This Thursday August 22nd and Saturday the 24th the NAIA and NJCAA kick off their college football season. Here’s a look at my Preseason Top Twelve in each of those divisions.
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics)
1. NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS ### 2. KEISER UNIVERSITY SEAHAWKS (Defending Champions) ### 3. MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS ### 4. GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS (should be Zebras) ###
5. MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS ### 6. DORDT UNIVERSITY DEFENDERS ### 7. DICKINSON STATE UNIVERSITY BLUE HAWKS ### 8. SAINT XAVIER UNIVERSITY COUGARS ### Continue reading
AUGUST 22nd 
AUGUST 24th
THE NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPION-SHIP GAME BETWEEN THE NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS AND THE KEISER UNIVERSITY SEAHAWKS WILL BE PLAYED ON MONDAY THE 18th.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The battle for the D2 crown pitted the HARDING UNIVERSITY BISON against the COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES OREDIGGERS. The 1st Quarter ended in a 7-7 tie, but by Halftime the Bison were on top 21-7. Harding University shut out the Orediggers from there while continuing to score on the way to a 38-7 rout. * THE BISON ARE NCAA DIVISION TWO CHAMPIONS * 
FIRST QUARTERFINAL – The COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES were on the road at the GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS (should be Zebras). Grand View U. was on top 3-0 in the 1st Quarter and 9-0 come Halftime. The Coyotes cut their deficit to 17-14 in the 3rd Quarter on their way to a 31-17 comeback victory.
SECOND QUARTERFINAL – Up next the GEORGETOWN (KY) COLLEGE TIGERS hosted the INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS. Neither team scored in the opening Quarter but the Tigers took a 21-0 lead with them into the Half. The Wildcats outscored GC 21-10 after the break, but the Tigers won 31-21. 
ROUND ONE: GAME ONE – The DICKINSON STATE BLUE HAWKS took it on the road against the MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS. This tightest game of the day was knotted up at 21-21 come Halftime. In the 3rd Quarter the Blue Hawks went up 28-21 and in the 4th each team added another Touchdown as Dickinson State beat the Orediggers 35-28. 
ROUND ONE: GAME TWO – This game pitted the DORDT UNIVERSITY DEFENDERS against the visiting OTTAWA UNIVERSITY BRAVES. Though the 1st Quarter ended in a 7-7 tie, the Defenders shut out the Braves the rest of the way. All the while, Dordt University added 14 points before the break and 14 more in the 2nd Half for a 35-7 beatdown. 
NUMBER THREE TAKES A FALL – In NCAA Division Two the 24th ranked MISSOURI WESTERN STATE GRIFFONS played host to the number 3 team in the nation – the PITTSBURG (KS) STATE GORILLAS. This Instant Classic saw the Gorillas on top 17-10 at Halftime but the Griffons up 24-17 in the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th, Missouri Western State held on against a Pittsburg State rally to win the game 31-30. 
WE WENT TO A FOOTBALL GAME BUT A BASKETBALL GAME BROKE OUT – Down in NCAA Division Three, the MUSKINGUM UNIVERSITY MUSKIES played the visiting WILMINGTON COLLEGE QUAKERS. Points flew like shrapnel as a 28-28 Halftime tie became 42-42 in the 3rd Quarter. The 4th saw the Muskies eke out a 64-63 triumph. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER SEVEN – In NCAA Division Two, the WINGATE UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS welcomed the number 7 team in the nation – the LENOIR-RHYNE UNIVERSITY BEARS. Halftime saw the Bulldogs on top 17-14 but the 3rd Quarter ended in a 20-20 tie. In the explosive 4th Wingate U. won the game 34-30. 
NUMBER EIGHT GOES TUMBLING AFTER – This game pitted D2’s 24th ranked VALDOSTA STATE BLAZERS against the number 8 UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA ARGONAUTS. A 21-21 Halftime deadlock remained unchanged in the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th the Blazers pulled off a last minute 31-28 upset. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER ONE – In NCAA Division Two, the 4th ranked GRAND VALLEY STATE LAKERS welcomed the number 1 team in the nation – the FERRIS STATE BULLDOGS. The Lakers were on top 35-21 by Halftime, then the Bulldogs made it a 35-28 game to end the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th, Grand Valley State pulled away for a 49-28 trumph. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER FOUR – Down in NCAA Division Three, the number 7 UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT WHITEWATER WARHAWKS visited the country’s 4th ranked UW-RIVER FALLS FALCONS. A 6-0 1st Quarter lead for the Warhawks became 15-7 at the Half. After the break Whitewater held off the Falcons to win the game 21-14. 
AND NUMBER SIX COMES TUMBLING AFTER – Back up in the NAIA, the FRIENDS UNIVERSITY FALCONS took the field against the visiting number 6 SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE MOUNDBUILDERS. The Falcons had the Moundbuilders faithful worried with a 12-0 Halftime advantage. Friends University pulled further and further away in the 2nd Half for a 35-20 Upset. 
TOPPLING NUMBER THREE – In NCAA Division Three, the 14th ranked UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT LACROSSE EAGLES visited the number 3 team in the nation – the UW-WHITEWATER WARHAWKS. A 7-7 1st Quarter tie became a 17-14 Eagles advantage by Halftime. Lacrosse extended their lead to 27-17 in the 3rd Quarter, then held on in the 4th for a 37-34 victory. 
WE WENT TO A FOOTBALL GAME BUT A BASEBALL GAME BROKE OUT – NCAA Division Two’s ARKANSAS TECH WONDERBOYS traveled to face the SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE BULLDOGS. Unyielding defense was the name of the game as the Bulldogs went up 7-0 in the opening Quarter, a score that held up at Halftime and at the end of the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th, the Wonderboys came from behind for a 9-7 triumph. 
CONCORDIA CONQUERS DIVISION TWO – The NAIA’s CONCORDIA (MI) UNIVERSITY CARDINALS traveled to face the upper-level WAYNE STATE WARRIORS from NCAA Division Two. The Cardinals joined so many other NAIA teams who toppled D2 teams this year in a 24-23 Instant Classic.
HILLSDALE AT HOME – NCAA Division Two’s storied HILLSDALE COLLEGE CHARGERS played host to the NORTHWOOD UNIVERSITY TIMBER WOLVES. The Chargers proved their determination to right this disappointing season, leading the Timber Wolves 17-7 at Halftime before winning it in a 40-18 blowout. 
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