MISSISSIPPI BOWL – This was the National Championship game in the NJCAA. The top ranked EAST MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE LIONS did battle with the number 2 team in the nation – the ARIZONA WESTERN COLLEGE MATADORS. At Halftime the Lions were on top of the Matadors 14-7 and by the end of the 3rd Quarter the score stood at 28-21 in favor of the Lions. From there East Mississippi College held on for a 31-28 win and their 4th title in the last 7 years. * THE LIONS ARE NJCAA CHAMPIONS *
MIDWEST BOWL CLASSIC – The (7) INDEPENDENCE COLLEGE PIRATES squared off against the (4) NORTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA A&M GOLDEN NORSEMEN in this debut edition of the Midwest Bowl Classic. The Pirates grabbed a 7-0 lead in the 1st Quarter but the Golden Norsemen cut that to a 17-14 edge by the break. From there Independence College outscored their opponents 13-6, winning the game by a score of 30-20. Continue reading
FIRST SEMIFINAL – It took DOUBLE OVERTIME for a victor to be determined in this clash between the 2nd seeded REINHARDT UNIVERSITY EAGLES (should be the Rottweilers) and the 5 seeds – the SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY RAIDERS (should be the Sea Gulls). The Eagles parlayed a 14-7 1st Quarter lead into a 21-7 advantage by Halftime. From there the Raiders forced Overtime with a 24-24 tie. One extra session wasn’t enough (31-31) but after the 2nd, Reinhardt University advanced to the December 16th title game by a score of 37-34. 
SECOND SEMIFINAL – The top seeded Defending National Champions – the UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS – hosted the 3rd seeded MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS. The Cougars exploded for a 19-3 lead in the 1st Quarter, with the Mustangs cutting that to a 19-10 difference at the break. That became a mere 25-20 edge as the 3rd Quarter ended. An action-packed 4th Quarter finished with the University of Saint Francis triumphant, 43-36. It will be USF vs Reinhardt U on December 16th! 
FIRST QUARTERFINAL – The Regional 6 seeds – the UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA ARGONAUTS – are still stunning the nation in their young football program’s FIRST appearance in the D2 postseason. A 7-7 tie with the top seeded UNIVERSITY OF WEST ALABAAMA TIGERS in the 1st Quarter became a 14-7 Tigers edge at the Half. The 3rd Quarter saw the Argonauts go on top 21-14, while in the 4th the teams exchanged Touchdowns for a 28-21 Upset. In just their 2nd year, the University of West Florida is headed for the Semifinals! 
WHITELAW BOWL – The 2017 edition of the Scotty Whitelaw Bowl pitted the ITHACA COLLEGE BOMBERS against the SALISBURY UNIVERSITY SEA GULLS. The two teams were tied 7-7 after 1 Quarter of play but the Sea Gulls were on top 10-7 by Halftime. That had become a 17-7 advantage as the 4th Quarter started. From there the Bombers came alive for TWENTY unanswered points to win the game 27-17. 
LYNAH BOWL – The ALFRED UNIVERSITY SAXONS battled the STEVENSON UNIVERSITY MUSTANGS in the James Lynah Bowl. The Mustangs grabbed a quick 3-0 1st Quarter edge but by the break the Saxons held a 21-3 lead. In the 2nd Half Alfred University kept their opponents at arm’s length for a 29-16 victory. 
NEW YORK BOWL – The very first New York Bowl presented a team from the Empire 8 Conference – the CORTLAND STATE RED DRAGONS – against a team from the Liberty League – the UNION COLLEGE DUTCHMEN. The Red Dragons dominated early, leading the Dutchmen 14-7 in the 1st Quarter and 28-7 at the Half. Union College came roaring back, however, causing Cortland State to hold on for a 35-28 triumph. 
THE MISSISSIPPI BOWL 
The Number Two ARIZONA WESTERN COLLEGE MATADORS. 
SALT CITY BOWL 
The EASTERN ARIZONA COLLEGE GILA MONSTERS 
VALLEY OF THE SUN BOWL 
The MESA COLLEGE THUNDERBIRDS 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER TWO – The NAVARRO COLLEGE BULLDOGS took it on the road against the undefeated 2nd ranked team in the nation – the TYLER COLLEGE APACHES. Navarro trailed the Apaches 14-0 in the 1st Quarter and 26-13 at Halftime. After the break the Bulldogs made their move, shutting out Tyler College the rest of the way while notching 7 points in the 3rd Quarter and 17 in the 4th. Navarro College pulled off the mammoth upset by a final count of 37-26. 
AND ANOTHER UPSET IN THE TOP TEN – The storied ASA COLLEGE AVENGERS welcomed the number 10 LACKAWANNA COLLEGE FALCONS. After a scoreless 1st Quarter the Avengers and the Falcons were tied up at 7-7 by the Half. An action-packed 3rd Quarter saw ASA College go on top 19-14 and a Safety in the 4th cemented a 21-14 win for the Avengers. 
DRAGGING DOWN NUMBER ELEVEN – The 16th ranked GEORGIA MILITARY COLLEGE BULLDOGS played host to the number 11 team in the nation – the COLLEGE OF DUPAGE CHAPARRALS. The visiting Chaparrals held a 16-7 lead over the Bulldogs at Halftime but scored one lone Field Goal in the entire 2nd Half. Georgia Military College, meanwhile, added 9 points in the 3rd Quarter and 14 in the 4th for a 30-19 triumph. 
DOUBLING UP ON THE COMPETITION – The DAKOTA COLLEGE AT BOTTINEAU LUMBERJACKS found themselves on the road against the RIDGEWATER COLLEGE WARRIORS and routed them 34-17 ### And the (1) EAST MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE LIONS hammered the visiting ITAWAMBA COLLEGE INDIANS to the tune of 48-24.
SHOOTOUT IN ARIZONA – This game pitted the MESA COLLEGE THUNDERBIRDS against the home-standing GLENDALE COLLEGE GAUCHOS. Neither team scored in the 1st Quarter, yet by Halftime the Thunderbirds held a 45-38 lead! After the break the Gauchos outscored Mesa College 23-21 but the T-birds still went back home with a SIXTY-SIX to SIXTY-ONE victory. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER THREE – The 14th ranked BLINN COLLEGE BUCCANEERS welcomed the number 3 team in the nation – the TRINITY VALLEY COLLEGE CARDINALS – on Saturday. The Buccaneers and Cardinals were tied 14-14 in the 1st Quarter but Blinn College grabbed a 24-17 lead by Halftime. A 24-24 tie to end the 3rd Quarter ultimately became a 31-27 triumph for the Buccaneers, who are still unbeaten for 2017. 
AND NUMBER FOUR COMES TUMBLING AFTER – The BUTLER (KS) GRIZZLIES battled the 4th ranked IOWA WESTERN COLLEGE REIVERS. A 14-0 1st Quarter lead for the Grizzlies was cut to a mere 14-13 edge by the break. Butler College made it a 21-13 game in the 3rd Quarter, with the Reivers scoring a Touchdown in the 4th but missing the 2-point conversion attempt. The Grizzlies won it 21-19. 
HUTCH EDGES THE DEFENDING CHAMPS – The storied HUTCHINSON COLLEGE BLUE DRAGONS took it on the road against the Defending National Champions – the number 11 GARDEN CITY COLLEGE BRONCBUSTERS. The opening Quarter ended in a 7-7 tie with the Blue Dragons on top 14-7 at Halftime. Hutchinson College led the Broncbusters 28-21 to start the 4th Quarter and from there held on for a 31-28 road upset. 