Tag Archives: NJCAA football

COLLEGE FOOTBALL ACTION SEPTEMBER 1ST

Balladeer’s Blog welcomes you to my continued coverage of this second week of college football action for the 2012 season. It’s Labor Day Weekend and the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) is holding its gridiron double feature today: the Big River Bowl. 

One game will feature the (3) Marian University Knights taking on the (11) Bethel (TN) Wildcats and the other will pit the Kansas Wesleyan College Coyotes against the (22) Cumberland University Bulldogs. Historic Dyersburg, TN is the site for this very special event.

Meanwhile, the race to reach the most wins in NAIA college football history continues between Coach Hank Biesiot of the Dickinson State Blue Hawks and Coach Kevin Donley of the St Francis (IN) Cougars. Both men are tied at 255 wins with Donley’s victory over the Texas College Steers last weekend.

And speaking of teams called Cougars, the Saint Xavier University Cougars begin their defense of their NAIA football championship today. After a bye last weekend Coach Mike Feminis’ boys take on the Olivet Nazarene University Tigers. All this plus college football games in NCAA Divisions 2 and 3, in the NJCAA and in the CCCAA! Keep checking Continue reading

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NOTEWORTHY COLLEGE FOOTBALL RESULTS FROM AUGUST 25TH, 2012

UVA-WISE PLAYS GIANT-KILLER – The NAIA’s UVA-WISE HIGHLAND CAVALIERS pulled off the upset of opening week yesterday! The unranked Highland Cavs took it on the road against the 11th- ranked BETHEL (TN) WILDCATS and, fighting with characteristic highland intensity, came out on top in the end! UVA-Wise brought the Wildcats crashing down in overtime by a score of 24-21 in this undisputed Instant Classic.

OTHER TOP 25 UPSETS – The number 11 spot was a dangerous place to be yesterday, as both teams tied for 11th in the rankings took a fall. In the 3rd edition of the Rivalry Renewed series between the OTTAWA (KS) BRAVES and the BAKER UNIVERSITY WILDCATS the number 11 Braves were upset at home by the 18th-ranked Wildcats in a bruising 27-20 epic. This puts Baker up 2 games to 1 since this series resumed in 2010.

MARATHON IN MICHIGAN – In the lengthiest game of Week One the SIENA HEIGHTS UNIVERSITY SAINTS (helmet at left) outlasted the visiting ROBERT MORRIS (IL) EAGLES. 

It took double-overtime to accomplish it, but the Saints started the 2012 football season in the win column by a final score of 26-19. The Continue reading

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL ACTION: AUGUST 25TH, 2012

  Welcome to the first Saturday of the 2012 college football season! We got to warm up with a few games during the week and now today will see a huge slate of games in two of the divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog.

The NAIA’s Point University Skyhawks (logo above) are among the relative newcomers to intercollegiate football taking the field today. Teams like the Concordia (MI) Cardinals, Robert Morris (IL) Eagles and the Siena Heights Saints are still in the early years of their football programs, too.  The Bluefield College Ramblin’ Rams are playing their first intercollegiate game in decades today.

The Texas College Steers, Ottawa (KS) Braves and the William Penn University Statesmen are also among the dozens of NAIA football teams seeing action today.

Meanwhile in the NJCAA some teams are starting the season with conference games. The Hutchinson Blue Dragons are hosting the Coffeyville Red Ravens, the Dodge City Conquistadors battle the Butler (KS) Grizzlies and the Garden City Broncbusters travel to take on the Independence Pirates.

Also among the dozens of NJCAA teams kicking off the 2012 season today are “all-nickname” programs like the Vermillion College Ironmen, the Eastern Arizona College Gila Monsters, the Iowa Western Reivers, the College of DuPage Chaparrals and the Scottsdale Fighting Artichokes! (really)

As always, Balladeer’s Blog will be offering a Continue reading

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON 2012 KICKS OFF THIS WEEK

 THIS WEEK THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON KICKS OFF IN THE DIVISIONS COVERED BY BALLADEER’S BLOG!

Teams like the Hutchinson Blue Dragons (helmet at left), the Jamestown College Jimmies, the William Penn University Statesmen and the Eastern Arizona College Gila Monsters will all begin their season on various days throughout the coming week!

Not only that but the CC Fighting Saints, ranked Number 1 in Balladeer’s Blog’s NAIA College Football Rankings, will kickoff this Friday the 24th at the 23rd- ranked MSU-Northern Lights. The Pima Aztecs travel to face the Phoenix College Bears on Thursday night and the Continue reading

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ARIZONA WESTERN COLLEGE MATADORS TOP BALLADEER’S BLOG’S NJCAA COLLEGE FOOTBALL POLL

 Welcome to Balladeer’s Blog’s FIRST EVER preseason college football poll! The NAIA, NCCAA, D2, D3 and CCCAA will also get preseason polls from yours truly in the coming weeks.

