COLLEGE FOOTBALL RESULTS FROM SEPTEMBER 28TH, 2013

UNION (KY) RULES THE WORLD – The tradition of NAIA teams upsetting upper division teams from the NCAA continues! Yesterday the NAIA’s UNION (KY) BULLDOGS were on the road against Division TWO’s UVA-WISE HIGHLAND CAVALIERS. The game was a hard-fought back-and-forth affair with the Bulldogs upsetting the Highland Cavs by a final score of 24-17. For newbies to these divisions it’s like when a 1AA (FCS) team upsets a 1A (FBS) team.

NEAR MISSES – Two other teams came dangerously close to pulling off similar upsets in yesterday’s action. The NAIA’s EDWARD WATERS COLLEGE TIGERS came within a few points of upsetting NCAA Division TWO’s MOREHOUSE MAROON TIGERS. EWC wound up losing by a very tight score of 28-26.   ###   And Division Two’s EASTERN NEW MEXICO UNIVERSITY GREYHOUNDS nearly brought down Division ONE’s Incarnate Word Cardinals but fell 33-26.

NUMBER TWO TAKES A FALL – The 7th ranked GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS welcomed the number 2 team in the nation, the UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS. Any casual viewer would have thought the rankings were reversed judging by the way the Vikings outperformed the Cougars on both sides of the ball. The final score in this upset was Grand View 23  St Francis 7.

NUMBER THREE TAKES A FALL, TOO – Not only that but yesterday also saw the unranked EASTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY MOUNTAINEERS playing host to the nation’s 3rd ranked CARROLL COLLEGE FIGHTING SAINTS. The Mountaineers put together 4 solid Quarters of football and proved that the Fighting Saints weren’t quite all the way back from last year’s disappointing season. EOU defeated CC in a 35-31 Instant Classic.

AND ANOTHER NUMBER TWO TAKES A FALL  – Another team ranked number 2 in the nation found themselves on the losing side in yesterday’s action. This time we go to the NJCAA rankings, where the 5th ranked GEORGIA MILITARY COLLEGE BULLDOGS welcomed the number 2 defending champions of NJCAA football, the IOWA WESTERN REIVERS. The Bulldogs surprised the country by winning a 48-38 grudge match against the champs.

TOP 25 UPSETS – NAIA – Other upsets in the NAIA Top 25 were: The STERLING WARRIORS’ Overtime clash with the 8th ranked TABOR COLLEGE BLUE JAYS. The Warriors won 46-45 off a missed PAT by the Blue Jays   ###   The MONTANA STATE-NORTHERN LIGHTS were at the number 15 MONTANA WESTERN BULLDOGS and handed them a  33-21 loss   ###   The NEBRASKA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY PRAIRIE WOLVES stunned the homestanding (17) NORTHWESTERN (IA) RED RAIDERS 22-8   ###   And the ROBERT MORRIS (IL) EAGLES sent the (24) TRINITY INTERNATIONAL TROJANS home with a 33-26 loss.  

TOP 25 UPSETS – NCAA D2 – The lucky number 7 and unlucky number 13 teams in the Division Two rankings were knocked off yesterday. The OHIO DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY PANTHERS were playing host to the 7th ranked GRAND VALLEY STATE LAKERS and absolutely demolished that storied program 57-14   ###   And the CATAWBA COLLEGE INDIANS defeated the (13) CARSON-NEWMAN EAGLES 25-22 in their own house.  

TOP 25 UPSETS – NCAA D3 – The unranked CONCORDIA-MOORHEAD COBBERS made the SAINT JOHN’S UNIVERSITY JOHNNIES stay in the Top 25 a short one. The Cobbers visited the number 21 Johnnies and beat them by a score of 24-14   ###   And the LYCOMING COLLEGE WARRIORS were on the road against the 24th ranked WIDENER PRIDE. Lycoming came out on top in this 16-14 game for the ages.       

