Here’s one last round of congratulations to this year’s college football champions in the SEVEN divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog.
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics)
National Champions – MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS
Runners-Up – Marian University Knights
2018 Champions – Morningside College Mustangs
NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association)
My National Champions – CONCORDIA (MI) CARDINALS
Runners-Up – Ottawa University (AZ) Spirit
2018 Champions – Olivet Nazarene University Tigers
USCAA (United States Collegiate Athletic Association)
My National Champions – NEWPORT NEWS APPRENTICE SCHOOL BUILDERS
Runners-Up – Williamson College of the Trades Mechanics
2018 Champions – Newport News Apprentice School Builders Continue reading
The postseason has begun in the divisions of college football 
covered here at Balladeer’s Blog. The two teams participating in the NCCAA’s Victory Bowl are the defending champions – the OLIVET NAZARENE UNIVERSITY TIGERS – and the GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY PANTHERS. 
NAIA OVER NCAA D2 – Another NAIA team played giant-slayer against a higher division team yesterday. The NAIA’s ALLEN UNIVERSITY YELLOW JACKETS traveled to face the NCAA Division Two team the ELIZABETH CITY STATE VIKINGS. It took Overtime to do it, but in the end the Yellow Jackets prevailed by a final score of 32-29. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER THREE – Down in NCAA Division Three, the UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT OSHKOSH TITANS welcomed the number 3 team in the nation – the UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT WHITEWATER WARHAWKS. By Halftime the Titans held a 14-13 edge but the Warhawks went up 20-14 in the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th UW-Oshkosh roared back for a 27-20 victory. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER NINE – Staying in D3, the 17th ranked UNIVERSITY OF SAINT THOMAS TOMMIES took the field against the visiting number 9 BETHEL (MN) ROYALS. A 7-0 1st Quarter lead for the Tommies became a 14-7 lead at the Half. The 2nd Half was nearly all defense with the University of Saint Thomas adding a Field Goal in the 4th Quarter to win out 17-7. 
TAKING DOWN NUMBER SIX – In NCAA Division Two the GLENVILLE STATE PIONEERS traveled to play the number 6 team in the nation – the NOTRE DAME COLLEGE FALCONS (School Motto: “No, not THAT Notre Dame”). The Pioneers needed Overtime to do it, but they brought down the Falcons 23-20 in the extra session. 
NUMBER NINE NOOGIED – Over in the NAIA the CENTRAL METHODIST UNIVERSITY EAGLES welcomed the country’s 9th ranked EVANGEL UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS. The Eagles proceeded to make the Crusaders their prison brides, thrashing them by a final score of 42-7.
WAS THE OVER-UNDER ONE HUNDRED-FORTY POINTS? – Defense was apparently optional in yesterday’s D3 game between the FDU-FLORHAM DEVILS and the visiting ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY GOLDEN WOLVES. The Devils won this mega-shootout by a tally of EIGHTY-FOUR to FIFTY-SIX!
WE WENT TO A FOOTBALL GAME BUT A BASEBALL GAME BROKE OUT – At the other end of the scoring spectrum, the ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM found themselves on the road against the LYON COLLEGE SCOTS. This defensive epic ended in a 9-7 win for the Firestorm. 
NUMBER FOUR TAKES A FALL – In NCAA Division Three the CONCORDIA (Moorhead) COBBERS visited the number 4 team in the nation – the SAINT JOHN’S UNIVERSITY JOHNNIES. The Cobbers were on top 10-6 by Halftime but the Johnnies tied things up at 12-12 to force Overtime. In the extra session Concordia won the game 19-18 off a missed PAT by Saint John’s U. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER SEVEN – Up in NCAA Division Two the LINDENWOOD UNIVERSITY LIONS welcomed the country’s 7th ranked UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS GREYHOUNDS. After a scoreless 1st Quarter the Lions put the Greyhounds on Upset Alert with a 14-10 lead at the Half. From there Lindenwood University fulfilled the Upset by a final score of 34-27. 
AND NUMBER EIGHT CAME TUMBLING AFTER – Back in D3 the number 25 UNION (NY) DUTCHMEN took it on the road against the number 8 ITHACA COLLEGE BOMBERS. A 10-7 1st Quarter edge for the Dutchmen became 17-14 by the break. After a scoreless 3rd Quarter Union went on to a 31-21 win over the Bombers. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER SIX – In the NAIA the 18th ranked SIENA HEIGHTS UNIVERSITY SAINTS took it on the road against the number 6 team in the nation – the UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS. The Saints stunned the Cougars and the prognosticators by toppling USF by a final score of 24-14. 
