As 2022 nears its end here’s one last round of congratulations to the college football champions from all the divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog.
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics)
National Champions – NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS
Runners-Up – Keiser University Seahawks
2021 Champions – Morningside College Mustangs
NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association)
My National Champions – OTTAWA UNIVERSITY (AZ) SPIRIT
Runners-Up – Olivet Nazarene University Tigers
2019 Champions – Concordia University (MI) Cardinals (No champs in 2021 or 2020) Continue reading
TOPPLING NUMBER SIX – In NCAA Division 2 the 16th ranked INDIANA UNIVERSITY IN PENNSYLVANIA CRIMSON HAWKS welcomed the number 6 team in the nation – the SHEPHERD UNIVERSITY RAMS. The Crimson Hawks led 7-0 in the 1st Quarter and 10-7 come Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with IUP on top 24-7, but they had to hold on in the 4th against a furious Rams rally for a 24-21 win. 
CLOSE CALL FOR NUMBER TWO – Down in NCAA Division 3 the number 2 UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT WHITEWATER WARHAWKS paid a visit to the BALDWIN WALLACE UNIVERSITY YELLOW JACKETS. This odd game saw the Warhawks out in front 17-0 at the Half. After a scoreless 3rd Quarter the Yellow Jackets rallied for 21 points in the 4th but fell short. UW-Whitewater won out 23-21.
LINCOLN TOPPLES NCAA DIVISION TWO – The unaffiliated LINCOLN (CA) UNIVERSITY OAKLANDERS took it on the road against NCAA Division 2’s BLUEFIELD STATE BIG BLUES. In a blow to the pride of the upper divisions, the Oaklanders emerged with a 20-17 Upset win in this Instant Classic. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER SEVEN – In NCAA D2 the 24th ranked UNIVERSITY OF WEST GEORGIA WOLVES traveled to face the number 7 team in the country – the DELTA STATE STATESMEN. The Statesmen led 14-7, 28-17 and 35-24 in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Quarters respectively. In the 4th, the Wolves exploded for 28 points and a 52-42 comeback victory. 
NUMBER TWO TAKES A FALL – Down in the NJCAA the number 8 COFFEYVILLE COLLEGE RED RAVENS welcomed the 2nd ranked IOWA WESTERN COLLEGE REIVERS yesterday. Believe it or not the Red Ravens held the Reivers to just 7 points and those came in the opening Quarter. Coffeyville led 16-7 at Halftime before winning the game 23-7. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER THREE – In the NAIA the number 6 team in the nation – the BETHEL (TN) WILDCATS – traveled to face the 3rd ranked LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS. A 7-7 tie at Halftime turned into a 21-13 Wildcats lead to end the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th Bethel U. held on for a 21-16 Upset of the Blue Raiders. 
NUMBER SEVEN TAKES A FALL – Down in NCAA Division Three the 19th ranked SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY RIVER HAWKS played host to the number 7 JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY BLUE JAYS. The River Hawks put the Blue Jays on Upset Alert at the midpoint with a 14-12 edge. Each team scored 12 points in the 2nd Half for a 26-24 Susquehanna victory. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER NINE – Up in NCAA Division 2 the storied HILLSDALE COLLEGE CHARGERS welcomed the number 9 ASHLAND UNIVERSITY EAGLES. After a 7-7 1st Quarter tie the Chargers led 14-10 at the Half and then 22-20 in the 3rd Quarter before winning out by a final score of 36-20. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER THREE – In NCAA Division 3 the UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT PLATTEVILLE PIONEERS welcomed the number 3 team in the land – the UW-WHITEWATER WARHAWKS. The Pioneers put the Warhawks on Upset Alert at Halftime with a 14-10 lead, then kept them at arm’s length the rest of the way for a 17-13 victory.
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER SEVEN – In the NAIA the UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA-WESTERN BULLDOGS faced the visiting number 7 COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES. A 20-14 Bulldogs edge at the Half became 34-28 to end the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th UM-Western won out 40-35.