THESE GAMES WERE RANK(ED) – The (5) ST XAVIER UNIVERSITY COUGARS handed the homestanding (22) ST FRANCIS (IL) FIGHTING SAINTS a 37-25 defeat   ###   The (10) BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS likewise notched a comeback road win over the (23) PERU STATE BOBCATS in 45-41 nailbiter   ###   And the (18) ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE BATTLIN’ BEARS extended the freefall of the homestanding (21) MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS in a tight 13-6 outcome.  

“THEY SHOOT FOOTBALL PLAYERS, DON’T THEY?” – Yesterday’s game that won the distinction of this week’s Marathon Game of the Day was the clash between the DENISON UNIVERSITY BIG RED and the visiting OHIO WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY BATTLING BISHOPS. These two teams needed DOUBLE OVERTIME to settle their gridiron grudge match. The Big Red at last emerged with a 47-41 triumph.  

TURNING THINGS AROUND? – Some teams notched victories that they hope signal the start of a turnaround for their 2013 season. The TEXAS COLLEGE STEERS played road warriors against the WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY PIONEERS, winning by a score of 36-29.   ###   And the AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY GYRENES crushed the homestanding WARNER UNIVERSITY ROYALS 27-3. The Royals are in their 1st year of football, the Gyrenes in their 3rd.  

FOR THE FANS – The CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY TARTANS triumphed over the visiting GENEVA COLLEGE GOLDEN TORNADOES by a score of 41-34   ###   Meanwhile the TRINITY (CT) BANTAMS sent the WILLIAMS COLLEGE EPHS (pronounced “eeephs”) home with a 20-13 loss   ###   And the OLIVET COLLEGE COMETS won a 14-10 road game against the NORTH PARK VIKINGS.

TURNING THINGS AROUND, VOLUME 2 – More teams hopefully on the right track. The MIDAMERICA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY PIONEERS crushed the visiting EVANGEL CRUSADERS 54-22.   ###   The JAMESTOWN COLLEGE JIMMIES triumphed in a 21-19 Instant Classic against the homestanding MAYVILLE STATE COMETS.   ###   And the BRIAR CLIFF CHARGERS dismantled the DORDT COLLEGE DEFENDERS 54-14.   

LUPINE SUPREMACY – Yesterday the NORTHWOOD (MI) UNIVERSITY TIMBERWOLVES dominated the visiting TIFFIN DRAGONS by a score of 26-11.   ###   And in more lupine badassery on the football field the WESTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY WOLVES were in Canada facing the SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY CLAN (as in Scottish clan). WOU won  handily in a 30-9 smackdown.  

HOLDING SERVE – Home teams who more than took care of business yesterday included: The UNIVERSITY OF SAINT MARY SPIRES, who obliterated the BETHANY COLLEGE SWEDES by a score of 45-15.   ###   The BACONE COLLEGE WARRIORS, who smacked down the HASKELL INDIAN NATIONS INDIANS 38-6.   ###   And the CAMPBELLSVILLE TIGERS, who spanked the BELHAVEN COLLEGE BLAZERS 54-22.

AND THE LORD SAID WIN, CHILDREN, WIN – The EASTERN ARIZONA COLLEGE GILA MONSTERS are hoping to get back to a bowl game this year. Yesterday was a crucial step in that direction as the Gila Monsters came out on top in a 28-26 Instant Classic against the homestanding PHOENIX COLLEGE BEARS. And yes, the title to this segment is a reference to the song  Laugh, Children, Laugh from the bad movie titled The Giant Gila Monster.  

LOVELESS IN TENNESSEE – The CUMBERLAND UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS, led by 3 rushing touchdowns from Broc Loveless, took it to the visiting BLUEFIELD COLLEGE RAMBLING RAMS in the final minutes of yesterday’s game. The score was a reasonably close 19-10 in the 4th Quarter but then the Cumberland offense exploded for 21 points to win by a final score of 40-10.

FAN SERVICE – The UPPER IOWA PEACOCKS pecked the daylights out of the visiting MARY MARAUDERS to the tune of 36-7   ###   Meanwhile the CONCORD UNIVERSITY MOUNTAIN LIONS notched a 20-3 road smackdown of the WEST LIBERTY HILLTOPPERS   ###   The LIVINGSTONE COLLEGE BLUE BEARS devoured the homestanding LINCOLN (PA) LIONS 35-7   ###   And the DIXIE STATE RED STORM blew away the HUMBOLDT STATE LUMBERJACKS 49-24 in their own house.