As much as I hate to see summer come to an end I’m with the rest of you in waiting impatiently for August 22nd, when the 2012 college football season kicks off in the divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog.

The Arizona Western College Matadors (logo at left) top this NJCAA poll. The Matadors may have fallen to the East Mississippi Lions in last year’s NJCAA Championship Game in the El Toro Bowl, but have enough talent to convince me they could be playing for the title once again.

1. Arizona Western College Matadors   ###   2. Iowa Western Reivers   ###   3. East Mississippi Lions (defending champs)   ###   4. Blinn College Buccaneers   ###   5. Butler (KS) Grizzlies   ###   6. Hutchinson Blue Dragons (won the last 3 Salt City Bowls)   ###   7. Continue reading

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF AND BOWL RESULTS DECEMBER 3RD

 NAIA SEMIFINALS – The ST XAVIER  UNIVERSITY COUGARS came into Indianapolis determined to make up for their lone regular season loss. That loss came at the hands of the MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS who, by virtue of their win in that game became the number 1 team in the polls and the top seed in the playoffs. SXU sank to the 5 seed but after today’s sweet revenge advance to the championship game in Rome, GA on December 17th. SXU came out on top 30-27 in this post-season Instant Classic.

Meanwhile, in the other NAIA semifinal the defending champions, the CC FIGHTING SAINTS, proved as potent as ever, embarrassing the visiting GEORGETOWN (KY) TIGERS by a score of 35-3. The score was 14-3 at halftime but apparently the Fighting Saints were just toying with Georgetown like a cat playing with a mouse. The Hellions from Helena have won 6 of the past 9 NAIA football titles and the SXU Cougars will have a difficult time dethroning them. But who knows? St Xavier put itself on the national football map for good in 2006 by upsetting CC in Helena, so maybe they have a decent shot in a neutral stadium in Rome, GA.

NJCAA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

   EL TORO BOWL – The EAST MISSISSIPPI  LIONS won their 1st national championship in any sport yesterday in a 55-47 shootout win over the ARIZONA WESTERN COLLEGE MATADORS. The Continue reading

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF AND BOWL RESULTS FROM NOVEMBER 19TH

 It’s Thanksgiving week and college football is as much associated with that holiday as pumpkin pie and leftovers. Yesterday the divisions of college football covered by Balladeer’s Blog played a variety of playoff games and Bowl games. Since my blog serves as a light introduction to these other divisions of college football let me emphasize that last statement for newbies: these divisions settle their seasons on the field.

Fans who forever moan and groan about the lack of a playoff in college football’s semi- professional division are seeing the light one person at a time and beginning to appreciate the post- season in the NAIA and the other divisions I cover. And now a look at yesterday’s results.

Campbellsville UniversityVICTORY BOWL – Yesterday saw the final event in the football season for the National Christian College Athletic Association. Because the two teams tied at the top of the NCCAA standings, Azusa Pacific and North Greenville, both made the playoffs in their respective divisions the Victory Bowl pitted the GREENVILLE COLLEGE PANTHERS against the CAMPBELLSVILLE TIGERS. Campbellsville notched an authoritative 21-7 win to close out their 2011 campaign.

NAIA PLAYOFFS

Marian U Knights helmetWHERE HAVE ALL THE VIKINGS GONE? – Heading into the NAIA’s opening playoff round there were no less than 3 teams called VIKINGS in the mix. All of them were eliminated in one afternoon. The Top Seeded MARIAN KNIGHTS and the 2nd seeded CC FIGHTING SAINTS shut out their Viking opponents with the Knights routing GRAND VIEW 31-0 and the Fighting Saints crushing VALLEY CITY STATE by a score of 47-0. The 10th seeded ST FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS completed the Hat Trick of Viking elimination by doubling up on the 7 seeds of MISSOURI VALLEY COLLEGE 28-14.   

Saint Francis Fighting SaintsANOTHER SATURDAY, ANOTHER 4TH QUARTER RALLY – Yesterday marked the 3rd game in a row that the ST FRANCIS (IL) FIGHTING SAINTS, seeded at number 11, mounted a 4th quarter comeback to snag a win. This time they did it on the road against the Continue reading

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCOREBOARDS FOR NOVEMBER 19TH

 Today brings us the opening round of the NAIA college football playoffs, and they’re joined, of course, by some of the other divisions of college football covered by Balladeer’s Blog. There are also several Bowl games scheduled for today as well. See my preview earlier in the week for your favorite team’s matchup.

The National Christian College Athletic Association’s Victory Bowl will also be played today with the Greenville College Panthers taking on the Campbellsville Tigers. See below for the video link.

