. For once Endicott didn’t choke in the spotlight, leading the Cowboys 3-0, 17-3 and 37-3 in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Quarters respectively. In the 4th, a garbage time TD from HSU made the final score 37-10.
USCAA GAME OF THE WEEK – This USCAA (United States Collegiate Athletic Association) affair pitted the WILLIAMSON COLLEGE OF THE TRADES MECHANICS against the CAPP ACADEMY CRUSADERS. In a driving rain, the Mechanics led the Crusaders 7-0 in the 1st and 10-0 at the Half. A scoreless 3rd Quarter was followed by a CAPP rally attempt in the 4th as Williamson won the game 25-14. 
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