MARATHON GAME OF THE DAY – This distinction goes to the clash between the NICHOLS COLLEGE BISON and their hosts the UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND NOR’EASTERS. The 4th Quarter ended in a 38-38 tie. One Overtime wasn’t enough. Two weren’t enough. Three weren’t enough. In the FOURTH OVERTIME the Bison emerged with a 51-48 triumph. 
USCAA SPOTLIGHT GAME – USCAA stands for United States Collegiate Athletic Association. The WILLIAMSON COLLEGE OF THE TRADES MECHANICS took the field against the visiting NEW JERSEY WARRIORS yesterday. The Mechanics led 7-3 at the Half before going on to win the game 14-3. 
THAT WAS NUMBER FIIIIVE – In the NAIA the 16th ranked EVANGEL UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS welcomed the number 5 team in the nation – the BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS. After a slow start the Crusaders made their move, overtaking the Ravens and Upsetting them by a final tally of 35-21. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER SIX – Over in NCAA Division Two the UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT KEARNEY LOPERS took the field against the visiting 6th ranked NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE BEARCATS. A 14-0 1st Quarter lead for the Lopers was unchanged at Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with UNK on top 21-14 and the 4th with a 24-17 triumph for the Lopers. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER SEVEN – Meanwhile, down in NCAA Division Three the BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN COLLEGE PANTHERS played host to the country’s number 7 team – the BERRY UNIVERSITY VIKINGS. The Panthers put the Vikings on Upset Alert with a 21-6 lead at the Half, then coasted to a 28-15 victory. 
NCCAA 1. OTTAWA UNIVERSITY (AZ) SPIRIT ### 2. CONCORDIA (MI) CARDINALS ### 3. GREENVILLE COLLEGE PANTHERS ### 4. GENEVA COLLEGE GOLDEN TORNADOES ### 
DIVISION TWO OVER DIVISION ONE – The NCAA Division Two’s MISSOURI S&T MINERS traveled to face Division One’s TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY TIGERS. The Miners were on top 10-7 in the 1st Quarter but by Halftime the Tigers tied things up at 17-17. The 3rd Quarter ended with Missouri S&T ahead 23-17 before they held on to win the game 23-20. 
NUMBER FOUR FALLS – Over in the NAIA the 8th ranked UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS welcomed the number 4 team in the nation – the CONCORDIA (MI) CARDINALS. With the score knotted at 27-27 late in the 4th Quarter, the Cardinals attempted a game-winning Field Goal only to see it blocked by the Cougars and returned for a Touchdown. USF won this “Miracle at Mirror Lake” 34-27. 
NINETY – Two teams hung 90 points on their opponents AND shut them out yesterday: The NAIA’s KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY COYOTES absolutely eviscerated their guests the UNIVERSITY OF SAINT MARY SPIRES 90-0 ### And in NCAA Division Three the JOHN CARROLL UNIVERSITY BLUE STREAKS won 90-0 at the CAPITAL CRUSADERS. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER TWO – In the NAIA the 7th ranked GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS visited the number 2 team in the nation – the BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS. The 1st Half was a defensive epic with the Ravens leading 6-3 at the break. From there Grand View shut out Benedictine College while adding 14 points in the 3rd Quarter and 10 in the 4th for a 27-6 Upset. 
AND NUMBER THREE COMES TUMBLING AFTER – Elsewhere in the NAIA the number 6 MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS welcomed the country’s 3rd ranked UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS. The Knights grabbed a 7-0 1st Quarter lead which turned into a 21-10 advantage by Halftime. After the break Marian University scored the only points of the 2nd Half with a 4th Quarter Touchdown. The final score was Knights 28 Cougars 10. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER ONE – Meanwhile, down in the NJCAA, the 20th ranked HIGHLAND COLLEGE SCOTTIES played host to the number 1 team in the land – the storied HUTCHINSON COLLEGE BLUE DRAGONS. The Scotties handed the Blue Dragons their first loss of 2019, emerging on top in a 29-27 game for the ages. 