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Here are the final numbers for "The Lightning Round" one final time in 2007!CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES--3-2 (.600)Correct guesses were the FCS, D-II, and NAIA title games. Missed guesses were the D-III and SWAC championship games.FINAL RECORD--427-184 (.699)HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM REAL FOOTBALL CENTRAL!!!
MERRY CHRISTMASANDHAPPY NEW YEARFROMREAL FOOTBALL CENTRAL !!!!!!
As promised, here's the final installment of our championship recaps!!!!SWAC CHAMPIONSHIP--at Birmingham, Ala.Jackson State 42, Grambling State 31JSU wins its 16th SWAC title over Grambling.Jackson State University Sports Information NAIA CHAMPIONSHIP--at Hardin County, Tenn.Carroll (Mont.) 17, Sioux Falls 9The Saints win a defensive struggle over the Cougars for their fifth title in six years.Victory Sports Network
The games are done, and the champions have been crowned! Find out how each title was won for each of this year winners!!!NCAA DIVISION I FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SUBDIVISION (FCS)--at Chattanooga, Tenn.Appalachian State 49, Delaware 21The Mountaineers made history last Friday, as they roll past the Blue Hens for their third straight national championship!Appalachian State University Sports InformationNCAA DIVISION II CHAMPIONSHIP--at Florence, Ala.Valdosta State 25, Northwest Missouri State 20A touchdown plunge in the closing seconds lifts the Blazers to their second title in four years!Associated PressValdosta (Ga.) Daily TimesValdosta State University Sports InformationWALB-TV Albany, Ga. WCTV Tallahassee, Fla. NCAA DIVISION III CHAMPIONSHIP (Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl)--at Salem, Va.Wisconsin-Whitewater 31, Mount Union 21The third time is the charm for the Warhawks, as they dethrone the Purple Raiders!Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: Never saw it coming Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: Whitewater never loses focus University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Sports InformationStay connected for recaps on the NAIA and SWAC championship games!
Last Week: 5-1 (.833)Year-To-Date: 424-182 (.700)KEY: Projected winners highlighted in REDNCAA DIVISION I FCS CHAMPIONSHIP--at Chattanooga, Tenn. (Friday)Delaware (11-3) vs. Appalachian State (12-2)NCAA DIVISION II CHAMPIONSHIP--at Florence, Ala. (Saturday)Valdosta State (12-1) vs. Northwest Missouri State (12-1)NCAA DIVISION III CHAMPIONSHIP (STAGG BOWL)--at Salem, Va. (Saturday)Wisconsin-Whitewater (13-1) vs. Mount Union (14-0)NAIA CHAMPIONSHIP--at Savannah, Tenn. (Saturday)Sioux Falls (13-0) vs. Carroll (Mont.)--(14-0)SWAC CHAMPIONSHIP--at Birmingham, Ala. (Saturday)Grambling State (8-3) vs. Jackson State (7-4)
As hard as it is to believe, championship week is here! Here's how the teams got to that moment in the NCAA playoffs!FCS SEMIFINALSAppalachian State 55, Richmond 35 (Dec. 7, 2007)The Mountaineers put on a record-setting performance en route to their third straight title game!Appalachian State University Sports InformationDelaware 20, Southern Illinois (Dec. 8, 2007)The Blue Hens rally from a 10-point deficit to stun the Salukis!University of Delaware Sports InformationNCAA DIVISION II SEMIFINALSValdosta State 28, California (Pa.) 24The Blazers also make a late comeback to upset the previously undefeated Vulcans!Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionValdosta (Ga.) Daily TimesNorthwest Missouri State 34, Grand Valley State 16The third time is not the charm for the Lakers, as the Bearcats end their dream of a fifth national championship in six years!St. Joseph (Mo.) News-PressDetroit Free PressAssociated PressNCAA DIVISION III SEMIFINALSMount Union 62, Bethel (Minn.) 14The Purple Raiders advance to the Stagg Bowl with an easy rout over the Royals!Mount Union College Sports InformationMORE: Alliance (Ohio) Review Canton (Ohio) RepositoryOhio.com (Akron Beacon-Journal)Youngstown (Ohio) VindicatorAssociated PressWisconsin-Whitewater 16, Mary Hardin-Baylor 7The Warhawks struggle, but still manage to outlast the Crusaders!University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Sports Information