ALL-NAME TEAMS  – The HUTCHINSON COLLEGE BLUE DRAGONS were playing hard like always and defeated the visiting HIGHLAND SCOTTIES by a score of 36-20   ###   The PIMA COLLEGE AZTECS meanwhile conquered the GLENDALE (AZ) GAUCHOS 33-17   ###   And the SAN DIEGO MESA COLLEGE OLYMPIANS completely trashed their guests, the COMPTON COLLEGE TARTARS in a 55-15 laugher.

WORKING OVERTIME – The LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS stayed a perfect 5-0 with their 37-30 Overtime win over the visiting FAULKNER UNIVERSITY EAGLES   ###   The WILLIAMSON MECHANICS (love that name) won a 29-22 Overtime battle with the George Mason Patriots   ###   And the visiting NEW MEXICO MILITARY INSTITUTE BRONCOS triumphed over the perenially tough SNOW COLLEGE BADGERS in Overtime. The final score in this game was Broncos 23  Badgers 20.

CALL THEM ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS – Both the HENDRIX COLLEGE WARRIORS and the SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY PIRATES are in their very first year playing intercollegiate football. The two new programs clashed yesterday at Hendrix. The Warriors beat up on the Pirates by a score of 48-29. Hendrix improves to a record of 2-1 while the struggling Pirates fall to 0-4.   

OUR DIVISION CAN BEAT UP YOUR DIVISION – As always Balladeer’s Blog chronicles the intense gridiron rivalry between the NAIA and NCAA Division 3. Yesterday the NAIA’s MENLO COLLEGE OAKS thrashed D3’s homestanding LA VERNE LEOPARDS 56-7   ###   D3’s (12) WHITEWATER WARHAWKS annihilated the NAIA’s WALDORF WARRIORS 65-0   ###   And the NAIA’s WEBBER INTERNATIONAL WARRIORS clobbered D3’s visiting MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE CHOCTAWS 35-7.  

“WE WENT TO A FOOTBALL GAME BUT A BASEBALL GAME BROKE OUT” – This week’s winner of this designation was the defense-heavy battle between the homestanding TEACHER’S COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY LIONS and the SOUTHERN VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS. Points were at an absolute premium in this donnybrook yesterday and in the end the Lions walked away with a 7-2 victory.

WORLD CLASS WHIPPINGS – The SOUTH DAKOTA M&T HARDROCKERS (love that name) bashed and smashed the homestanding WILLIAM JEWELL CARDINALS by a score of 70-48   ###   The HARDING UNIVERSITY BISON sent the SOUTHERN NAZARENE UNIVERSITY CRIMSON STORM home reeling from a 63-21 pounding   ###   And the FERRIS STATE BULLDOGS mauled the homestanding WALSH CAVALIERS 59-16.     

UNDER THE RADAR CLASSICS – NAIA – The FRIENDS UNIVERSITY FALCONS survived an invasion from the SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE MOUNDBUILDERS by a final score of 36-30.   ###   … And the MCPHERSON COLLEGE BULLDOGS were on the road against the KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY COYOTES, defeating the Coyotes by a final score of 23-17 in this gridiron masterpiece.

UNDER THE RADAR CLASSICS – D2 – The URBANA UNIVERSITY BLUE KNIGHTS won a 12-9 defensive epic against the visiting GLENVILLE STATE PIONEERS   ###   Meanwhile the BEMIDJI STATE BEAVERS eked out a 41-40 victory over the SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA MUSTANGS   ###   And the VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY TROJANS won a very tight home game against the JOHNSON C SMITH GOLDEN BULLS 19-17.

