Balladeer’s Blog takes a look at yesterday’s college football results in a few less-covered divisions.
NCAA DIVISION TWO
TAKING DOWN NUMBER TWELVE – The PITTSBURG (KS) STATE GORILLAS traveled to face the 12th ranked UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-KEARNEY LOPERS. A 7-0 Lopers lead in the 1st Quarter became a 21-14 advantage for them by Halftime. The Gorillas went on top 28-14 going into the 4th Quarter, then won the game by a final score of 35-28.
MARATHON MEN – In this game the UNIVERSITY OF CHARLESTON GOLDEN EAGLES visited the FAIRMONT STATE FALCONS. The Golden Eagles led the Falcons 21-7 at the Half but Fairmont State came back to knot things up 28-28 to end Regulation. The 1st Overtime ended in a 35-35 deadlock and the 2nd with the score 38-38. Neither team mustered points in the 3rd OT, and the University of Charleston won with a Safety, 40-38, in the FOURTH OVERTIME. Continue reading
SOUTHEASTERN U CONQUERS DIVISION TWO – Every year multiple NAIA teams upset higher division teams and yesterday saw the SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY FIRE bring down NCAA Division Two’s SAVANNAH STATE TIGERS. Neither team scored in the 1st Quarter, but the Fire went up 27-0 by Halftime. After a scoreless 3rd Quarter, Southeastern University consummated the Upset in the 4th with a 34-14 triumph.
DOWN GOES NUMBER FOUR – Down in NCAA Division Three, the number 5 team in the nation – the SAINT JOHN’S UNIVERSITY JOHNNIES – hosted the 4th ranked UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT WHITEWATER WARHAWKS. The Johnnies put the Warhawks on Upset Alert at the Half with their 9-3 lead, then carried through with a 24-10 victory.
CHARGERS ON THE ROAD – In NCAA Division Two, the storied HILLSDALE COLLEGE CHARGERS took it on the road against the LAKE ERIE COLLEGE STORM. The Chargers were chasing the Storm 14-0 in the opening Quarter and 21-14 at the break. The 3rd Quarter ended with Lake Erie College on top 28-21, but in the 4th Hillsdale College stormed from behind to win the game 35-31.
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.
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.
NCAA DIVISION THREE – 1. UNIVERSITY OF MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR CRUSADERS (Defending National Champions) ### 2. UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT UNION PURPLE RAIDERS ### 3. UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT WHITEWATER WARHAWKS ### 4. NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE CARDINALS ###
*** NCAA DIVISION TWO – 1. NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE BEARCATS ### 2. VALDOSTA STATE BLAZERS ### 3. FERRIS STATE BULLDOGS (Defending National Champions) ### 4. GRAND VALLEY STATE LAKERS ###
5. COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES OREDIGGERS ### 6. HARDING UNIVERSITY BISON ### 7. UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA ARGONAUTS ### 8. UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT KEARNEY LOPERS ###
*** 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 ###
*** 1. MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS (Defending National Champions) ### 2. NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS ### 3. GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS ### 4. MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS ###
5. SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE MOUNDBUILDERS ### 6. LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS ### 7. CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY (MI) CARDINALS ### 8. KEISER UNIVERSITY SEAHAWKS ### 
Over 10 million viewers watch the first night of the NFL draft every year. While those figures pale in comparison to the Super Bowl, you can bet industry insiders are all glued to their screens. Pundits endlessly pore over pick possibilities in the lead-up and will start speculating on how new arrivals will contribute to their franchise the second a draftee puts on his new team’s cap for the cameras.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The 5 seeds – the NEWPORT NEWS APPRENTICE SCHOOL BUILDERS (as in Shipbuilders) – faced the 4th seeded UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI-HAMILTON HARRIERS for the title in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association.