The 2016 college football season kicked off last night in the divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog!
UPSET IN THE TOP 20 – The unranked UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS PATRIOTS hosted the number 17 CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY TIGERS. The 1st Quarter ended with the Tigers on top 10-0 but by Halftime the Patriots had come from behind to take a 13-10 edge. After the break UC added 10 more points to the 7 managed by Campbellsville University, resulting in a 23-17 Patriots victory. RB Seph Burke rushed for 144 yds for Cumberlands.
ROAD WIN FOR LWC – The 12th ranked LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS traveled to face the CUMBERLAND UNIVERSITY PHOENIX in Lebanon, TN. The upset-minded Phoenix led the Blue Raiders 14-13 to end the 1st Quarter and made it a 21-13 score to end the First Half. The 4th Quarter started with Cumberland University clinging to a 21-19 advantage, but Lindsey Wilson College outscored them 14-8 in that closing frame for a 33-29 comeback win on the road.
THE BEARS GROWL – The UNIVERSITY OF PIKEVILLE BEARS took it on the road against the BLUEFIELD COLLEGE RAMBLING RAMS. The Bears seized a 7-0 lead in the opening Quarter which the Rambling Rams reduced to just a 10-7 edge by the Half. Bluefield College thrilled their fans by taking a 14-10 lead in the 3rd Quarter but the 4th Quarter ended with the University of Pikeville having bounced back to win the game 24-20. QB Sani Warren threw for 270 yds in the victory.
DEFENSIVE EPIC IN NORTH DAKOTA – The VALLEY CITY STATE UNIVERSITY VIKINGS and the visiting UNIVERSITY OF JAMESTOWN JIMMIES clashed in a textbook example of Smash-Mouth football last night. The Vikings held an 8-3 Halftime edge over their bitter rivals the Jimmies and turned that into a 15-3 lead in the 3rd Quarter. With Jamestown within 5 at 15-10 in the 4th Quarter VCSU Tight End Marc Wagner pulled off a FAKE PUNT deep in the Vikings’ own territory, keeping a drive alive for the win.
A ROUT ON THE ROAD – The WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY PIONEERS (should be the Flying W’s, as in the cattle brand) were on the road against the LYON COLLEGE SCOTS to open their 2016 campaign. The Pioneers converted a 14-0 1st Quarter lead into a 21-7 advantage at the break and a 27-14 edge to end the 3rd. In the 4th Quarter Wayland Baptist University logged a win over the Scots to the tune of 37-14. Payson Bain led the Pioneers at the QB position.
*** NJCAA ***
BATTLE OF THE BULLDOGS – The storied NAVARRO COLLEGE BULLDOGS welcomed the GEORGIA MILITARY COLLEGE BULLDOGS to their home stadium in Corsicana, TX. Georgia Military College jumped out to a 13-7 advantage by the end of the 1st Quarter and had expanded that lead to 16-7 by Halftime. Navarro College came roaring back in the 3rd Quarter, trailing GMC by just 23-21 at its end. The home team completed their comeback in the 4th Quarter for a 27-23 triumph.
MASSACRE IN ARIZONA – The PHOENIX COLLEGE BEARS started the season by hosting the TUCSON TECH PHOENIX. The Phoenix are in just their second year of existence and are still finding their way. The veteran Bears team dominated Tucson Tech on both sides of the ball . A 33-7 lead for Phoenix College at the midpoint ultimately became a 60-7 final score. Israel Simpson had 125 receiving yards for the Bears.
Balladeer's Blog 
NAIA football has gotten famous since your blog came along!
Thank you for saying so!
Hopefully Tucson Tech will get better. Meanwhile I’ll root for Cumberlands.
I understand completely! Thank you very much for commenting!
Wayland Baptist U rocks!
Yes it does!
My cousin goes to Wayland Baptist University!
That is good to hear!