UNDER THE RADAR CLASSICS – D3 – The NORTH CAROLINA WESLEYAN BATTLING BISHOPS were at the AVERETT COUGARS and won by a score of 27-34   ###   The ITHACA COLLEGE BOMBERS notched a 24-20 road win over the BUFFALO STATE BENGALS   ###   The KENYON LORDS won a 28-26 homestand against the DEPAUW TIGERS   ###   And the BATES BOBCATS held serve against the TUFTS JUMBOS 20-16.

UNDER THE RADAR CLASSICS – NJCAA – The homestanding COLLEGE OF DUPAGE CHAPARRALS came out on top in a 17-9 Battle Royal with the ELLSWORTH PANTHERS   ###   The HUDSON VALLEY COLLEGE VIKINGS took it on the road and defeated their Empire State rivals the ERIE KATS by a score of 23-13   ###   And the ITAWAMBA COLLEGE INDIANS sent the NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI RANGERS home with a 27-21 loss.  

UNDER THE RADAR CLASSICS – CCCAA, VOLUME ONE – The GROSSMONT COLLEGE GRIFFINS won a 39-35 homestand against the SANTA ANA DONS   ###   Meanwhile the FULLERTON COLLEGE HORNETS took down the GOLDEN WEST COLLEGE RUSTLERS by a score of 23-17   ###   And the COLLEGE OF THE SEQUOIAS GIANTS took it on the road and defeated the FOOTHILL COLLEGE OWLS in a 37-36 nailbiter.

UNDER THE RADAR CLASSICS – CCCAA, VOLUME TWO – The ANTELOPE VALLEY COLLEGE MARAUDERS were on the road against the GLENDALE (CA) VAQUEROS and came away with a thrilling 37-30 victory   ###   The MT SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE MOUNTIES survived a 33-32 homestand against the CITRUS PIRATES   ###   The SIERRA WOLVERINES notched a 35-28 road win over the DE ANZA DONS   ###   And the SANTA BARBARA CITY COLLEGE VAQUEROS eked out a 25-23 win over the LOS ANGELES VALLEY MONARCHS.

ONE TEAM WAS PLAYING BASKETBALL – The (14) FRANKLIN COLLEGE GRIZZLIES played road warriors and decimated the EARLHAM QUAKERS 80-14   ###   The (19) WABASH LITTLE GIANTS crushed the ALLEGHENY ALLIGATORS 65-0   ###   The (5) BETHEL (MN) ROYALS royally flushed the CARLETON KNIGHTS by a score of 58-14   ###   And the (1) MT UNION PURPLE RAIDERS eviscerated the MARIETTA PIONEERS 84-14.  

BOTH TEAMS WERE PLAYING BASKETBALL – Two games fit this category from yesterday. The WORCESTER STATE LANCERS won a 64-63 homestand against the MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME BUCCANEERS   ###   Meanwhile the MILLIKIN UNIVERSITY BIG BLUE took it on the road and registered a win over the AURORA SPARTANS. The final score in this game was 52-49.    

SHUTOUTS – The IOWA CENTRAL TRITONS blanked the NORTH DAKOTA STATE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE WILDCATS by a score of 16-0   ###   The traveling RIVERSIDE COLLEGE TIGERS made the LOS ANGELES HARBOR SEAHAWKS their prison brides to the tune of 71-0   ###   The WEST HILLS COLLEGE FALCONS close this section out with their 18-0 victory over the SAN JOSE COLLEGE JAGUARS.

BLOWOUTS – The SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE (CA) JAGUARS beat up on the homestanding SAN BERNARDINO COLLEGE WOLVERINES 41-20   ###   Meanwhile the PIERCE COLLEGE BRAHMA BULLS gored the LOS ANGELES SOUTHWEST COUGARS in their own house by a score of 47-12   ###   And the COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS COUGARS mauled the homestanding PASADENA COLLEGE LANCERS 54-10.     

FOURTEEN TO SEVEN – This was a reasonably popular score yesterday. The LAKE FOREST COLLEGE FORESTERS defeated the homestanding KNOX COLLEGE PRAIRIE FIRE 14-7.   ###   And the ILLINOIS WESLEYAN TITANS dispatched the visiting HOPE FLYING DUTCHMEN by the same score.   ###  

Helmets courtesy of The Helmet Project