The University of Sioux Falls is set to exit the NAIA. Before the GPAC kings return their crown and head off into the distance in search of bigger prizes, they must go through one more season in the Great Plains Athletic Conference. One of the Cougars biggest rivals has turned into Northwestern College. The two programs have never met on opening day of the season, but they will this season. The series has been dominated by Sioux Falls in the last decade, outscoring the Red Raiders 243-96 since 2002, although NWC leads the all-time series. In six of the eight matchups, the Cougars have scored first. Northwestern hasn't been to the NAIA Championship Series since 2006 and an upset of Sioux Falls would go a long way to ending the postseason drought. Over 4,000 people on average attend this rivalry each year and this year shouldn't be any different.

Here is a position-by-position breakdown of the game:

There are a lot of lopsided games this week in the MSFA. Six games are on tap for the week with half being played Thursday night. It seems like the new thing to do is feature your team on a Thursday night. Once someone starts to do it then the others join in shortly after. Last week the MSFA got off to a 3-1 start in non-conference play. Saint Xavier hit Bethel (TN) with a 49-32 win, while Olivet Nazarene was smacked by West Virginia Tech 31-9. McKendree picked up an impressive 34-17 win over University of the Cumberlands in the Big River Bowl, while Grand View was also impressive with a 28-0 blanking of Black Hills State.Two crossover games were played as Trinity International dropped Iowa Wesleyan 16-6. Yes, TIU got a win…good for them. Now, can they continue the rest of the year with another win or two? Marian was 20 points better than St. Francis (IL) last week in a 37-17 win.

Here is a look at some games in the conference this week:

 

Here is a position by position breakdown:

    Last week did not offer up many surprises in the CSFL. Langston proved that they have a formidable team once again this season with a big win on the road against Incarnate Word. Tony Cotton's comments earlier in the week that Langston should be a contender for not only the CSFL title, but the NAIA championship may have been a touch premature and far-fetched, but the Lions stood the test in week one.

The Victory Sports Network First Down Classic featured No. 9 Ottawa against No. 24 Baker. The place was absolutely packed. Nearly 40 minutes before game time about 200 people had found their seats…20 minutes later people were wondering if they were going to have seats. The idea to put bleachers in the one endzone was brilliant. It was packed with students and others and made for a fantastic atmosphere. Earlier this week I posted the VSN First Down Classic Preview. I took some guff for saying Ottawa would have the better defense on this night. In the end, I wasn't far off. Here are some thoughts from tonight's game…

I am a football coach. I‘ve paced the sidelines from California to Florida and yes, the Mecca of high school football, Texas. I began coaching in 1980 and did not step away from the profession until this fall. It was a wonderful 30 years. During those years I was fortunate enough to win numerous state titles and finish my career with a 141-41-1 record. My former players have gone on to play in the NFL, CFL and Arena League and have been recruited and played for Notre Dame, Miami and Stanford as well as Lambuth, Salisbury St. and Maranatha Baptist Bible College to mention just a few. I was forced to step away from coaching as a result of being diagnosed with terminal cancer. I now get to practice all those things I use to scream into the ears of my players…

I was one of those coaches who was obsessive, compulsive. Throw in a good dose of control freak and you begin to get the picture. I loved the game with all my heart and loved the boys even more. The best thing about my cancer has been the outpouring of love from hundreds upon hundreds of former players, coaches and parents. As any player or coach will tell you in the end it is all about relationships. I did my very best to make the game fun and to build godly young men. I sure miss it…

My youngest son, Nile Kinnick Knapp, just signed a football scholarship to play at Lindenwood University. As I mentioned, I am obsessive, compulsive. Once I knew he had made his decision to play in the NAIA I went to work pouring myself into the history, traditions and 2010 previews for all 93 teams. Here I am 6 months later ready to share with you stories of inspiration and human interest that will give us cause to celebrate all things NAIA football.

This is the case with Ottawa and Baker. The two programs have a storied history, in fact, so much that both places have footballs or memorabilia in their trophy case proving they have beaten the other. So why don't some people think of the two as rivalries? They haven't played competitively in a varsity game since 1993, a 43-9 victory for the Baker Wildcats, but have continued to play in junior varsity and summer 7-on-7 contests. Baker has won 10-straight against Ottawa and leads the overall series 43-31-2. The rivalry renews August 28 in the Victory Sports Network First Down Classic.

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. – Ethan Haller set eight school records in two seasons as the quarterback for Ottawa University and in one day the former Brave set five new records in the 4^th Annual College Fanz Senior Classic. Haller set records for attempts (43), completions (33), passing yards (286), touchdowns (3) and interceptions (2), as the Nationals cruised to a 34-21 victory over the Americans. The performance earned Haller the Nationals Offensive Player of the Game Award.

Haller's favorite target on the day was former teammate Corey Schultz, who set records for receptions, receiving touchdowns and receiving yards in the game. Schultz totaled 100 yards on 10 catches and two scores. Over-shadowed by the performance of Schultz, was wide receiver Paul Kempf. The former Sterling College Warrior had a career day, catching four passes for 30 yards. Kempf never had more than one reception in a single game during his career at Sterling. His best season came in 2007 when he caught four passes for 50 yards on the year.

 

     

Grand Island, Nebraska – April 2, 2010 – College Fanz™ Sports Network, the world's largest online college sports community launched by ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen, today announced that two of the rising football coaching stars of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) are set to guide the student-athletes competing in the fourth annual College Fanz Sports Network Football Senior Classic, Saturday, April 24^th at Salina Stadium in Salina, Kansas.

Kick-off is slated for 1 p.m. Central Time on the home field of Kansas Wesleyan University. The game will be broadcast live (and available later on-demand) on http://www.collegefanz.com/.

Grand Island, Nebraska – February 3, 2010 -- This April will mark the fourth year in a row that the best NAIA football players in the country will participate in the College Fanz Senior Classic.

The College Fanz Sports Network's Senior Classic will pit 130 former NAIA football players against one another in a showcase of talent and character. The game kicks off Saturday, April 24th at 1:00 p.m. Salina Stadium in Salina, Kansas.

 

"This is truly one of the great small college events and it's all because of the passion people have for it," said Jason Dannelly of College Fanz, the game's founder. "It's a chance to play football one last time, on a national stage in front of friends, family and a ton of fans."

 

"This is an extremely talented group of football players," said Jason Dannelly, Director of NAIA Relations for the College Fanz Sports Network and founder of the annual football showcase. "This is easily the highest concentration of first team, second team and honorable mention All-Americans that we have ever had compete in this showcase event."