HEADLINES
NAIA CONQUERS NCAA D2 YET AGAIN – Like 1aa teams upsetting 1a teams each week usually brings at least one NAIA football team toppling a team from the NCAA’s Division Two. Yesterday the MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS visited D2’s TRUMAN STATE BULLDOGS and more than doubled-up on the higher division team by a final score of 35-17.
DOWN GOES NUMBER THREE – Meanwhile NCAA Division Two’s 7th ranked MIDWESTERN STATE MUSTANGS hosted the number 3 team in the nation – the UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA ARGONAUTS. Another Mustangs team delivered a nationwide shock-wave as Midwestern State proceeded to crush the Argonauts to the tune of 38-17.
WHAT, YOU COULDN’T SCORE ONE HUNDRED? – In the NJCAA the DODGE CITY COLLEGE CONQUISTADORS took the field against the visiting GORDON’S SPORTS ACADEMY ARTISTS. The Conquistadors were apparently playing basketball while their opponents played soccer. Dodge City College utterly mutilated Gordon’s NINETY-THREE to NOTHING!
NUMBER SIX TAKES A FALL – Every year Balladeer’s Blog covers the intense gridiron rivalry between the NAIA and NCAA Division Three. Yesterday the NAIA’s UN-ranked CARROLL (MT) COLLEGE FIGHTING SAINTS welcomed D3’s number 6 LINFIELD COLLEGE WILDCATS. The Fighting Saints led 7-0 at the break, then followed through with a 21-14 triumph.
MARATHON GAME OF THE DAY – Back in D2 came this lengthy clash between the STONEHILL COLLEGE SKYHAWKS and the home-standing SAINT ANSELM COLLEGE HAWKS. The Skyhawks trailed Saint Anselm 24-21 at Halftime but rallied for a 45-45 tie to end the 4th Quarter. Not one, not two, but THREE Overtimes were needed before Stonehill College emerged with a 57-54 victory.
NAIA VERSUS NCAA D3
In addition to Carroll College over Linfield College came these games:
LIKE RIDING A BICYCLE – The NAIA’s LAWRENCE TECH BLUE DEVILS are playing their first year of intercollegiate football in seven decades but it all came right back to them! The Blue Devils improved to 2-0 Saturday at NCAA Division 3’s WISCONSIN LUTHERAN COLLEGE FALCONS. After trailing 14-3 at the break Lawrence Tech stormed back to win the game 30-22.
HISTORY FOR INDIANA WESLEYAN – The INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS, an NAIA team, are in their first ever year of intercollegiate football. The Wildcats evened their record at 1-1 with their program’s very first victory. Indiana Wesleyan traveled to face D3’s ANDERSON UNIVERSITY RAVENS and dismembered them SIXTY-ONE to SIX!
TEXAS TUSSLE – The NAIA’s WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY PIONEERS played host to the AUSTIN COLLEGE KANGAROOS from NCAA D3. The 1st Quarter ended in a 10-0 lead for the Pioneers followed by a scoreless 2nd Quarter. After the break Wayland Baptist and the Kangaroos went blow for blow and score for score as the Pioneers won it 24-14.
SHOOTOUT IN ARIZONA – Points flew like shrapnel in this game which pitted the ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM from the NAIA against D3’s visiting WHITTIER COLLEGE POETS. A 14-7 1st Quarter lead for the Firestorm turned into a 27-14 advantage by Halftime. From there Arizona Christian outscored the Poets 40-28 for a 67-42 triumph.
INSTANT CLASSICS – The NAIA’s MAYVILLE STATE COMETS hosted the NCAA’s COLLEGE OF SAINT SCHOLASTICA SAINTS and defeated them by a tight score of 33-29 ### And in another NAIA over D3 affair the CONCORDIA (NE) BULLDOGS won a 27-20 thriller against the BUENA VISTA UNIVERSITY BEAVERS.
BLOWOUTS – From the NAIA the PRESENTATION COLLEGE SAINTS manhandled their D3 guests the CROWN COLLEGE STORM to the tune of 42-14 yesterday ### And the VALLEY CITY STATE VIKINGS (NAIA) folded, spindled and mutilated the UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA AT MORRIS COUGARS (NCAA) in a FORTY-EIGHT to NOTHING laugher.
It was a clean sweep of NAIA teams over NCAA Division Three as the NAIA once again won the week.
NAIA
NUMBER NINE GETS TOPPLED – The 10th ranked GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS found themselves on the road against the number 9 team in the nation – the BAKER UNIVERSITY WILDCATS. The Vikings were chasing the Wildcats 10-7 to end the 1st Quarter but led 27-10 come Halftime. After the break Grand View outscored Baker U 12-7 for an authoritative 39-17 win.
