NAIA
ONE-POINT WONDER – The AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY GYRENES played host to the WARNER UNIVERSITY ROYALS yesterday. The Gyrenes were up 7-3 in the 1st Quarter but the Royals knotted things up at 17-17 by Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with Warner U leading 31-23 before Ave Maria University came back in the 4th to win the game 32-31.
UNHAPPY HOMECOMINGS – The DOANE COLLEGE TIGERS ruined Homecoming for the HASTINGS COLLEGE BRONCOS by defeating them 52-37 ### Meanwhile the CONCORDIA (NE) BULLDOGS won 24-9 at the BRIAR CLIFF UNIVERSITY CHARGERS’ Homecoming ### And the KEISER UNIVERSITY SEAHAWKS crushed the SAINT THOMAS UNIVERSITY BOBCATS 49-10 to spoil their festivities.
CLASH IN KANSAS – The BETHEL COLLEGE THRESHERS improved to 3-0 against their hosts the STERLING COLLEGE WARRIORS. The Threshers converted a 9-7 1st Quarter edge into a 35-7 advantage at the Half. From there they outscored the Warriors 16-14 for a 51-21 victory. Continue reading
ROAD SHUTOUTS – The BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS crushed their hosts the CLARKE UNIVERSITY PRIDE to the tune of 38-0 ### Meanwhile the DAKOTA STATE TROJANS dismembered the PRESENTATION COLLEGE SAINTS 42-0 in their own house ### And the CENTRAL METHODIST UNIVERSITY EAGLES likewise won 42-0 at the GRACELAND YELLOW JACKETS. 
NO WIN FOR YOU! – The AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY GYRENES kept the visiting FLORIDA MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY LIONS winless. The Lions are playing in their very first year of intercollegiate football and the Gyrenes made them 0-2 with a 42-6 beatdown. 
WORKIN’ OVERTIME – The CONCORDIA (NE) BULLDOGS hosted the HASTINGS COLLEGE BRONCOS on Saturday. Four Quarters weren’t enough for these two Great Plains Athletic Conference foes, with Regulation ending in a 28-28 tie. In Overtime Concordia shut out the Broncos then scored a Touchdown to win it 34-28. 
COMEBACK KIDS – The WARNER UNIVERSITY ROYALS hosted the WEBBER INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY WARRIORS yesterday. The Royals were chasing the Warriors 3-0 to end the 1st Quarter and 10-3 come Halftime. Late in the 3rd Quarter Warner University tied things up at 10-10 before finishing off Webber International in the 4th by a final score of 24-17. 
DYNAMIC DEFENDERS – The DORDT COLLEGE DEFENDERS took it on the road against the MIDLAND UNIVERSITY WARRIORS (should be the Lutherans). Neither team scored in the first 12 and a half minutes of the opening Quarter but the Defenders were on top 14-0 before the 2nd Quarter got underway. At the Half Dordt College was up 14-7 and 16-7 to end the 3rd. From there the Defenders won out 22-14. 
AG BOWL – The 5th Annual Ag Bowl pitted the DICKINSON STATE BLUE HAWKS against the DAKOTA STATE TROJANS. A 14-7 1st Quarter lead for the Blue Hawks became a 14-14 tie by the midpoint of the game. After the break Dickinson State led the Trojans 20-14 in the 3rd Quarter, then carried through with a 26-14 triumph. 
The DODGE CITY COLLEGE CONQUISTADORS, out of the 
Jayhawk Conference, welcome the TRINITY VALLEY COLLEGE CARDINALS, from the Western States Football League. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00PM Central Time. 
Another Jayhawk Conference team, the COFFEYVILLE 
COLLEGE RED RAVENS, take it on the road against the ELLSWORTH COLLEGE PANTHERS, out of the Iowa Collegiate Conference. This game also kicks off at 7:00PM Central Time. 
The VERMILION COLLEGE IRONMEN travel to face the 
MINNESOTA STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE SPARTANS in a gridiron grudge match between two teams from the Minnesota College Athletic Conference. The game is set to kick off at 3:00PM Central Time. 
Balladeer’s Blog is happy to announce that at least one of the many divisions of college football covered here has made an announcement about their 2020 season. The NJCAA will begin practices on August 1st and the opening night of the season will be Thursday, August 20th. 
The NFL draft is just a few months away and the internet is in overdrive with speculation on how the draft could play out. Rather than bore readers with another of the countless mock drafts out there here is a more light-hearted item – a look at some of the worst draft picks ever made. 
Balladeer’s Bowl always pits the NAIA football champs against the NCAA D3 football champs. The results are in, and the NAIA champs got the victory. The MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS defeated the NORTH CENTRAL (IL) COLLEGE CARDINALS in Balladeer’s Bowl X. 
The MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS are the NAIA Champions for 2019. 
Readers of Balladeer’s Blog get to vote on the winner, to be announced on New Year’s Day, so NAIA and D3 boosters can begin their annual deluge of emails to me arguing for their choice. 
NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) 
USCAA (United States Collegiate Athletic Association)
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA ARGONAUTS were not only THE story of the D2 playoffs once again but this time they sealed the deal against their opponents the MINNESOTA STATE MAVERICKS! A 14-14 1st Quarter tie turned into a 38-21 Argonauts lead by the Half. 
Balladeer's Blog 