SPIRIT OF EIGHTY-ONE – Staying in the NAIA for the moment, the (25) ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM visited the TEXAS COLLEGE STEERS. The Firestorm seized a quick 21-0 lead in the 1st Quarter and never looked back from there. In the end ACU had utterly eviscerated the Steers to the tune of EIGHTY-ONE to NINETEEN. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER ONE – In NCAA Division 2 yesterday, the 2nd ranked GRAND VALLEY STATE LAKERS visited the number 1 FERRIS STATE BULLDOGS. A 7-7 1st Quarter tie turned into a 14-10 Bulldogs edge come Halftime. Ferris State made it a 21-10 game to end the 3rd Quarter but in the 4th the Lakers came storming back for a 22-21 Upset. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER EIGHT – Staying in D2 for now, the HENDERSON STATE REDDIES traveled to face the 8th ranked HARDING UNIVERSITY BISON. The Reddies saw their 3-0 lead in the 1st Quarter become a 7-6 Bison lead by the midpoint. Harding U was on top 14-6 in the 3rd but Henderson State ultimately won the game 15-14.
NUMBER NINE TAKES A FALL – Over in the NAIA the 24th ranked AVILA UNIVERSITY EAGLES (formerly the Avalanche) played host to the number 9 team in the nation – the BETHEL (KS) THRESHERS. The Threshers were on top 7-0 in the opening Quarter and 14-7 at the Half. Avila University took a 21-14 lead in the 3rd Quarter before winning out 28-14 in the 4th. 
LANE COLLEGE CONQUERS DIVISION ONE – NCAA Division Two’s LANE COLLEGE DRAGONS visited NCAA Division One’s TENNESSEE STATE TIGERS. A 13-10 Dragons edge at Halftime turned into a 20-17 lead to end the 3rd Quarter. The Tigers forced Overtime with a 20-20 tie to end Regulation, then scored 7 points in the extra session. Lane College took a gamble by going for 2 after notching a TD of their own and SUCCEEDED for a gutsy 28-27 Upset. 
TOPPLING NUMBER SIX – Staying in D2 for a moment, the MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE CHOCTAWS took it on the road against the number 6 team in the nation – the UNIVERSITY OF WEST GEORGIA WOLVES. The Wolves held a 21-10 advantage at the Half and a 28-23 lead in the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th the Choctaws came from behind to win this Instant Classic 39-38. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER TWO – Down in NCAA Division Three the 20th ranked BETHEL (MN) ROYALS played host to the number 2 team in the nation – the SAINT JOHN’S UNIVERSITY JOHNNIES. A 7-7 1st Quarter tie turned into a 10-7 Johnnies edge at the break and 17-14 to end the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th the Royals came from behind for a 28-24 victory. 
NUMBER THREE TAKES A FALL – In NCAA Division Two the UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA BRONCHOS (their spelling) welcomed the 3rd ranked NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE BEARCATS. The Bronchos put the Bearcats on Upset Alert by Halftime with a 13-7 lead, then carried through from there, winning the game 23-14. 
AND NUMBER SIX COMES TUMBLING AFTER – This D2 game pitted the traveling DELTA STATE STATESMEN against the number 6 team in the nation – the UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA ARGONAUTS. In DOUBLE OVERTIME the Statesmen emerged with a 45-42 Upset win. 
UW-LACROSSE TOPPLES A D2 TEAM – NCAA Division 3’s (11) UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-LACROSSE EAGLES visited NCAA Division 2’s WAYNE STATE WARRIORS. The Warriors saw their 7-0 1st Quarter edge turn into a 21-14 Eagles advantage at the Half. A 21-21 tie ended the 3rd Quarter before UW-Lacrosse won out 28-21. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER SEVEN – Up in the NAIA, the ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY LAKERS welcomed the number 7 team in the nation – the CONCORDIA (MI) CARDINALS. At the midpoint the score was knotted up 14-14 but from there the Lakers outscored Concordia 14-6 for a 28-20 Upset victory. 
MINERS TOPPLE DIVISION ONE – In a similar vein, NCAA Division Two’s MISSOURI S&T MINERS traveled to face Division One’s DRAKE UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS. This much tighter game saw a scoreless 1st Quarter followed by a 7-0 Miners edge at the Half. The Bulldogs came back to tie things up 14-14 in the 4th Quarter. In Overtime, Missouri S&T won out 17-14. 
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