Oskaloosa, Iowa–If future historians compile a list of the best NAIA football games ever played, they will be hard-pressed not to include Saturday’s three-overtime Instant Classic as William Penn (Iowa) defeated #8 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) in a Heart of America Athletic Conference North-South Crossover game.

In the ongoing theme of the 2015 season’s rollercoaster ride, the #19 Statesmen (2-0) survived last Saturday’s ‘Viking Vortex’ only to take on the ‘Pioneer Punisher’ this week.

In a complete reversal of its opening week start, the home team fell behind 14-0 to MNU. After two lengthy drives stalled out in Pioneer territory, the navy and gold finally finished one off late in the second, going 98 yards on just four plays. The first of five huge Tyler Hafner (Sr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Communications) to Jatavius Stewart (Sr., Rock Hill, S.C., Biology) pass plays–this one for 66 yards–highlighted the drive. Continue reading →

September 2nd, 2010: Lindenwood started off their season with a 68-7 win over Evangel in a game that was marred by storms in the St. Charles, Mo. area. LU QB Philip Staback was 19-21 for 385 yards through the air while the Lions put up 735 yards of total offense. The game was also the first for head coach Brenton Illum at Evangel University.

On the lighter side, John Thayer and I broadcast the game as one of our “NAIA Game of the Week” broadcasts. Kickoff went off as scheduled at 6:00 and Lindenwood went right down the field and scored. Then came the rain. . .the lightning. . . and the delay. If I remember correctly John and I didn’t leave the stadium until well after midnight.

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September 1, 2007: Ohio Dominican quarterback Cris Reisert started off the season with a bang by ripping off 456 yards on 31-36 passing to defeat Campbellsville, 71-0. Reisert finished the day with six total touchdowns, five of them through the air.

Today, Reisert is an assistant coach for NCAA DI FCS Elon University. The Phoenix begin their football season this Saturday at Wake Forest.

CHICAGO – From “Start to Finish” is the mantra for the 2015 season of Marian University football. The NAIA No. 1-ranked Knights started the 2015 season with a dominant performance in a 45-13 road victory over No. 4-ranked Saint Xavier University at Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field in Chicago on Saturday night.

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Marshall, Mo.–Senior quarterback Tyler Hafner (Sr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Communications) scored on a fourth down play in the final minute to cap off a great comeback in an incredible rollercoaster of a game as the William Penn (Iowa) football team rallied to knock off #9 Missouri Valley, 35-28, in its Heart of America Athletic Conference debut Saturday.

The 19th-ranked Statesmen (1-0) were looking forward to the excitement that would come from a new conference, but there was no way they were ready for what their debut would bring.

The visitors could not have asked for a better start, though, as the defense forced the Vikings (0-1) to punt after just three plays. A bad snap then gave WPU a short field at the MVC 4-yard-line. Continue reading →

CALDWELL, Idaho – J.J. Hyde rushed for three touchdowns in his collegiate debut and the College of Idaho defense forced three turnovers and five sacks, as the Yotes stunned No. 13 ranked Eastern Oregon, 40-28, before a sellout crowd of 5,289 fans at Simplot Stadium.

Hyde, a transfer from the University of Utah, rushed for 85 yards, as the Yotes (1-0, 1-0 Frontier) piled up 268 yards on the ground in their first-ever win against a ranked opponent.

The Coyotes, who lost twice to the Mountaineers (0-1, 0-1) last season by a combined score of 89-28, jumped out to a 14-0 lead and never trailed.

A botched punt snap set the Yotes up inside the 20-yard-line midway through the opening quarter, with Hyde capping the two play drive with an 11-yard scoring run. Continue reading →

VALLEY, Ala. – Drew Cronic‘s debut as Reinhardt’s head football coach went nearly perfectly as the Eagles set numerous program records in a 73-21 win over Point Saturday at Ram Stadium.

The Eagles set the school record for points in a game (73) with Nick Marquez setting the scoring record for an RU kicker with 13 points thanks to a 27-yard field goal and 10 converted extra-point attempts. The RU defense picked off four passes, also a program record, and forced a pair of fumbles, with the final one recovered in the end zone by Jon Austin Bridges for the final touchdown of the day for the Eagles. Continue reading →

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You would have probably never known, but NAIA FOOTBALL IS BACK! The first official college football game of the season is this Saturday in Dickinson, N.D.  Montana State University Northern travels to Dickinson State University to kickoff the 2015 college football season.

Sure there are plenty of scrimmages this weekend, but this is REAL live college football. Visit Dickinson State’s Football Page on their web site for more information. There is no live video feed but as of right now the game is on radio.

My season preview will be out soon, but in the meantime check out the Blue Hawks and the Lights this Saturday!