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It might be late, but better late than never. As 2006 draws to a close, here's the final tally for the Lightning for this past season.CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES--4-1 (.800)Only miss was the NAIA title game. (Sioux Falls defeated St. Francis (Ind.) 23-19 on Dec. 19)FINAL NUMBERS FOR THE 2006 SEASON341-154 (.689)HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM REAL FOOTBALL CENTRAL!!!!!
Their latest NCAA Division III football national championship trophy may be fresh in the trophy case, but Mount Union already has its sights on doing the "hat trick".Article courtesy of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Well, here it is, the final edition of "MNR" for 2006. So, what are we waiting for? Let's go!FCS RECAPAppalachian State repeats as national champions with a 28-17 win over Massachusetts.Article courtesy of College Sporting NewsGRAND REPEAT FOR GRAND VALLEYGrand Valley repeats as NCAA Division II national champions after downing Northwest Missouri State 17-14 at Florence, Ala. Saturday.Article courtesy of mlive.comMOUNT UNION MAULS WISCONSIN-WHITEWATERThe trophies just keep on coming for the Mount Union College Purple Raiders, as they won their ninth NCAA Division III title in the last 14 years with a 35-16 win over Wisconsin-Whitewater in Stagg Bowl XXXIV at Salem, Va. last Saturday.Article courtesy of Cleveland.comSIOUX FALLS WINS NAIA TITLEThe University of Sioux Falls (S.D.) Cougars won their first NAIA national championship since 1996, as they defeated the University of St. Francis (Ind.) Cougars 23-19.Article courtesy of Victory Sports NetworkALABAMA A&M WINS SWAC CROWNThe fourth time proves to be the charm for the Bulldogs, as they down the Golden Lions to win their first-ever SWAC title.Article courtesy of al.com
Last Week--5-1 (.833)Year-To-Date--337-153 (.688)Well, it has come down to this! Weeks and weeks of drills during the preseason, followed by more weekends of fall football frenzy have culminated into a championship weekend! So, as always, let's not waste any time. Let's go!NCAA DIVISION I FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SUBDIVISION--FINALSat Chattanooga, Tenn.Massachusetts (13-1) vs. Appalachian State (13-1)NCAA DIVISION II--CHAMPIONSHIPat Florence, Ala.Grand Valley State (13-0) vs. Northwest Missouri State (13-0)NCAA DIVISION III--CHAMPIONSHIPat Salem, Va.Wisconsin-Whitewater (13-0) vs. Mount Union (13-0)NAIAat Savannah, Tenn.Sioux Falls (13-0) vs. St. Francis (Ind.)--(13-0)SWAC CHAMPIONSHIPat Birmingham, Ala.Alabama A&M (8-3) vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (8-3)MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM REAL FOOTBALL CENTRAL!!!!
It all comes down to one game Friday night, as Appalachian State tries to defend its national title against Massachusetts in a nationally-televised game on ESPN.Click here for the preview!
Keith Baxter hopes to restore the lost luster of a once proud program at the NCAA Division II level, as he became the new head coach Texas A&M-Kingsville Thursday.Article courtesy of kristv.com
NCAA DIVISION I FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP--SEMIFINALSUMASS KNOCKS OFF MONTANA 19-17...PUNCHES TICKET TO CHATTANOOGA!!!The Minutemen from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst reach the championship game of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), formerly NCAA Division I-AA, for the first time since 1998, by pulling out a surprising win in hostile territory over the Grizzlies Friday night, before a national television audience on ESPN2.Expanded CoverageArticle courtesy of Boston.comUniversity of Massachusetts Press ReleaseUniversity of Montana RecapArticle courtesy of Helena (Mont.) Independent-RecordAssociated Press Recap
Last Week--15-2 (.882)Year-To-Date--332-151 (.687)A light slate of games this weekend, as it's all NCAA, all the time!KEY: Projected winners highlighted in REDMost important games highlighted in BOLD type.Classic games highlighted in italics.NCAA DIVISION I FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SUBDIVISION--SEMIFINALS Massachusetts (12-1) at Montana (12-1)(It's the Grizzlies hosting the Minutemen in the mountain air that is Big Sky Country!)Youngstown State (11-2) at Appalachian State (12-1)NCAA DIVISION II PLAYOFFS--SEMIFINALSDelta State (12-2) at Grand Valley State (13-0)Bloomsburg (12-1) at Northwest Missouri State (13-0)(It's the Huskies versus the Bearcats on ESPNU!)NCAA DIVISION III PLAYOFFS--SEMIFINALSSt. John Fisher (12-1) at Mount Union (13-0)(It's the Rochester Redbirds taking on the Purple Raiders in this potential classic!)Wesley (13-0) at Wisconsin-Whitewater (13-0)(The Warhawks and Wolverines square off in the semis for the second straight year!)
This week's Monday Night Roundup will not run due to "technical difficulties". Sorry for the inconvenience.
