Greenville College Football Invited to Host NCCAA Victory Bowl
Published: April 13, 2021
GREENVILLE, Ill. - The Greenville College football team has advanced to the postseason for the first time since 2000 as it hosts the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Victory Bowl on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 12 p.m. The appearance in the NCCAA Victory Bowl is Greenville's second. Its only previous appearance occurred in 2000 when they traveled to Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, to play Northwestern College of Minnesota. Greenville's opponents are the Geneva College Golden Tornados of Beaver Falls, Pa., who are making their sixth appearance in the Victory Bowl.
The Panthers qualified for the game with their 42-35 win over Westminster (Mo.) on Saturday, November 7. Greenville's 28-21 defeat of LaGrange College on Saturday, November 14, coupled with Geneva's loss to Westminster (Pa.), also on Saturday, allowed GC to receive the invitation to host the game.
Greenville completed their regular season with an overall record of 7-2 (3-0 UMAC South) and were Upper Midwest Athletic Conference south division champions in their first year of affiliation with the UMAC. Geneva's record was 7-3, and they are provisional members of the NCAA Division III and Presidents' Athletic Conference.
The NCCAA Victory Bowl week features much more than just the game. On Friday, both teams will participate in activities designed to unite them in advance of their game. Through the host site, the NCCAA facilitates service projects intended to expand its influence into the community. The Greenville and Geneva football teams will visit two nursing homes in Greenville, Fair Oaks and Helia Healthcare, to perform music and greet its residents on Friday at 11:30 a.m.
On Friday evening at 7 p.m., a banquet will be hosted in the Armington Center featuring guest speaker Ken Leonard, legendary head football coach at Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin High School. In 26 years at Sacred Heart-Griffin, Leonard's teams have a record of 247-53, including IHSA 5A state championships in 2005 and 2006 and an IHSA 6A state championship in 2008. In addition, his 1995 and 2003 teams qualified for the 4A and 5A state championship games, respectively.
The NCCAA Victory Bowl was created in 1997 as a way of bringing top football teams from the NCCAA together for a final game. Though not an official national championship, the NCCAA uses the game to showcase two of its top teams.
Admission to the event costs $5 for adults (age 16 and over) and $2 for college students and children ages 6 to 15. Children ages 5 and under are admitted free.
For more information, please contact
B.J. Schneck
Sports Information Director
(618) 664-6621
william.schneck@greenville.edu