CORRECTION: It was Eastern Washington, not Eastern Illinois, who played Appalachian State last Saturday. Sorry for the mistake. Appalachian State, of course, defeated Eastern Washington 38-35. Now, on to this week predictions!Last Week: 14-4 (.778)Year-To-Date: 419-181 (.698)KEY: Projected winners highlighted in REDFCS PLAYOFFS SEMIFINALSFriday, December 7Richmond (11-2) at Appalachian State (11-2)Saturday, December 8Delaware (10-3) at Southern Illinois (12-1)NCAA DIVISION II PLAYOFFS SEMIFINALSValdosta State (11-1) at California (Pa.)--(12-0)Grand Valley State (12-0) at Northwest Missouri State (11-1)NCAA DIVISION III PLAYOFFS SEMIFINALSBethel (Minn.)--(12-1) at Mount Union (13-0)Mary Hardin-Baylor (12-1) at Wisconsin-Whitewater (12-1)
Think "bowl games" are only limited to the so-called "Football Bowl Subdivision" of NCAA Division I (formerly NCAA Division I-A)? Think again! Believe it or not, several "small college" bowls were held nationwide last weekend. Here's a quick recap of all of them.Gridiron Classic: Dayton 42, Albany 21The Flyers cap off another successful Football Championship Subdivision mid-major season with a blowout win over the Great Danes.Article courtesy of University of Dayton Sports InformationPioneer Bowl: Tuskegee 58, Virginia Union 51The NCAA Division II Golden Tigers finish off an undefeated 2007 campaign, but not before holding off the Panthers in a thriller last Saturday!Article courtesy of Tuskegee University Sports InformationMineral Water Bowl: Missouri Western State 20, Wayne State (Neb.) 13The Griffons pull out a big win in Excelsior Springs, Mo.!Article courtesy of Missouri Western State University Sports InformationRotary Bowl: Western Oregon 26, Colorado Mines 13 (at St. George, Utah)The Wolves finish off a nine-win season by outlasting the Orediggers!Article courtesy of Western Oregon University Sports Information
Before getting to this weekend's action, let's quickly recap what happened last weekend.FCS RECAP: COUNTDOWNThe Southern Illinois University Salukis are the only national seed standing after top-seeded Northern Iowa falls to Delaware in quarterfinal action.College Sporting NewsNCAA DIVISION II PLAYOFFS--SEMIFINALSAll four quarterfinal games were decided by at least 13 points or more last weekend.For the updated playoff bracket, click here.NCAA DIVISION III PLAYOFFS--SEMIFINALSA couple of upsets led the storyline in the "Elite Eight" of the D-III "Dance", as Bethel (Minn.) and Mary Hardin-Baylor (Tex.) move on to the semifinals.Bethel 27, Central 13Article courtesy of Des Moines RegisterMORE: College Sporting NewsTwincities.comMary Hardin-Baylor 27, Wesley 10The Crusaders deny the Wolverines a third straight trip to the national semifinals.Mary Hardin-Baylor Press ReleaseThe complete D-III playoff bracket, click here.NAIA PLAYOFFSIt all comes down to one game, between two unbeaten teams, Carroll (Mont.) and Sioux Falls (S.D.). Read how both teams punched their tickets to Tennessee on Dec. 15.Carroll 23, St. Francis (Ind.) 7Article courtesy of the Helena (Mont.) Independent-RecordSioux Falls 11, Missouri Valley 10The Cougars trailed for all but the final 43 seconds, but that was all the time needed to pull out a dramatic win.Article courtesy of the Victory Sports Network
Last Week: 20-10 (.667)Year To Date: 405-177 (.696)KEY: Projected winners highlighted in REDSaturday, December 1FCS PLAYOFFS QUARTERFINALSDelaware (9-3) at Northern Iowa (12-0)Massachusetts (10-2) at Southern Illinois (11-1)Eastern Illinois (9-3) at Appalachian State (10-2)Richmond (10-2) at Wofford (9-3)NCAA DIVISION II QUARTERFINALSCentral Washington (10-2) at Grand Valley State (11-0)Northwest Missouri State (10-1) at Chadron State (12-0)North Alabama (10-1) at Valdosta State (10-1)Shepherd (10-1) at California (Pa.)--(12-0)NCAA DIVISION III QUARTERFINALSSt. John Fisher (11-1) at Mount Union (12-0)Bethel (Minn.)--(11-1) at Central (12-0)Mary Hardin-Baylor (11-1) at Wesley (11-1)Wabash (11-1) at Wisconsin-Whitewater (11-1)NAIA SEMIFINALSMissouri Valley (10-2) at Sioux Falls (12-0)St. Francis (Ind.)--(11-1) at Carroll (Mont.)--(13-0)OTHER GAMESTuskegee (11-0) vs. Virginia Union (9-2)(Pioneer Bowl at Columbia, S.C.)Missouri Western (8-3) vs. Wayne State (Neb.)--(7-4)(Mineral Water Bowl at Excelsior Springs, Mo.)Western Oregon (8-2) vs. Colorado Mines (7-4)(Rotary Bowl at St. George, Utah)Albany (N.Y.)--(7-3) at Dayton (10-1)(Gridiron Classic at Dayton, Ohio)