Naturally I’ll have my usual pithy recaps of the day’s gridiron action tomorrow morning. For today, spread the word to fans of NCAA Division 1 football that they can see the kind of intercollegiate football playoff action they can’t get from D1. And now, links to updating scoreboards for the divisions of college football covered here at Balladeer’s Blog:

NAIA – http://www.victorysportsnetwork.com/sport/0/14.php

D3 – http://d3football.com/scoreboard/composite

D2 –  http://www.d2football.com/scores/

NJCAA – http://www.njcaa.org/sports_schedules.cfm?category=Schedules%2FScores&sid=11&divid=0&slid=5

SCFA – http://www.scfafootball.com/statistics/scoreboard.html

NCFA – http://www.cccaasports.org/football/men/ 

AND FOR STREAMING VIDEO OF THE NCCAA’S VICTORY BOWL CLICK HERE – http://www.campbellsville.edu/wlcutv

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NJCAA FOOTBALL’S 2011 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME SET: MATADORS VS LIONS – PLUS THE OTHER NJCAA BOWL MATCHUPS

 Three dreams came true for the Arizona Western College Matadors this year: an 11-0 season, the return of the El Toro Bowl AND they will be hosting that game, which, by the way, will be for the NJCAA  National Championship. The number 1 Matadors will face the 2nd ranked East Mississippi Lions on December 3rd in Yuma. Game time is scheduled for 2:30 pm Pacific Time.

The two teams last faced each other in post- season play just two years ago. The Lions defeated the Matadors in the 2009  Mississippi Bowl 27-24.

GRAPHIC EDGE BOWL – This Sunday, November 20th, the first NJCAA Bowl Game of the post- season will feature the Iowa Western Reivers and the Rochester (MN) Tech Yellowjackets. Kickoff is scheduled for 3pm MT. The Reivers come into the game at 8-2, the Yellowjackets a perfect 10-0.

OTHER NJCAA BOWL MATCHUPS

SALT CITY BOWL – Dec 3rd 1PM CT – The Hutchinson Blue Dragons will be taking on the Continue reading

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NOTEWORTHY COLLEGE FOOTBALL RESULTS FROM NOVEMBER 12TH

 Well, considering the ongoing revelations from the cesspool few knew Joe Paterno and company were allegedly sitting on at Penn State for several years, the reasons I prefer to cover NAIA sports and the lower divisions of the NCAA were on full display for all to see this week. The NAIA’s  regular season ended yesterday and later today the entire 16 team playoff field will be announced, with the teams awarded At- Large berths joining the Automatic Qualifiers. Three hours after the NAIA reveals their playoff teams the NCAA Division 3 field of 32 teams will be announced. I’ll present my look at the playoff picture as well as examine the NJCAA Bowl breakdown and title game matchup in other posts.

THESE THREE TEAMS RULE THE WORLD – As usual, Saturday saw various NAIA teams kick around NCAA Division 2 teams. The 10th ranked ST FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS crushed the visiting CENTRAL STATE MARAUDERS 59-20, the BACONE WARRIORS defeated D2’s PANHANDLE STATE AGGIES in a 30- 20 home stand, and the CONCORDIA (AL) HORNETS notched a road win against the STILLMAN TIGERS by a score of 12- 7. Each week this season saw at least 1 NAIA team defeat an NCAA D2 team, so when you throw in all the D3 teams that fell to NAIA squads this year you could say they owned the NCAA both on the field and ethically.

NUMBER ONE TAKES A FALL – D2’s number 1 team, the DELTA STATE STATESMEN, were shocked on the road, falling to their Gulf South Conference rivals the WEST GEORGIA WOLVES in a 39- 35 game for the ages.

NEXT STOP – THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The NJCAA’s top ranked ARIZONA WESTERN COLLEGE MATADORS cemented their berth in the national championship game with their 45-13 rout of the MESA THUNDERBIRDS. The number 2 EAST MISSISSIPPI LIONS ensured they would be the Matadors’ opponents in early December by trashing the 5th ranked MGC BULLDOGS 42- 17.

TAKIN’ CARE OF BUSINESS – None of the NAIA’s Top 5 teams lost yesterday, with the top ranked MARIAN KNIGHTS having  a bye to close out the regular season and with the number 2 CC FIGHTING SAINTS, who are also the defending champions of NAIA football, defeating the MSU- NORTHERN LIGHTS 42- 24, the third ranked GEORGETOWN (KY) TIGERS routing the home standing BELHAVEN BLAZERS 33-7, the number 4 MNU PIONEERS recording a road shutout 37-0 over the EVANGEL CRUSADERS and the 5th ranked (and previous number 1 before falling to Marian) ST XAVIER (IL) COUGARS annihilating the visiting JAMESTOWN  COLLEGE JIMMIES 50- 14.  

TOP 25 UPSETS – NAIA – The 8th ranked WILLIAM PENN STATESMEN were Continue reading

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