*** NAIA ***
The NAIA Championship Game will be played on 
December 16th, pitting the Defending Champs – the UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS against the REINHARDT UNIVERSITY EAGLES (Should be the Rottweilers).
*** CCCAA ***
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The Defending Champion FULLERTON COLLEGE HORNETS clashed with the COLLEGE OF SAN MATEO BULLDOGS for the CCCAA title. The Hornets led 7-2 in the 1st Quarter but the Bulldogs cut that to a 7-5 edge by Halftime. A 9-5 3rd Quarter Fullerton College advantage in this defensive epic became a 12-9 lead for the College of San Mateo in the 4th. The Hornets mustered that one final Touchdown to come back for a 16-12 victory. * THE HORNETS ARE CHAMPIONS OF THE CCCAA *
*** DIVISION TWO ***
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The 6th seeded UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA ARGONAUTS – in their very first post-season appearance for their two year old football program – have made history AGAIN! The Argonauts traveled to face the overall 1 seeds – the INDIANA UNIVERSITY IN PENNSYLVANIA CRIMSON HAWKS. West Florida actually shut out the Crimson Hawks in the 1st Half, leading them 17-0 at the break. From there IUP rallied but fell short as the Argonauts won the game 27-17. Continue reading
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. 
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! 
LIVING BREATH FOUNDATION BOWL – This annual Bowl game is played for charity and is one of the highlights of the CCCAA post-season. The game features a team from the Pacific 7 Conference – this year the LOS MEDANOS COLLEGE MUSTANGS – and a team from the Golden Coast Conference – this year the MERCED COLLEGE BLUE DEVILS. 
FIRST QUARTERFINAL – The SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY RAIDERS traveled to the Blue Grass State to play the LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS for the right to advance to the Semifinals. The Raiders led 14-0 in the 1st Quarter and 21-10 by Halftime but then had to withstand a furious comeback attempt by the Blue Raiders. Ultimately Southern Oregon University prevailed by a tight 34-29. 
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. 
Thanksgiving Week continues! I’m sure we all remember how the Pilgrims of the 1600s fled England to escape persecution for their horribly malformed faces (see left). 
VICTORY BOWL – Each year the season-ending event in the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) is the Victory Bowl. This year’s edition pitted the CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY TIGERS against the SOUTHWESTERN ASSEMBLIES OF GOD UNIVERSITY LIONS. The Lions led this catfight 7-6 in the 1st Quarter and 21-19 at Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with the Tigers on top 32-21 before they went on to win it 41-28. 
UPSET IN BALDWIN CITY – The 11th seeded GEORGETOWN (KY) COLLEGE TIGERS visited the 6 seeds – the BAKER UNIVERSITY WILDCATS – in this First Round clash. A 14-13 1st Quarter lead for the Tigers became a 26-20 Wildcats edge by the Half. The 4th Quarter started with Georgetown College back on top 34-33, and a Safety gave them a 36-33 victory. 
TEN OVER SEVEN – Yes, it seems that no matter what the sport, 10 seed over 7 seed upsets are virtually a postseason tradition. In this particular game the 10th seeded NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS faced the 7 seeds – the LANGSTON UNIVERSITY LIONS. The Red Raiders proceeded to shock, then obliterate their hosts to the tune of FIFTY-FIVE to SEVEN! 
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 
Per the Glitternight index Balladeer’s Blog has named the WILLIAMSON COLLEGE OF THE TRADES MECHANICS football’s National Champions of the USCAA (United States Collegiate Athletic Association). 
Balladeer's Blog 