While Detroit Lions quarterback Jon Kitna hopes to lead his team to the NFL playoffs, his alma mater, Central Washington University, is preparing to face two-time defending NCAA Division II national champion Grand Valley State this Saturday in quarterfinal playoff action.Article courtesy of the Associated Press
With the Thanksgiving weekend (and dinner) finally in the rear view mirror, let's take a belated look at some of the top playoff (and non-playoff) games from the week that was.10. Grand Valley State 21, North Dakota 14The two-time defending NCAA Division II champs send the Fighting Sioux packing out and up, but not without a fight.Grand Valley State University Sports Information9. Wofford 23, Montana 22The Terriers pull off the upset over the previously undefeated Grizzlies in the first round of the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly NCAA Division I-AA) playoffs.Wofford College Sports Information8. North Alabama 20, Delta State 17The Lions edge the Statesman by a field goal in a fantastic finish!Associated Press7. St. Francis (Ind.) 30, Bethel (Tenn.) 27The Cougars win a thriller over the Wildcats in NAIA quarterfinal action!Final statistics courtesy of the Mid-States Football Association6. Appalachian State 28, James Madison 27The Mountaineers hold off the determined Dukes in first round FCS playoff action!Appalachian State University Sports Information5. Central Washington 20, Nebraska-Omaha 17The Wildcats stun the previously undefeated Mavericks in second round D-II playoff action!Yakima (Wash.) Herald-RepublicMORE COVERAGE: Yakima (Wash.) Herald-RepublicSeattle TimesUniversity of Nebraska-Omaha Sports InformationAssociated Press4. Shepherd 41, Indiana (Pa.) 34The Rams hold off the Crimson Hawks in a D-II second round slugfest!Associated Press3. Northern Iowa 38, New Hampshire 35The top-seeded Panthers hold off a scrappy Wildcats squad from Northern New England!University of Northern Iowa Sports Information2. Tuskegee 64, Alabama State 58 (Turkey Day Classic at Montgomery, Ala.)They may have worked triple overtime, but it was finally worth for the Tigers, as they down the Hornets!Tuskegee University Media Relations1. Chadron State 76, Abilene Christian 73The Eagles rally from 29 points down to defeat the Wildcats in a triple overtime thriller!Jackson Hole (Wyo.) Star-Tribune
As the 95th edition of the Grey Cup kicks off from Toronto Sunday, there's at least one oddity most football fans aren't aware of: An American team once took home the trophy. Find out who that team is by clicking the link below.Article courtesy of the Toronto Star
In only its fourth year of football, the Battling Bishops of North Carolina Wesleyan College have already made history, as they became the first #8 seed to eliminate a #1 seed from the NCAA Division III playoffs.Last Saturday, NCWC (9-2) upset previously undefeated Washington & Jefferson (10-1) 35-34 in overtime. d3football.com has an inside look on the Battling Bishops Cinderella run in the D-III dance.Article courtesy of d3football.com
The Saskatchewan Rough Riders and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers do battle in Canada's "Super Bowl", the 95th Grey Cup, this Sunday in Toronto!Click here for a preview, courtesy of the Canadian Football League
The arenafootball2 league welcomed one of its newest franchises in the Daytona Beach (Fla.) Thunderbirds. Find out what to expect by clicking the link below:Article courtesy of Arena Fan OnlineALSOaf2 releases 2008 scheduleaf2.com