OTHER UPSETS IN THE RANKINGS – The EVANGEL UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS stayed undefeated with a nailbiting 28-21 victory over the visiting (12) BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS ### Meanwhile the (20) ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE BATTLIN’ BEARS brought down the (13) DICKINSON STATE BLUE HAWKS 21-10 ### And the UNIVERSITY OF CUMBERLANDS PATRIOTS downed the (24) FAULKNER UNIVERSITY EAGLES in a 44-34 shootout.
RANKED TEAMS ON TOP – The (4) SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY RAIDERS survived a 35-28 visit from the COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES ### The (5) LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS clobbered the AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY GYRENES in a 44-15 affair ### And the (7) NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS crushed their hosts the UNIVERSITY OF JAMESTOWN JIMMIES 49-7.
PIGSKIN CLASSIC – The OTTAWA UNIVERSITY BRAVES welcomed the UNIVERSITY OF SAINT MARY SPIRES on Saturday. The Braves were on top 13-6 come Halftime but the Spires came back for a 27-26 edge to end the 3rd Quarter. Ottawa University notched a 4th Quarter field goal for a 29-27 squeaker win.
CELEBRATING LOPSIDED VICTORIES – The (21) KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY COYOTES held a “Celebrating College Football” event and proceeded to rend and annihilate their guests the FRIENDS UNIVERSITY FALCONS by a count of EIGHTY-THREE to NOTHING ### And the UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA-WESTERN BULLDOGS mauled the visiting MONTANA STATE-NORTHERN LIGHTS 55-3.
NCAA DIVISION TWO
NUMBER ONE SURVIVES A SCARE – The top ranked MINNESOTA STATE MAVERICKS were on the road against the AUGUSTANA (SD) VIKINGS. The Mavericks trailed the Vikings 13-7 in the 1st Quarter and 20-14 at the Half. The 3rd Quarter ended with Augustana clinging to a 30-28 edge before Minnesota State came from behind for a 38-36 triumph.
UPSETS IN THE TOP TWENTY-FIVE – Aside from the aforementioned West Florida upset at the hands of Midwestern State there was only one other surprise in the D2 rankings on Saturday. The number 24 OHIO DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY PANTHERS won a tight 24-17 clash with the 18th ranked ASHLAND UNIVERSITY EAGLES.
WORKIN’ OVERTIME – The HENDERSON STATE REDDIES took it on the road against the ARKANSAS TECH WONDERBOYS. The 4th Quarter ended in a 31-31 tie before the Reddies went on to win it 38-31 in the extra session. ### And the MICHIGAN TECH HUSKIES won by a missed PAT in their 31-30 OT battle with the storied HILLSDALE COLLEGE CHARGERS.
KING CRIMSON – The SOUTHERN NAZARENE UNIVERSITY CRIMSON STORM defended their home field against the EAST CENTRAL UNIVERSITY TIGERS on Saturday. The Crimson Storm trailed 7-0 in the 1st Quarter before seizing a 21-7 Halftime lead. That became a 31-13 advantage to end the 3rd Quarter and finally a 45-20 victory.
ALL-NAME GAMES – The ARKANSAS UNIVERSITY AT MONTICELLO BOLL WEEVILS survived a 44-36 invasion from the NORTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE RANGERS ### The MISSOURI S&T MINERS notched a road win over the NORTHWOOD UNIVERSITY TIMBERWOLVES 27-16 ### And the DIXIE STATE TRAILBLAZERS crushed the FORT LEWIS COLLEGE SKYHAWKS 31-3.
NCAA DIVISION THREE
UPSETS IN THE TOP TWENTY-FIVE – The MONMOUTH COLLEGE FIGHTING SCOTS toppled the visiting (13) WARTBURG COLLEGE KNIGHTS by a final score of 24-18 ### Meanwhile the SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY RIVER HAWKS downed the (18) JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY BLUE JAYS 37-35 ### And the UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT LACROSSE EAGLES stunned their hosts the (21) ILLINOIS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY TITANS 34-31.
PERFIDIOUS ALBION – For my fellow Napoleon geeks we’ll look at yesterday’s game between the ALBION COLLEGE BRITONS and the FRANKLIN COLLEGE GRIZZLIES. The Britons grabbed a quick 21-14 lead in the 1st Quarter and increased that to a 42-28 advantage by Halftime. When the dust settled in this shootout Albion College had beaten the Grizzlies 56-35.
FOUR QUARTERS WEREN’T ENOUGH – In Overtime games: The UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT EAU CLAIRE BLUGOLDS won a 30-23 battle with the visiting SAINT NORBERT COLLEGE GREEN KNIGHTS ### And the WILKES UNIVERSITY COLONELS defeated their hosts the LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE FLYING DUTCHMEN by a final tally of 30-27.
