NJCAA DIVISION ONE
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – This year’s title tilt featured the 2023 champions – the IOWA WESTERN COLLEGE REIVERS – against the 2024 champions – the HUTCHINSON COLLEGE BLUE DRAGONS.
The Blue Dragons, who came into last night’s game undefeated, seized a 10-0 lead in the 1st Quarter but the one-loss (to Hutch) Iowa Western College went on top 14-10 by Halftime. That became a 21-10 advantage to end the 3rd Quarter and the 4th ended in a 28-10 Reivers victory. Continue reading
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CCCAA
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The defending champs – the COLLEGE OF SAN MATEO BULLDOGS – battled the GOLDEN WEST COLLEGE RUSTLERS. A 7-0 opening Quarter edge for the Bulldogs became a 21-7 lead at the Half. 28-7 was the score to close the 3rd Quarter and a missed PAT ended a valiant Rustlers rally in the 4th as San Mateo held on to win 28-27.
NAIA
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The KEISER UNIVERSITY SEAHAWKS took the field against the visiting COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES. The Seahawks watched their 9-0 1st Quarter lead morph into a 21-9 College of Idaho advantage by Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with Keiser pulling to within 21-16 of the Coyotes and an explosive 4th ended in a 36-27 victory for the Seahawks. Continue reading
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NAIA
FIRST QUARTERFINAL – The BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS traveled to face the FRIENDS UNIVERSITY FALCONS. A 10-0 1st Quarter lead for the Ravens became a 17-7 score going into Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with Benedictine College up 24-15 before they went on to eliminate the Falcons in the 4th 24-18.
SECOND QUARTERFINAL – The COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES were on the road against the undefeated MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS in this game. At the Half, the Coyotes were clinging to a mere 14-13 edge over Montana Tech. An enormous 3rd Quarter for the College of Idaho put them on top 34-13, then a 4th Quarter rally for the Orediggers fell far short in a 41-26 loss. Continue reading
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NAIA PLAYOFFS
ROUND ONE: GAME ONE – The SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY FIRE welcomed the REINHARDT UNIVERSITY EAGLES (should be Rottweilers). The Fire led 14-7 in the opening Quarter and 21-10 by Halftime. Neither team scored in the 3rd Quarter, but Reinhardt University mounted a fierce rally in the 4th. Southeastern University held on for a 24-22 victory.
ROUND ONE: GAME TWO – A more lopsided affair was to be had in Oskaloosa, IA as the WILLIAM PENN UNIVERSITY STATESMEN played host to the TEXAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY RAMS. The 1st Half ended with the Statesmen out in front 21-3. After the break, William Penn U. outscored the Rams 17-6 to win the game 38-9.
ROUND ONE: GAME THREE – The UNIVERSITY OF ST. FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS took the field against the visiting EVANGEL UNIVERSITY VALOR. A 7-0 opening Quarter advantage for the Valor became a mere 10-7 edge come Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with the Cougars within 12-10, then in the 4th they came from behind for a 13-12 triumph. Continue reading
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HEADLINES
DOWN GOES NUMBER THREE – In NCAA Division Three, the 25th ranked FRANKLIN & MARSHALL COLLEGE DIPLOMATS welcomed the number 3 team in the nation – the JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY BLUEJAYS. A 7-0 Bluejays lead in the 1st Quarter became a 21-14 advantage by Halftime. The Diplomats forced Overtime with a 21-21 tie, and in the extra session won out 29-28.
NUMBER FOUR TOPPLED – In NCAA Division Two, the VALDOSTA STATE BLAZERS traveled to face the country’s number 4 UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA ARGONAUTS. By the midpoint, the Argonauts were out in front 30-23. From there the Blazers tied the score 44-44 to end Regulation, then went on to win in Overtime 47-44.
NUMBER SIX TAKES A FALL – Over in the NAIA, the number 9 MORNINGSIDE UNIVERSITY MUSTANGS visited the 6th ranked DORDT UNIVERSITY DEFENDERS. The Mustangs were on top 13-7 in the opening Quarter and 20-14 at the Half. After the break the Defenders knotted things up at 28. In Overtime Morningside U. triumphed 34-28. Continue reading
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HEADLINES
NUMBER FIVE FALTERS – Down in NCAA Division Three, the UNIVERSITY OF MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR CRUSADERS played host to the country’s number 5 HARDIN-SIMMONS UNIVERSITY COWBOYS. At the Half the score was knotted up at 7-7 but the 3rd Quarter ended with the Cowboys up 10-7. In the 4th, the Crusaders came from behind for a 21-17 Upset.
