COLLEGE FOOTBALL RESULTS FROM AUGUST 26th

Balladeer’s Blog continues its college football coverage on this weekend which kicked off the 2023 season in two of the divisions I deal with here.

NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics)

UPSETS IN THE RANKINGS – The ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE BATTLIN’ BEARS hosted the 19th ranked DICKINSON STATE BLUE HAWKS yesterday and upset them in a 20-19 nailbiter    ###    And the EVANGEL UNIVERSITY VALOR took down the visiting number 20 KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY COYOTES.

TUSSLE IN THE TOP SEVEN – The number 4 team in the nation – the MORNINGSIDE UNIVERSITY MUSTANGS – took it on the road against the 7th ranked BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS. The Mustangs led 7-0 in the 1st Quarter but the Ravens went up 10-7 by Halftime. That turned into a 13-10 edge for Morningside University to end the 3rd Quarter before the Mustangs won out 20-17 in the 4th.

SHUTOUTS – The MONTANA STATE-NORTHERN LIGHTS blanked the MAYVILLE STATE COMETS 14-0   ###   Meanwhile, the UNION COLLEGE BULLDOGS won 27-0 at the CUMBERLAND UNIVERSITY PHOENIX   ###   And the UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS PATRIOTS clobbered the KENTUCKY CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS 44-0.

WORKIN’ OVERTIME – The HASTINGS COLLEGE BRONCOS paid a visit to the PERU STATE BOBCATS in this game. A 17-14 Bobcats lead at the Half turned into a 31-31 tie to end the 4th Quarter. In Overtime the Broncos stopped Peru State from scoring, then managed a Touchdown for themselves to win 37-31.

UNDER THE RADAR CLASSICS – The MIDAMERICA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY PIONEERS won a 24-21 thriller at the LANGSTON UNIVERSITY LIONS   ###   The MOUNT MARTY UNIVERSITY LANCERS downed the visiting CULVER-STOCKTON WILDCATS 28-23   ###   And the TAYLOR UNIVERSITY TROJANS edged the SAINT AMBROSE UNIVERSITY FIGHTING BEES 37-34.

ONE-POINT WONDER – This game pitted the UNIVERSITY OF PIKEVILLE BEARS against their hosts, the CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY TIGERS. The Tigers led 14-7 in the 1st Quarter and 21-7 come Halftime. A scoreless 3rd Quarter was followed by a fierce Bears rally in the 4th. Pikeville managed a 28-27 comeback victory.

WAS ONE TEAM PLAYING BASKETBALL? – The (23) BETHEL (KS) THRESHERS totaled the STERLING COLLEGE WARRIORS 53-3   ###   Elsewhere, the FRIENDS UNIVERSITY FALCONS defeated the UNIVERSITY OF SAINT MARY SPIRES 64-20   ###   And the (14) SAINT THOMAS UNIVERSITY BOBCATS (should be Tomcats) eviscerated the UNIVERSITY OF FT. LAUDERDALE EAGLES (should be the Flamingos) by a score of SEVENTY to FOURTEEN.

SMOKY VALLEY APPRECIATION DAY – I know I appreciated this clash between the (18) AVILA UNIVERSITY EAGLES (formerly the Avalanche) and the home standing BETHANY COLLEGE SWEDES. At the break Avila U. was clinging to an 18-17 edge, but that morphed into a 46-23 blowout win from there.

HAPPY HOME STANDS – The (17) OTTAWA UNIVERSITY (AZ) SPIRIT hammered their in-state rivals the ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM to the tune of 37-7    ###    And the DAKOTA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY TIGERS (should be Blue Tigers) likewise triumphed over their in-state opponents the DAKOTA STATE TROJANS 23-13.

SHOOTOUT – In this gridiron grudge match the BLUEFIELD COLLEGE RAMBLING RAMS welcomed the FLORIDA MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY LIONS. Points flew like shrapnel in this offensive clinic as a 30-21 lead for the Rambling Rams at Halftime ended up as a 50-47 squeaker when all was said and done.

BATTLES OF COOL-NAMED TEAMS – The (11) SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE MOUNDBUILDERS took the field against the visiting OTTAWA UNIVERSITY BRAVES and snuck past them 24-22    ###    And the (12) COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES lambasted their guests the LINCOLN UNIVERSITY OAKLANDERS 37-7.

NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association)

DEFENDING CHAMPS ON THE ROAD – The number 1 defending National Champions – the IOWA WESTERN COLLEGE REIVERS – traveled to face the DODGE CITY COLLEGE CONQUISTADORS. The Reivers got more than they bargained for in this smash-mouth battle. Their 14-6 Halftime lead became 24-20 to end the 3rd Quarter before Iowa Western prevailed 27-20 in the 4th.

UPSET IN THE TOP SEVEN – The HIGHLAND COLLEGE SCOTTIES took the country by surprise yesterday in their game against the visiting 7th ranked COFFEYVILLE COLLEGE RED RAVENS. A scoreless opening Quarter was followed by a 10-0 Scotties advantage at the Half. After the break the Red Ravens outscored Highland College 14-10 but fell short as the Scotties won out 20-14.

WHEN RANKED TEAMS CLASH – The number 2 team in the nation – the HUTCHINSON COLLEGE BLUE DRAGONS – visited the 11th ranked NAVARRO COLLEGE BULLDOGS. Neither team scored in the 1st Quarter, but the Blue Dragons held a 14-3 lead at the midpoint. Hutchinson exploded in the 3rd Quarter to go up 28-6. Two more TDs in the 4th gave the Blue Dragons a 42-6 victory.

BATTLE AT MOTHER FRANCIS ROSE STADIUM – This game pitted the (5) KILGORE COLLEGE RANGERS against their hosts the TYLER COLLEGE APACHES. The Rangers went up early and had the Apaches chasing them all night long. After all the dust had settled, Kilgore College (which has a Bye next Saturday) went back home with a 49-35 win.

BLOWOUTS – The NEW MEXICO MILITARY INSTITUTE BRONCOS (should be the Cavalry) folded, spindled and mutilated the visiting SAINT GEORGE COLLEGE EAGLES by a score of SEVENTY-FIVE to SEVENTEEN   ###   Meanwhile, the CISCO COLLEGE WRANGLERS demolished their guests the TWA COLLEGE BATTLECATS 57-7   ###   And the GEORGIA MILITARY COLLEGE BULLDOGS blanked the GEORGIA CHRISTIAN COLLEGE KNIGHTS in a 54-0 Peach State laugher.

ROAD WIN FOR NUMBER TEN – The 10th ranked IOWA CENTRAL COLLEGE TRITONS found themselves on the road against the INDEPENDENCE COLLEGE PIRATES. The Tritons seized a quick 14-3 lead in the 1st Quarter and kept their distance from the Pirates the rest of the way to a 28-15 triumph.

Helmets courtesy of the Helmet Project at Nationalchamps.net.