THEY! CAN! SCORE! … FIFTY-FIVE! – The (15) WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON COLLEGE PRESIDENTS faced the THIEL COLLEGE TOMCATS yesterday. The Presidents seized a quick 21-0 lead over the Tomcats in the opening Quarter and never looked back. When all was said and done Washington & Jefferson College embarrassed Thiel 55-0.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN – On Saturday the NEBRASKA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY PRAIRIE WOLVES traveled to take on the ILLINOIS COLLEGE BLUE BOYS. After a scoreless 1st Quarter the Prairie Wolves went on top 17-6 by Halftime. The 3rd Quarter was as scoreless as the 1st, but the 4th saw more action as Nebraska Wesleyan University thrashed the Blue Boys 31-12.
NCCAA
NUMBER FOUR TAKES A FALL – The 9th ranked KENTUCKY CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS were on the road against the number 4 team in the nation – the WARNER UNIVERSITY ROYALS. The Knights were on top 20-14 in the 1st Quarter and 34-14 at the Half. The 3rd Quarter saw the Royals climb back to within 34-27 but KCU wound up winning the game 41-34.
NUMBER ONE DOMINATES – The country’s number 1 team – the CONCORDIA (MI) CARDINALS – took the field against the visiting 6th ranked TRINITY INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY TROJANS. The Cardinals – who are also at number 16 in the NAIA rankings – thoroughly dominated on both sides of the ball in a FIFTY-ONE to SEVEN beatdown.
GUTSY MANEUVER – The NCCAA’s VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY OF LYNCHBURG DRAGONS (helmet at left) showed the courage to do a road game against DIVISION ONE’s Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats. The Dragons fell 79-16 but let’s face it: putting up 16 points against a Division One team is like scoring 48 against a peer. And this is the kind of gutsy maneuver that D3’s Mount Union would be too terrified to EVER try.
THEY WERE BORN AS RAMBLING RAMS – The BLUEFIELD COLLEGE RAMBLING RAMS took on the homestanding CINCINNATI CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY EAGLES (should be the Bridgers) on Saturday. A tight 10-7 1st Quarter game with the Rambling Ram on top turned into a 26-7 Bluefield College lead at the break. From there the Rambling Rams coasted to a 45-7 blowout win.
TORNADO WARNING – The GENEVA COLLEGE GOLDEN TORNADOES played host to the KALAMAZOO COLLEGE HORNETS. At Halftime the Golden Tornadoes were trailing the Hornets 27-3 and when the 3rd Quarter ended Geneva College had only cut that to a 27-9 score. In the 4th the Golden Tornadoes came storming back to put up TWENTY-TWO unanswered points for a 31-27 comeback victory.
NJCAA
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER TWELVE – This game pitted the TYLER COLLEGE APACHES against their hosts, the 12th ranked TRINITY VALLEY COLLEGE CARDINALS. Halftime found the Apaches clinging to a 20-17 edge over the Cardinals. After the break Tyler College expanded their lead to 34-24 to end the 3rd Quarter before winning it 37-24.
OTHER UPSETS IN THE RANKINGS – The COFFEYVILLE COLLEGE RED RAVENS welcomed the number 17 IOWA CENTRAL COLLEGE TRITONS and notched their 600th win in team history with a 47-32 victory ### And the BUTLER (KS) GRIZZLIES traveled to face the 18th ranked HIGHLAND COLLEGE SCOTTIES, knocking them off in a 35-27 Instant Classic.
WORKIN’ OVERTIME – The MESABI RANGE COLLEGE NORSE did battle with the MINNESOTA WEST TECH BLUE JAYS. The Norse trailed the Blue Jays 14-7 in the 1st Quarter but tied things up at 14-14 by Halftime. The 4th Quarter ended in a 25-25 deadlock before Mesabi Range College went on to win it in Overtime 28-25.
CATEGORY THREE VICTORY – Saturday saw the LOUISBURG COLLEGE HURRICANES take the field against the visiting LITTLEJOHN SPORTS ACADEMY RAVENS. The Hurricanes proceeded to blow the Ravens all over the gridiron, dominating on both sides of the ball and ultimately emerging with a decisive FORTY-TWO to NOTHING victory.
ROAD WARRIORS – The CISCO COLLEGE WRANGLERS slammed, bammed and thank-you-ma’amed their hosts the TEXAS A&T DRILLERS in a SEVENTY-TWO to SIX laugher ### Meanwhile the DAKOTA COLLEGE AT BOTTINEAU LUMBERJACKS won a 16-0 affair at the ROCHESTER TECHNICAL COLLEGE YELLOW JACKETS ### And the GLENDALE (AZ) COLLEGE GAUCHOS won handily against the PHOENIX COLLEGE BEARS 36-19.
Many helmets courtesy of the Helmet Project.
NAIA football should be better known!
I agree!
I love Lawrence Tech! I want my son to play there!
That is good to hear!
Lawrence Tech?
Yes they are!
Great article. I really enjoy seeing less famous teams get some attention.
Thank you very much. I know how you feel.
NAIA football sucks.
No it doesn’t.
I like reading about some of the smaller college teams.
Glad to hear it!
Incredible! I never heard of these teams before!
I’m always happy to spread the word.