Wikipedia:WikiProject College football/Write a football game summary

Why write game summaries
Game summaries are helpful in team, season, and even conference articles. An article about a single game (such as 1939 Waynesburg vs. Fordham football game is a different beast.

This essay walks through the process of creating easy and short game summaries. More complex summaries abound and new "standards" arise from time to time through the collaborative efforts of Wikipedia. Some look really cool! This method is for making a quick and usable game summary rapidly.

Examples of game summary entries can be found at:
 * 2010 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football season
 * 2008 Malone Pioneers football team

Sample game summary
Here is a sample of a game played in 2010 from the above KCAC article:

#24 Baker at #8 Ottawa (College Fanz First Down Classic)
The start of the 2010 NAIA football season began at People's Bank Field in Ottawa, Kansas for the College Fanz First Down Classic game between two nationally ranked teams: #8 Ottawa and #24 Baker. This game marked the first time the two schools met in football for 17 years. Ottawa began the game by returning the kickoff for a touchdown and let the entire game to a 24–14 victory.

Offensively the teams were closely matched statistically: Ottawa produced 375 yards of total offense to Baker's 408; Baker managed to record 19 first downs while Ottawa achieved 20; third down conversions were 5–16 for Baker, 9–23 for Ottawa. Statistically, the major marked difference was in penalties: Baker had 16 penalties and gave up 144 yards, where Ottawa had a mere 4 penalties that gave up 28 yards.

(#visitor rank) Visitor at (#home rank) Home (game name)
Article text goes here...

How to write a game summary
Using this simple process, a game summary can be written in between five and ten minutes. It's very quick, very easy, and extraordinarily helpful!
 * 1) Pick a game
 * 2) Locate sources
 * 3) Having a box score for the game is very helpful.
 * 4) NCAA Division I FBS (I-A): http://go.espn.com/ (college football section)
 * 5) NCAA Division I FCS (I-AA):
 * 6) NCAA Division II:
 * 7) NCAA Division III:
 * 8) NAIA: http://www.dakstats.com/WebSync/Pages/SportGender.aspx?association=10&sg=MFB
 * 9) Other news articles
 * 10) Rankings
 * 11) Copy the game summary template
 * 12) Edit away!

Suggestions
Look through the box score and mention key statistics, such as total yards, touchdowns, first downs, and/or third down conversions. Fumbles, interceptions, field goals, and a whole host of other statistical measures may provide some interest.

Also review the scoring summary--look for interceptions, fumbles, or kick returns for a touchdown.

Finally, check the key players and find out if they are ranked individually for any statistics.

Articles needing game summaries
In no particular order... feel free to add as you see fit
 * 2012 NAIA Football National Championship
 * 2012 Heart of America Athletic Conference football season
 * 2012 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference football season
 * 2011 Heart of America Athletic Conference football season
 * 2010 NAIA Football National Championship