UNLUCKY OVER LUCKY – Staying in D3 for a moment, the unlucky number 13 CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY CAPTAINS played the visiting lucky number 7 SALISBURY UNIVERSITY SEA GULLS. The Sea Gulls were up 30-28 at the midpoint of the game. From there, the Captains rallied to win out 45-42.
DOWN GOES NUMBER EIGHT – In the NAIA, the 15th ranked COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES visited the number 8 team in the nation – the CARROLL COLLEGE FIGHTING SAINTS. CC led 7-0 in the 1st Quarter but by Halftime the Coyotes held a 26-7 advantage. After the break, the College of Idaho outscored the Fighting Saints 10-6 for a 36-13 manhandling. Continue reading
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HEADLINES
NUMBER FIVE TOPPLED – In NCAA Division Two, the 8th ranked COLORADO STATE AT PUEBLO THUNDERWOLVES visited the number 5 team in the nation – the WESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY MOUNTAINEERS. By Halftime WCU was in front 21-7, but the Thunderwolves shut them out from there. It was 21-21 in the 3rd Quarter with CSU-Pueblo winning 24-21 in the 4th.
DOWN GOES NUMBER EIGHT – Down in NCAA Division Three, the number 9 UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT RIVER FALLS FALCONS played host to the 8th ranked UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT WHITEWATER WARHAWKS. UW-River Falls made a definite statement, leading the Warhawks 31-7 at the Half before embarrassing them by a final score of 52-14
CENTURY CLUB IN FOOTBALL? – My Century Club notes usually apply to college basketball teams that score 100 or more points in Regulation. In a very, very rare case in football, the NJCAA’s SNOW COLLEGE BADGERS welcomed the CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN COLLEGE SAINTS and utterly eviscerated them ONE HUNDRED ONE to SIX! Continue reading
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My Top 5 teams in each of the six divisions of college football covered here.
NAIA
### 1. GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS ### 2. BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS ### 3. KEISER UNIVERSITY SEAHAWKS ### 4. MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS ### 5. DORDT UNIVERSITY DEFENDERS ###
NCAA DIVISION TWO
### 1. HARDING UNIVERSITY BISON ### 2. FERRIS STATE BULLDOGS ### 3. UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA ARGONAUTS ### 4. PITTSBURG (KS) STATE GORILLAS ### 5. KUTZTOWN STATE GOLDEN BEARS ### Continue reading
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HEADLINES
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER SIX – In the NAIA, the CUMBERLAND UNIVERSITY PHOENIX welcomed the number 6 team in the nation – the CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY TIGERS. The Phoenix led 3-0 in the 1st Quarter but trailed 10-6 by Halftime. The 4th Quarter started with the Tigers up 27-12 and ended in a magnificent 35-33 comeback win for Cumberland U.
NUMBER EIGHT TAKES A FALL – Over in NCAA Division Two, the WAYNE STATE WILDCATS took the field against the visiting 8th ranked MINNESOTA STATE MAVERICKS. The Wildcats put their opponents on Upset Alert at the Half with their 19-7 advantage, then outscored them 16-13 after the break to win the game 35-20.
AND ANOTHER NUMBER EIGHT COMES TUMBLING AFTER – Down in NCAA Division Three, the 9th ranked UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT WHITEWATER WARHAWKS played host to the number 8 UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT PLATTEVILLE PIONEERS. The Warhawks led 14-3 at the midpoint, trailed 19-14 to end the 3rd Quarter, then won 29-19 in the 4th. Continue reading
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HEADLINES
NAIA BEATS NCAA DIVISION TWO – Once again an NAIA team – in this case the KENTUCKY CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS – has defeated a team from the higher Division Two of the NCAA – in this case the CENTRAL STATE MARAUDERS. The Knights parlayed their 7-0 1st Quarter lead into a 28-14 advantage at Halftime. From there, they consummated the Upset 35-27.
NUMBER FOUR TAKES A FALL – Staying in the NAIA for the moment, this game pitted the NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS against the visiting number 4 team in the nation – the MORNINGSIDE UNIVERSITY MUSTANGS. A 7-7 1st Quarter tie was unchanged at the Half. After the break, the Red Raiders toppled Morningside 14-13.
AND ANOTHER NUMBER FOUR FALLS – Down in NCAA Division Three, the 13th ranked UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT PLATTEVILLE PIONEERS welcomed the number 4 UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT LACROSSE EAGLES. A 21-14 Pioneers edge to end the 1st Half became a 28-14 lead in the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th, UW-Platteville put away the Eagles 38-21. Continue reading
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Balladeer's Blog 