Last Week: 37-12 (.755)Year To Date: 385-167 (.697)KEY: Projected winners highlighted in REDThursday, November 22 (THANKSGIVING DAY!)Alabama State (FCS)--(5-5) vs. Tuskegee (D-II)--(10-0)(Turkey Day Classic at Montgomery, Ala.)Friday, November 23FCS PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUNDDelaware State (10-1) at Delaware (8-3)Saturday, November 24Grambling State (8-2) vs. Southern (7-3)(Bayou Classic at Louisiana Superdome/New Orleans)FCS PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUNDNew Hampshire (7-4) at Northern Iowa (11-0)Eastern Illinois (8-3) at Southern Illinois (10-1)Fordham (8-3) at Massachusetts (9-2)Eastern Washington (8-3) at McNeese State (11-0)James Madison (8-3) at Appalachian State (9-2)Wofford (8-3) at Montana (11-0)Eastern Kentucky (9-2) at Richmond (9-2)NCAA DIVISION II PLAYOFFS SECOND ROUNDCentral Washington (9-2) at Nebraska-Omaha (10-0)North Dakota (10-1) at Grand Valley State (10-0)Abilene Christian (10-2) at Chadron State (11-0)West Texas A&M (12-0) at Northwest Missouri State (9-1)Catawba (11-1) at Valdosta State (9-1)Delta State (10-1) at North Alabama (9-1)Southern Connecticut State (9-3) at California (Pa.)--(11-0)Indiana (Pa.)--(9-2) at Shepherd (9-1)NCAA DIVISION III PLAYOFFS SECOND ROUNDCollege of New Jersey (9-2) at Mount Union (11-0)Curry (12-0) at St. John Fisher (9-1)St. John's (Minn.)--(10-1) at Central College (11-0)Wisconsin-Eau Claire (9-2) at Bethel (Minn.)--(10-1)North Carolina Wesleyan (9-2) at Mary Hardin-Baylor (10-1)Muhlenberg (11-0) at Wesley (10-1)North Central (9-2) at Wisconsin-Whitewater (10-1)Wabash (10-1) at Case Western Reserve (10-0)NAIA PLAYOFFS QUARTERFINALSSt. Xavier (10-2) at Sioux Falls (11-0)Morningside (9-2) at Carroll (Mont.)--(11-0)Missouri Valley (9-2) at Ohio Dominican (11-0)St. Francis (Ind.)--(10-1) at Bethel (Tenn.)--(10-1)
With the first round of the NCAA Division II, Division III, and NAIA playoff now in the books, now's the time take a look back at the 10 best games of that first weekend in all divisions, in no particular order.HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM REAL FOOTBALL CENTRAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Indiana (Pa.) 45, West Chester 35 (D-II)The Crimson Hawks pull off the mild upset on the road, advance to round two.Associated PressCase Western Reserve 21, Widener 20 (D-III)The Spartans rally to win their first-ever playoff game!Case Western Reserve Sports InformationCollege of New Jersey 17, Rensselaer Tech 14 (D-III)TCNJ moves on to round two with narrow win.Rensselaer Tech Sports InformationSt. Xavier 33, St. Ambrose 27 (NAIA)The Cougars win a thriller over the Fighting Bees!!!!!!St. Xavier University Sports InformationWisconsin-Eau Claire 24, St. Norbert 20 (D-III)The Blugolds use some last-minute heroics to shock the previously undefeated Green Knights!UW-Eau Claire Press ReleaseNorth Carolina Wesleyan 35, Washington & Jefferson 34 (D-III)The Battling Bishops pull off the upset over the Presidents in overtime!North Carolina Wesleyan College Sports InformationMuhlenberg 31, Salisbury 21 (D-III)The Mules score 10 points in the fourth quarter to knock off the Sea Gulls, stay undefeated!Muhlenberg College Press ReleaseWest Texas A&M 40, Washburn 39 (D-II)The Buffaloes battle back to edge Ichabods, run record to 11-0!Morris News ServiceWabash 31, Mount St. Joseph 21 (D-III)The Little Giants pull away in the second half, eliminate the Lions!Box score courtesy of Heartland Collegiate Athletic ConferenceNorth Central 44, Franklin 42 (D-III)The HCAC makes an uneventful exit from postseason play, as the Grizzlies fall to the Cardinals on the game's final play.North Central College Sports Information
The NCAA announced the 16 teams who will play in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs Sunday. Northern Iowa, McNeese State, and Montana, all 11-0, earned the top three national seeds, while 10-1 Southern Illinois got the nod for the fourth overall seed. Appalachian State hopes to earn to record third straight national championship when it faces James Madison this Saturday (11/24/2007).Click here for the full bracket.
Championships and playoff berths were at stake on the final day of the regular season in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). Find out what happened by clicking the link below.Article courtesy of College Sporting News
