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!

Article by USF Sports Information
GLENDALE, Ariz. — James Bettcher is breaking new ground for a University of Saint Francis alumnus as defensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals. And as Associated Press writer Bob Baum writes, “Just four years ago, James Bettcher was linebackers coach and special teams coordinator for the University of New Hampshire,” to lead off his article that appears on page 7B of Sunday The Journal Gazette.

And online, ESPN offers up another piece by Josh Weinfuss on the 2002 USF graduate and NAIA All-American who was named Arizona Cardinals DC back in February replacing Todd Bowles who took the head coaching job with the New York Jets. After graduating from USF in 2003 with a degree in Business Administration, Bettcher served under Kevin Donley as an assistant coach for football while serving as head coach of the USF track and field program. He left USF for Bowling Green State University, and also served as an assistant at Ball State and the University of North Carolina, where he impressed defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano.

“It’s easy to recognize shooting stars,” Arians said when the Cardinals announced Bettcher’s promotion in February. “I know he can coach. There are guys that have jobs for 40 years that shouldn’t have had them. So age has got nothing to do with it. It’s the experience and, like I said, the command of the room is what has always sold me on him.” Continue reading →