Tag Archives: football

December 18, 2012 · 12:26 am

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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December 13, 2012 · 12:05 am

COLLEGE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES: DECEMBER 13TH, 14TH AND 15TH

Three down and three to go! That is, three of the divisions of college football covered by Balladeer’s Blog already have crowned their 2012 champions leaving just three more title games to go! Those games will be played today tomorrow and Saturday.

*** NAIA CHAMPIONSHIP ***

Marian_INTHERE’S NO PLACE LIKE ROME – Rome, GA was the site of tonight’s (Dec 13th) heart-stopping NAIA championship game between the MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS and the MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS. For the bulk of the game the Mustangs seemed to be in control, leading 14-7 after 1 quarter, 14-10 at halftime and 20-10 to start the 4th quarter. A missed extra point in the 3rd quarter came back to haunt Morningside when the Knights outscored them 17-7 in the 4th to tie the game at 27 all. A 26 yard field goal in Overtime won the game for Marian, giving them their very first national championship in football. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MARIAN KNIGHTS!

*** D2 CHAMPIONSHIP ***

Valdosta_StTHE HUBRIS BOWL – The NCAA D2 championship game on the 15th saw the final game of the 2012 college football season for the divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog. The VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY BLAZERS took on the WINSTON- SALEM STATE RAMS for the title. The Rams had hubristically bragged about having the superior athletes in this matchup, but those athletes couldn’t stop the Blazers, couldn’t catch the Continue reading →

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December 8, 2012 · 10:33 pm

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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December 6, 2012 · 11:23 pm

COOL FOOTBALL HELMET: KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY

Kentucky_St_OLD1KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY THOROBREDS

Location: Frankfort, KY

Conference Affiliation: Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Comment: How could you possibly top this helmet on the Continue reading →

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December 2, 2012 · 12:06 am

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF AND BOWL RESULTS FROM DECEMBER 1ST AND 2ND

*** NJCAA CHAMPIONSHIP ***

Iowa Western CollegeDREAM REIVERS – Just four years after the start of their institution’s football program the IOWA WESTERN REIVERS became the national champions of the NJCAA! The top- ranked Reivers defeated perennial gridiron powers the number 2 BUTLER (KS) GRIZZLIES in an epic clash between a feisty newcomer and an established powerhouse. Most surprising of all was the way Iowa Western College dominated the game from start to finish, pounding Butler by a score of 27-7. Congratulations to the Reivers!

*** NAIA PLAYOFFS ***

Morningside MustangsDEFENDING CHAMPS DETHRONED – Just a week after Balladeer’s Blog pronounced them this year’s Team of Destiny in the NAIA the MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS unseated the incumbent champions, the SAINT XAVIER UNIVERSITY COUGARS. The homestanding Mustangs were all business and dominated on both sides of the ball, advancing to the December 13th national championship game with an intimidating 47-19 win.

Marian U Knights helmetONE STEP FURTHER – Last year the MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS made it to the NAIA semi-finals but lost to St Xavier University. This year the Knights proved that the additional year of experience under their belts made all the difference. Marian U took it on the road this time around and won a grueling, hard-fought Instant Classic against the MISSOURI VALLEY COLLEGE VIKINGS  20-17. It will be Knights vs Mustangs for the NAIA title on December 13th in Rome, GA.

*** NCAA D2 PLAYOFFS ***

West Texas A&MNUMBER ONE TAKES A FALL – The overall one seeds in NCAA Division 2, the CSU-PUEBLO THUNDER WOLVES, were upset in the quarter-finals by the WEST TEXAS A&M BUFFALOES. The Buffaloes have been this season’s answer to last year’s Wayne State, having to play on the road every round but coming away with win after win. West Texas proved they weren’t fooling around today and put the Thunder Wolves away in convincing fashion by a final score of Continue reading →

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December 1, 2012 · 3:24 pm

COOL FOOTBALL HELMET: OHIO DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY

Ohio Dominican PanthersOHIO DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY PANTHERS

Location: Columbus, OH

Conference Affiliation: Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Comment: The old joke about a team just rolling their helmets onto the field and the Continue reading →

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November 27, 2012 · 9:43 pm

COOL FOOTBALL HELMET: MORAVIAN COLLEGE

MORAVIAN COLLEGE GREYHOUNDS

Location: Bethlehem, PA

Conference Affiliation: Centennial Conference

Comment: The Centennial Conference not only boasts some of the coolest-named Continue reading →

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November 25, 2012 · 12:01 am

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF AND KANZA BOWL RESULTS: NOVEMBER 24TH, 2012

*** NAIA PLAYOFFS ***

TEAM OF DESTINY? – The MORNINGSIDE MUSTANGS have come into their own the past two seasons as the new masters of the Great Plains Athletic Conference after the University of Sioux Falls moved over to NCAA Division 2. The 2011 postseason ended with a disappointing early exit from the playoffs for the Mustangs. 2012, however, has found them increasingly referred to as this year’s “Team of Destiny” after a close call against the MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS last week and a tough Overtime win yesterday against the SOUTHERN OREGON RAIDERS. The final score in this Instant Classic was 47-44.

