Tag Archives: football

November 16, 2012 · 1:02 am

2012 CCCAA COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS AND BOWL MATCHUPS

Balladeer’s Blog concludes its preview of postseason college football in the divisions covered here. The CCCAA Championship Game will be held December 8th, and here are the playoff games and Bowls we’ll be treated to along the way. The subdivisions of the CCCAA are the SCFA and NCFA with the winners of those subdivisions facing each other in the title game.

NATIONAL BOWL – November 17th – The MOUNT SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE MOUNTIES (helmet at left) are the defending champions of the SCFA but lost to CCSF in the CCCAA title game last year. The Mounties took the National Central Conference crown and in the National Bowl will take on the SADDLEBACK COLLEGE GAUCHOS, the champions of the National Southern Conference. This game is the first semifinal in the SCFA.

BEACH BOWL – November 17th – This Bowl serves as the second semifinal game in the SCFA for 2012. The BAKERSFIELD COLLEGE RENEGADES come in as the Wildcard Team and square off against the VENTURA COLLEGE PIRATES (helmet at left), champions of the National Northern Conference. Like the National Bowl this game will kick off at Continue reading →

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November 15, 2012 · 12:58 am

2012 NJCAA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME AND BOWL MATCHUPS

Balladeer’s Blog presents its look at the NJCAA’s postseason matchups for 2012. The top-ranked IOWA WESTERN REIVERS (logo at left) and the number 2 BUTLER (KS) GRIZZLIES square off for the championship in the Graphic Edge Bowl on December 2nd. The Reivers football program has only been around for 4 years and they are already appearing in the title game! The Grizzlies, on the other hand, are a traditional NJCAA football power and were in the championship game as recently as 2010, when they lost to the Navarro College Bulldogs. It’s the up-and- comers against the veterans for the NJCAA title! And now for the other Bowl matchups: 

CARRIER DOME BOWL – The 3rd ranked ASA COLLEGE AVENGERS (helmet at left) are also fairly new to the gridiron and are making their very first Bowl appearance in this inaugural event in Syracuse, NY. The opponents for the Avengers in this game will be the storied number 4 SNOW COLLEGE BADGERS, providing NJCAA fans with another “spunk vs experience” Bowl showdown. Look for this game on December 1st.

SALT CITY BOWL – The HUTCHINSON COLLEGE BLUE DRAGONS (helmet at left) are 3-time Salt City Bowl champions and come into this year’s matchup trying to make it 4 in a row. Their opponent this time around will be the IOWA CENTRAL TRITONS on December 1st. The Blue Dragons are making their 17th Bowl appearance overall, while the Tritons are appearing in Continue reading →

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November 14, 2012 · 12:20 am

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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November 13, 2012 · 12:11 am

DIVISION 2 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF TEAMS FOR 2012

For newbies to Division 2’s playoff format Balladeer’s Blog offers this brief layout: 24 teams make the playoff field. That field is divided into 4 regions with the top 2 seeds in each region getting a bye in the 1st Round, though in recent years the teams with a bye have done dreadfully in the 2nd round. Round 1 will take place this Saturday, November 17th. The defending D2 champs, the Pittsburg (KS) State Gorillas, did not make the playoffs. I’ll have the D3, NJCAA and CCCAA posteason matchups next.

The CSU-PUEBLO THUNDERWOLVES (helmet at left) are the overall number 1 seed and are in Region 4. The ASHLAND EAGLES are the region’s number 2 seed. Region 4’s First Round Games: (3) CHADRON STATE UNIVERSITY EAGLES vs the (6) WEST TEXAS A&M BUFFALOES   ###   … And the (4) INDIANAPOLIS GREYHOUNDS vs the (5) MIDWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY MUSTANGS.

The MINNESOTA STATE MAVERICKS (helmet at left) are Region 3’s 1 seed with the HENDERSON STATE UNIVERSITY REDDIES as the 2 seed. Region 3’s First Round Games: (3) MISSOURI WESTERN GRIFFONS vs the (6) UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA AT DULUTH BULLDOGS   ###   … And the (4) NORTHWEST MISSOURI BEARCATS vs the (5) HARDING UNIVERSITY BISON. Continue reading →

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November 12, 2012 · 4:13 pm

2012 NAIA COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF TEAMS

The regular season for 2012 is history and the 16 team NAIA playoff field has been announced. Here are the matchups for the first round, beginning this Saturday, November 17th. Balladeer’s Blog will also be examining the postseason matchups in NCAA Divisions 2 and 3 plus the NJCAA and CCCAA.

(1) GEORGETOWN (KY) TIGERS host the (16) BETHEL (TN) WILDCATS 4:30pm ET

(2) MISSOURI VALLEY COLLEGE VIKINGS host the (15) OTTAWA (KS) BRAVES Time TBD

(3) MORNINGSIDE MUSTANGS host the (14) MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS 3pm ET

(4) ST XAVIER UNIVERSITY COUGARS (defending champs) host the (13) WILLIAM PENN UNIVERSITY STATESMEN 2pm ET

(5) MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS host the Continue reading →

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November 11, 2012 · 2:35 pm

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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November 6, 2012 · 9:22 pm

BALLADEER’S BLOG’S COLLEGE FOOTBALL RANKINGS AND 2012 VICTORY BOWL MATCHUP

The Victory Bowl is the signature football event each year for the National Christian College Athletic Association. The 2012 matchup for that gridiron gala has been set. On November 17th the GREENVILLE COLLEGE PANTHERS, last year’s Victory Bowl runners- up, will host the NORTHWESTERN (MN) COLLEGE EAGLES. Kickoff will be at 12 Noon ET. And now, Balladeer’s Blog’s football rankings for November 6th, 2012.

NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) – 1. GEORGETOWN (KY) TIGERS (helmet at left)    ###    2. SAINT XAVIER UNIVERSITY COUGARS (defending champions)    ###    3. MISSOURI VALLEY COLLEGE VIKINGS    ###    4. MORNINGSIDE MUSTANGS    ###    5. MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS    ###    6. UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS PATRIOTS Continue reading →

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November 4, 2012 · 2:57 pm

NOTEWORTHY COLLEGE FOOTBALL RESULTS FROM NOVEMBER 3RD, 2012

NUMBER ONE TAKES A FALL – The NAIA’s 5th ranked defending champions, the SAINT XAVIER UNIVERSITY COUGARS (helmet at left), hosted the number 1 MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS, the only team to defeat them in last year’s regular season. Mike Feminis’ Cougars already avenged that loss by defeating Marian in the 2011 playoffs, but all that background tension and drama added to the anticipation of yesterday’s matchup between these two gridiron titans. SXU continued their magnificent defense of their crown with an authoritative 23-6 victory over the Knights, setting up a new number 1 in the next poll.

LIONS MAUL GORILLAS – The LINDENWOOD LIONS piled on the reeling PITTSBURG (KS) STATE GORILLAS, the defending champs of NCAA Division 2 football. The Gorillas were not only the defending champs but were also ranked number 1 in the polls before suffering a series of losses that knocked them down and down and down in the rankings. Lindenwood added to their troubles yesterday by handing PSU a 44-33 loss in their own house.

PLAYOFFS? YOU’RE TALKING PLAYOFFS? ARE YOU SERIOUS? – The NJCAA started its postseason with playoff games yesterday and today. Balladeer’s Blog will devote an entire section further down in this article about all the postseason results from Saturday and this afternoon. The HUTCHINSON COLLEGE BLUE DRAGONS (helmet at left) are hosting the COFFEYVILLE RED RAVENS in one of the Region 6 games today, with the GARDEN CITY COLLEGE BRONCBUSTERS traveling to face the storied BUTLER (KS) GRIZZLIES in the other Region 6 game of the afternoon.

TOP 25 UPSETS – NAIA – The number 11 SAINT AMBROSE UNIVERSITY FIGHTING BEES took it on the road and toppled the 10th ranked WILLIAM PENN UNIVERSITY STATESMEN in a 20-17 Instant Classic. This continued the late season pain for Statesmen fans who have come to dread the inevitable November stumble from their team.   ###   The ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE BATTLIN’ BEARS added to what is already a nightmarish season for the 16th ranked CC FIGHTING SAINTS, the most storied dynasty in NAIA football. RMC handed the Fighting Saints their FOURTH loss of the season (more games than CC usually loses in 2 or 3 years combined) with a nailbiting 31-28 homestand.   ###   The VALLEY CITY STATE VIKINGS edged the number 22 ROBERT MORRIS (IL) EAGLES in a 21-20 epic.   ###   … And the 23rd ranked KANSAS WESLEYAN COYOTES fell at Continue reading →

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November 3, 2012 · 5:41 pm

COOL FOOTBALL HELMET: GARDEN CITY COLLEGE

GARDEN CITY BRONCBUSTERS

Location: Garden City, KS

Division: NJCAA

Conference Affiliation: Jayhawk Conference

Comment: They’re the Broncbusters, not the Bronc -O- Busters, so that’s not a typo. In honor of the NJCAA postseason getting underway today and tomorrow here’s a Continue reading →

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October 30, 2012 · 8:59 pm

BALLADEER’S BLOG’S COLLEGE FOOTBALL RANKINGS: OCTOBER 30TH, 2012

NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) – 1. GEORGETOWN (KY) TIGERS    ###    2. MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS    ###    3. MISSOURI VALLEY COLLEGE VIKINGS    ###    4. SAINT XAVIER UNIVERSITY COUGARS (defending champions)    ###    5. MORNINGSIDE MUSTANGS    ###    6. MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS (helmet at left) 

NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) – 1. NORTHWESTERN COLLEGE EAGLES    ###    2. GREENVILLE COLLEGE PANTHERS (2011 Victory Bowl runners- up – helmet at left)    ###    3. KENTUCKY CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS    ###    4. MCMURRY WARHAWKS    ###    5. CHOWAN HAWKS    ###    6. SOUTHWEST ASSEMBLIES OF GOD UNIVERSITY LIONS

NCAA DIVISION 2 – 1. COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY AT PUEBLO THUNDER WOLVES    ###    2. NORTHWEST MISSOURI BEARCATS    ###    3. MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY MAVERICKS (helmet at left)    ###    4. Continue reading →

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