MORE ON MOUNT UNIONEven at the NCAA Division III level, it's not easy staying on top. Read on to find out how and why Mount Union manages to stay among the nation's elite small college football programs year in and year out.Article courtesy of Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal
THE PLAYOFFS IN REVIEW--PART TWOThis installment recaps the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III playoffs, as well as the semifinals of the NAIA playoffs.NCAA DIVISION III PLAYOFFS--QUARTERFINALSMount Union 17, Capital 14The eight-time national champion Purple Raiders moved one step closer to adding yet another title to their trophy case, but not before holding off a challenge from a Crusaders in a close finish.Article courtesy of Akron (Ohio) Beacon JournalBonus coverage courtesy of Cleveland.comSt. John Fisher 31, Rowan 0The Cardinals advance to the national semifinals for the first time ever by pounding the Profs!Article courtesy of Rochester Democrat and ChronicleWesley 34, Mary Hardin-Baylor 20The Wolverines from Dover, Del. advance to the semis after holding off a late rally from their Texas foes.Article courtesy of Delaware OnlineWisconsin-Whitewater 17, St. John's (Minn.) 14The Warhawks ward off a challenge from the Johnnies for a big quarterfinal win.Article courtesy of Janesville (Wis.) GazetteBonus coverageMilwaukee Journal-SentinelWisconsin State Journal (Madison, Wis.)NAIA PLAYOFFS--SEMIFINALSSioux Falls 25, Missouri Valley 18The Cougars from South Dakota punched their ticket to Savannah, Tenn. after holding off the Vikings in a thriller!Article courtesy of Sioux Falls (S.D.) Argus LeaderSt. Francis (Ind.) 49, St. Xavier 20The Cougars from Fort Wayne, Ind. got the other spot in the NAIA title game by stomping a pack of Cougars from Chicago.Article courtesy of Fort Wayne.com
THE PLAYOFFS IN REVIEWHere's a quick recap of Saturday's playoff action.NCAA DIVISION I QUARTERFINALS ACTION RECAPArticle courtesy of College Sporting News.NCAA DIVISION II PLAYOFFS--QUARTERFINALSDelta State 27, North Alabama 10Statesmen pull off yet another upset on the road, end Lions perfect season!Article courtesy of the Jackson (Miss.) Clarion LedgerGrand Valley State 30, North Dakota 20Next stop for the Statesmen is Michigan, as the Lakers stop the Fighting Sioux!Article courtesy of milive.com.Bloomsburg 24, Shepherd 21The Huskies win 12th straight game, knock off Rams!Article courtesy of Sunbury (Pa.) Daily Item
Last Week--24-6 (.800)Year-To-Date--317-149 (.680)December is just around the corner, and as the number of games played get smaller, the stakes only get bigger. So, what are waiting for! Let's get started!KEY: Projected winners highlighted in REDMost important games highlighted in BOLD type.Classic games highlighted in italics.NCAA DIVISION I FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP--SECOND ROUNDMontana State (8-4) at Appalachian State (11-1)Illinois State (9-3) at Youngstown State (10-2)("Real Biggie" re-match of Gateway Conference squads!)New Hampshire (9-3) at Massachusetts (11-1)Southern Illinois (9-3) at Montana (11-1)NCAA DIVISION II PLAYOFFS--QUARTERFINALSNorth Dakota (11-1) at Grand Valley State (12-0)(Both teams have combined to win four of the last five national championships! [UND in 2001; GVSU in 2002, 2003, & 2005])Delta State (11-2) at North Alabama (11-0)(Another regular season re-match of conference foes!)Bloomsburg (11-1) at Shepherd (11-0)(The top two seeds in the Northeast Region finally square off in West Virginia this weekend!)Chadron State (12-0) at Northwest Missouri State (12-0)(Unbeaten teams battle for bragging rights in the Southwest Region this Saturday!)NCAA DIVISION III PLAYOFFS--QUARTERFINALSCapital (11-1) at Mount Union (12-0)(Yet another re-match of a conference regular season game!)Rowan (9-2) at St. John Fisher (11-1)Mary Hardin-Baylor (10-2) at Wesley (12-0)St. John's (Minn.)--(11-1) at Wisconsin-Whitewater (12-0)(It's the "Land of 10,000 Lakes" [MIAC] against the "Cheese League" [WIAC] in this huge showdown!)NAIA PLAYOFFS--SEMIFINALSSt. Xavier (10-2) at St. Francis (Ind.)--(12-0)Missouri Valley (13-0) at Sioux Falls (12-0)(A battle of unbeatens in the Upper Midwest ensues!)OTHER GAMESAlcorn State (5-5) at Grambling State (3-7)Bemidji State (9-2) vs. Pittsburg State (9-2)**--Mineral Water Bowl at Excelsior Springs, Mo.Johnson C. Smith (7-3) vs. Tuskegee (8-3)%%--Pioneer Bowl at Charlotte, N.C.
