THE LIGHTNING ROUND--DEBUT EDITION

Welcome to our weekly predictions column, simply titled, "THE LIGHTNING ROUND"! Each week, RFC will give you the quickest predictions in cyberspace. So, what are we waiting for? Let's get started!

Projected winners are highlighted in GREEN

Key games are in BOLD type.

DIVISION I-AA

Hampton vs. Grambling State (MEAC/SWAC Challenge)

Colgate at Massachusetts

Jacksonville State at Furman

Albany at Lehigh

Marist at Central Connecticut State

Florida A&M vs. Delaware State (Detroit Labor Day Classic)

NCAA DIVISION II

Valdosta State (0-0) at Albany State (Ga.)--(0-1)

Nebraska-Kearney (0-0) at Nebraska-Omaha (0-1)

Saginaw Valley State (0-0) at Ashland (0-0)

Bentley (0-0) at East Stroudsburg (0-0)

Shepherd (1-0) at Shippensburg (0-0)

Wayne State (0-0) at Michigan Tech (0-0)

NCAA DIVISION III

Salisbury (0-0) at Washington & Jefferson (0-0)

Central College (Iowa)--(0-0) at St. Thomas (Minn.)--(0-0)

Huntindgon (Ala.)--(0-0) at Ithaca (N.Y.)--(0-0)

East Texas Baptist (0-0) at Trinity (Tex.)--(0-0)

Wisconsin-Stevens Point (0-0) at Hardin-Simmons (0-0)

Monmouth (Ill.)--(0-0) at Wartburg (0-0)

NAIA

Montana State-Northern (0-0) at Dickinson State (0-0)

Texas College (0-1) at Bethel (Tenn.)--(0-1)

Carroll (Mont.)--(0-0) at Black Hills State (0-0)

Lambuth (0-0) at St. Xavier (0-0)

INTERDIVISIONAL GAMES

Charleston Southern (I-AA)--(0-0) at Presbyterian (D-II)--(1-0)

Thiel (D-III) vs. Geneva (NAIA)

St. Olaf (Minn.)--(D-III) at Valley City State (NAIA)

WEEKEND PREVIEW--WEEK OF 09/01/2006--PART 1

Welcome to "Weekend Preview", a weekly look at some of the top games in small college football. So, without further ado, let's get started.

Tarleton State (Tex.)--(D-II) at Texas State (I-AA)

Press release courtesy of Texas State University

http://star.txstate.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1779

Huntingdon (Ala.) at Ithaca (N.Y.)--(D-III)

Article courtesy of Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060830/SPORTS/608300374/1002

HAMILTON NAMES NEW GENERAL MANAGER

Here is RFC's first report out of Canada, as the Canadian Football League's Hamilton Tiger-Cats make a change in the front office.

http://www.hamiltonscores.com/football/cfl/news/?article=082920355

LEATHERNECKS SHOOTING FOR NINTH STRAIGHT OPENING WIN

Press release courtesy of Western Illinois University:

http://www.wiuathletics.com/release.sphp?id=2788

ARKANSAS TECH RELEASES DEPTH CHART

http://www.couriernews.com/story.php?ID=12433

FOOTBALL COMES TO BREVARD COLLEGE

A former high school football coach who has won multiple North Carolina state titles tackles the challenge of building a college program from scratch.

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060827/SPORTS07/60821041/1108&theme=FOOTBALLGUIDE

QUIET DYNASTY

The New York Times takes a rare look into the world of small college football, as Montana's Carroll College begins its quest to win an unprecdented fifth-straight NAIA national championship.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/27/sports/ncaafootball/27carroll.html?n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fPeople%2fT%2fThamel%2c%20Pete

2006 ARENA CUP PREVIEW

It's the state of Wisconsin against the Inland Northwest, as the Green Bay Blizzard battles the expansion Spokane Shock for the marbles in arena football 2 later tonight (08/26/2006) in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Our Sports Central has the story just below:

http://oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3368482

CASTELLANO NAMED ALL-AMERICAN

http://newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2006/0823/Sports/082.html

SOUTH DAKOTA RANKED 12TH IN D-II POLL

The University of South Dakota Coyotes hope to make a serious run at NCAA Division II playoff berth after narrowly missing postseason play the last two years. What does this year hold for USD? Read on to find out.

http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2006/08/22/sports/local/news04.txt

POWER TAKES PRESEASON HONOR

http://www.csp.edu/Athletics/Articles/08-21-06_-_Power_Gra.html

SCHEDULE CHANGES AT SAINT XAVIER

St. Xavier University (Ill.) will be seeing some changes with its football schedule in 2006. The perennial NAIA powerhouse will play just one non-conference game before jumping into Mid-States Football Association play one week later. Read on to find out how things will unfold for the Cougars by clicking on the link below:

http://www.starnewspapers.com/star/spsports/smix/203sx1.htm

BRIDGEWATER STATE DEFENDER NAMED PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN

The small college football season is just around the corner, and pre-season All-America, all-conference, and all-everything teams are being revealed nationwide. Check out this article invoving NCAA Division III Bridgewater State (Mass.) defensive tackle Mike Sirignano.

http://www2.townonline.com/hanover/schoolSports/view.bg?articleid=556211

ITHACA PRESEASON FAVORITE IN EMPIRE 8

The first "real" post ever at Real Football Central. And here it is!

http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060809/SPORTS/608090325/1006