BACK IN THE FINAL FOUR – The MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS continue to make Balladeer’s Blog look like a gridiron Nostradamus for designating them as THE up-and- coming power in NAIA football a few years back. After another stellar season, much of which they spent in the number 1 spot in the rankings, the Knights have made it to the Final Four for the second year in a row. Yesterday Marian advanced with an authoritative 45-34 win over the SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS. 

THE HEART OF A CHAMPION – Chicago’s SAINT XAVIER UNIVERSITY COUGARS, the defending champions of NAIA football, continue their defense of their title. Yesterday the Cougars joined Morningside and Marian in the 2012 Final Four by defeating the powerhouse UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS PATRIOTS by a final score of 35-21.  

THE DEFENSIVE EPIC OF THE POSTSEASON – The MISSOURI VALLEY COLLEGE VIKINGS filled the last slot in this season’s Final Four in the NAIA. The Vikings had their hands full with the BETHEL (TN) WILDCATS, who toppled the top-ranked GEORGETOWN (KY) TIGERS last Saturday. MVC avoided being the second victims of a Bethel upset by winning this 10-7 game for the ages.

*** NCAA DIVISION 2 PLAYOFFS ***

REST OR RUST? – In 2010 and 2011 the 8 D2 teams who had a bye in the First Round wound up struggling, with 5 losing in 2010 and 4 in 2011. This year just 3 of the teams who came off a bye wound up losing. The MISSOURI WESTERN GRIFFONS had the most impressive upset win, hammering the (2) HENDERSON STATE UNIVERSITY REDDIES  45-21.   ###   The IUP CRIMSON HAWKS had the toughest time toppling their upper seed opponent, bringing down the Continue reading →

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November 22, 2012 · 3:06 pm

2012 THANKSGIVING DAY GRIDIRON CLASH: TUSKEGEE VS ALABAMA STATE

Happy Thanksgiving! The HBCU’s Turkey Day gridiron rivalry between the TUSKEGEE GOLDEN TIGERS and the ALABAMA STATE HORNETS can’t help but be anything but flattering to Tuskegee. The Golden Tigers are, after all, Division 2 while the Hornets are 1AA (FCS if you’re a spineless conformist). In that respect it’s like the rivalry between D2’s ALBANY (GA) STATE GOLDEN RAMS and Continue reading →

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November 18, 2012 · 12:46 am

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF AND BOWL RESULTS: NOVEMBER 17TH, 2012

NCCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP – The Victory Bowl is the signature gridiron event each year in the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) with the winner being the national champion of the association. This year’s matchup was between the GREENVILLE COLLEGE PANTHERS (helmet at left) and the NORTHWESTERN (MN) COLLEGE EAGLES and was an Instant Classic. In overtime the Panthers emerged with a 28-27 victory. A missed extra point by the Eagles spelled the difference. Congratulations to Greenville College!

*****   NAIA PLAYOFFS   *****

UPSET IN GEORGETOWN – The NUMBER ONE TEAM in the nation, the undefeated GEORGETOWN (KY) TIGERS, suffered the upset of the First Round today at the hands of the BETHEL (TN) WILDCATS. Bethel defied all the odds and proved all the prognosticators wrong with a 45-44 victory over the Tigers in this undeniable Instant Classic.   ###   The SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY RAIDERS stormed into Davenport, IA to take on the ever-tough SAINT AMBROSE UNIVERSITY FIGHTING BEES and came away with an authoritative 45-28 upset win of their own.

BLOWOUTS – The ST XAVIER UNIVERSITY COUGARS (helmet at left), the defending champions of NAIA football,  breezed through their First Round matchup, mauling the WILLIAM PENN UNIVERSITY STATESMEN by a score of 31-0.   ###   The UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS PATRIOTS kicked around the MIDAMERICA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY PIONEERS to the tune of 42-24.   ###   … And the MISSOURI VALLEY COLLEGE VIKINGS plundered and pillaged the OTTAWA (KS) BRAVES  56-21.

CLOSE GAMES – The MORNINGSIDE MUSTANGS (helmet at left) had more of a fight on their hands than they anticipated from the MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS. Morningside emerged with a tight 40-35 victory that may serve as a wakeup call.   ###   The ST FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS held on to win a 22-17 Instant Classic against the BAKER WILDCATS.   ###   … And the MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS brought an end to the 2012 season for the NORTHWESTERN (IA) RED RAIDERS by a score of 42-32.   

*****   NCAA DIVISION 2 PLAYOFFS   *****

MARATHON GAME OF THE DAY – This First Round matchup in D2 went to THREE OVERTIMES before a victor emerged. The MISSOURI WESTERN GRIFFONS (helmet at left) withstood an invasion from the UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA AT DULUTH BULLDOGS, who won two D2 championships in recent years. The final score was Griffons  57, Bulldogs  55. Continue reading →

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