Yesterday continued the 2022 college football season which kicked off on Thursday.
NAIA
FMU UPSETS DIVISION TWO – Every year multiple NAIA teams topple teams from higher divisions. Yesterday the FLORIDA MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY LIONS started 2022 by knocking off NCAA Division Two’s EDWARD WATERS UNIVERSITY TIGERS. The Lions led 26-0 at the Half, then held on against a furious Tigers rally for a 39-34 triumph.
SAFETY FIRST – This game pitted the TABOR COLLEGE BLUE JAYS against their hosts the IOWA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY TIGERS (should be the Purple Tigers). The first points scored in this clash came on a 1st Quarter Safety, giving the Blue Jays a 2-0 edge which remained unchanged come Halftime. From there the Tigers led Tabor College 10-8 in the 3rd Quarter only to see the Blue Jays win out 17-13 in the 4th.
UNDER THE RADAR CLASSIC – The BLUEFIELD COLLEGE RAMBLING RAMS paid a visit to the THOMAS MORE UNIVERSITY SAINTS. A 21-7 1st Quarter lead for the Saints became a 21-21 tie at the break. The Rambling Rams led 35-21 going into the 4th Quarter, then held on to win the game 42-35. Continue reading
WORKING OVERTIME – The UNIVERSITY OF JAMESTOWN JIMMIES welcomed the VALLEY CITY STATE VIKINGS. The Jimmies led 7-0 in the 1st Quarter and 14-0 at Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with the University of Jamestown on top 21-7, but the Vikings forced Overtime with a 21-21 tie to end Regulation. In the extra session, VCSU notched a Field Goal, following which the Jimmies scored a Touchdown to win the game 27-24.
VALOR AND PRIDE – In this game the EVANGEL UNIVERSITY VALOR took the field against the visiting CLARKE UNIVERSITY PRIDE. A 17-13 edge for the Valor at Halftime became a 24-20 advantage over the Pride headed into the 4th Quarter. Evangel University added another Touchdown for a 31-20 victory.
*** 1. IOWA WESTERN COLLEGE REIVERS ### 2. NEW MEXICO MILITARY INSTITUTE BRONCOS (should be the Cavalry), the defending National Champions ### 3. HUTCHINSON COLLEGE BLUE DRAGONS ### 4. SNOW COLLEGE BADGERS ###
5. GARDEN CITY COLLEGE BRONCBUSTERS ### 6. NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE RANGERS ### 7. IOWA CENTRAL COLLEGE TRITONS ### 8. JONES COLLEGE BOBCATS ###
NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – Yesterday the MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS clashed with the GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS (should be the Zebras) for the NAIA title. In the 1st Half the teams went blow for blow and score for score, resulting in a 21-21 deadlock at Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended in a 28-28 tie but in the 4th the Mustangs pulled away for a 38-28 victory and their 3rd title in 4 years.
NCAA DIVISION TWO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – This title tilt pitted the FERRIS STATE BULLDOGS against the storied VALDOSTA STATE BLAZERS. It looked like a shootout was in store as the 1st Quarter ended in a 20-17 edge for the Bulldogs. In reality, however, Ferris State shut out the Blazers the rest of the way, leading 41-17 at the Half on their way to a resounding FIFTY-EIGHT to SEVENTEEN blowout win.
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The VALDOSTA STATE BLAZERS took on the COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES OREDIGGERS in this game. A 10-3 1st Quarter lead for the Blazers turned into a 24-14 advantage by Halftime. Valdosta State made it a 34-14 game to end the 3rd Quarter, then withstood an Orediggers rally in the 4th for a 34-31 victory.
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS were on the road against the defending National Champions of NAIA football – the LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS. A 14-7 Vikings lead in the 1st Quarter became a 21-20 Blue Raiders edge by Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with Lindsey Wilson College on top 28-26 but the 4th saw Grand View U win the game 34-28.
FIRST QUARTERFINAL – The COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES OREDIGGERS took on the visiting ANGELO STATE RAMS. This was a tale of two Halves, with the Orediggers holding a comfortable 20-3 advantage at the midpoint only to have to hold on tight in the 2nd Half against a Rams rally. Colorado School of Mines won a 34-28 thriller. 
The COLLEGE OF DUPAGE CHAPARRALS and the NASSAU COLLEGE LIONS are the two teams competing in the 2021 National Championship Game in NJCAA Division Three football. This is the first year that NJCAA football has been separated into different divisions.
FOUR OVER TWO – In NCAA Division Two the 4th ranked defending national champions, the UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA ARGONAUTS, welcomed the number 2 team in the nation – the VALDOSTA STATE BLAZERS. By Halftime the Argonauts held a 24-21 edge over the Blazers. The 3rd Quarter ended with the University of West Florida on top 45-35 before putting it away in the 4th, 61-42.
DOWN GOES NUMBER FIVE – Over in the NAIA the number 13 SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE MOUNDBUILDERS took it on the road to battle the 5th ranked KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY COYOTES. The Coyotes led 7-0 in the opening Quarter but the Moundbuilders were up 13-7 at the break. Southwestern College had a 28-21 advantage in the 3rd Quarter and ultimately won the game 42-24.
SERVICE ACADEMY MANIA – This game pitted the UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE ACADEMY MARINERS against their archrivals the COAST GUARD ACADEMY BEARS. The Mariners seized a quick 21-0 lead in the 1st Quarter and never looked back from there. In the end they embarrassed the Bears by a score of 49-14 in their own house.
NUMBER FIVE TAKES A FALL – Staying in the NAIA for a moment, the CENTRAL METHODIST UNIVERSITY EAGLES welcomed America’s 5th ranked BAKER UNIVERSITY WILDCATS. The Eagles put the Wildcats on Upset Alert at the break with a 7-6 edge, then led 14-12 in the 3rd Quarter and won out in the end 21-19.
DOWN GOES NUMBER SIX – Over in NCAA Division Two the SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA STATE SAVAGE STORM visited the country’s number 6 team – the OUACHITA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY TIGERS. The Savage Storm parlayed a 7-0 opening Quarter lead into a 28-7 advantage at the Half. After the break SOSU held off the Tigers to win the game 35-21.
EIGHTY-FOUR – Down in NCAA Division Three the LAKE FOREST COLLEGE FORESTERS played host to the BELOIT COLLEGE BUCCANEERS yesterday. By the midpoint of the game the Foresters held an amazing 56-3 lead. They never looked back from there, ultimately triumphing by a final score of EIGHTY-FOUR to THREE.
NCAA DIVISION THREE – 1. UNIVERSITY OF MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR CRUSADERS ### 2. NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE CARDINALS (defending champions) ### 3. UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT WHITEWATER WARHAWKS ### 4. SAINT JOHN’S UNIVERSITY JOHNNIES ###
5. UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT UNION PURPLE RAIDERS ### 6. LINFIELD COLLEGE WILDCATS ### 7. CORTLAND STATE RED DRAGONS ### 8. WHEATON (IL) COLLEGE THUNDER ###