NOTE: After this holiday weekend I’ll go back to football posts ONLY ONE DAY A WEEK for you readers who aren’t into sports. I’ll relocate WNBA coverage to just one separate weekday as well.
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics)
DOWN GOES NUMBER TEN – The 19th ranked BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS played the number 10 MORNINGSIDE UNIVERSITY MUSTANGS in their own house. The 1st Quarter ended with the Ravens up 21-3, and they would need all those points. The Mustangs pulled to within 28-17 at the Half and 35-30 in the 3rd Quarter before Benedictine held on in the 4th to win it 48-45.
CUMBERLAND ON THE ROAD – The CUMBERLAND UNIVERSITY PHOENIX traveled to face the MISSOURI BAPTIST UNIVERSITY SPARTANS. The opening Half of this game was deceptive as the Phoenix led by a score of 28-3 by the midpoint. After the break, the Spartans made it a whole different game, pulling to within 28-25 to end the 3rd Quarter, but Cumberland U. held on in the 4th for a 35-28 win.
UNDER THE RADAR THRILLER – This game pitted the AVILA UNIVERSITY AVALANCHE (now the Eagles) against the visiting BETHANY COLLEGE SWEDES. The Avalanche seized a quick 7-0 1st Quarter lead, following which neither team scored again until after the break. The Swedes tied things up at 7-7 in the 3rd Quarter, and an action-packed 4th saw Avila triumph 24-21. Continue reading
KISS THEIR BUTTE! – Out in Butte, MT the 21st ranked MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS welcomed the number 3 team in the nation – the GEORGETOWN (KY) COLLEGE TIGERS. A 7-7 1st Quarter tie became a 14-7 Orediggers lead by Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with Montana Tech up 21-14 and the 4th in a 29-22 Orediggers triumph! 
HISTORY WAS MADE – The WILLIAM PENN UNIVERSITY STATESMEN played host to the latest college playing its FIRST EVER intercollegiate football game – the WILLIAM WOODS UNIVERSITY OWLS. As usual, it wasn’t the kind of history that the newbies would have liked, as the Statesmen led 38-0 at the Half before winning the game 59-0. 
SUNSHINE STATE SHUTOUT – The WEBBER INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY WARRIORS hosted the UNIVERSITY OF FORT LAUDERDALE EAGLES (should be Flamingos). The Warriors achieved defensive perfection against UFL while leading them 7-0, 21-0 and 37-0 in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Quarters respectively. The 4th ended in a 40-0 shutout victory for Webber International University. 
THE COLLEGE OF DUPAGE CHAPARRALS VS THE ELLSWORTH COLLEGE PANTHERS – This NJCAA matchup last night kicked off the 2024 college football season in the divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog. On Saturday the NAIA joins the action as additional NJCAA games also kick off. 
1. HARDING UNIVERSITY BISON (Defending Champions) ### 2. PITTSBURG (KS) STATE GORILLAS ### 3. UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL MISSOURI MULES ### 4. FERRIS STATE BULLDOGS ### 
5. COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES OREDIGGERS ### 6. VALDOSTA STATE BLAZERS ### 7. GRAND VALLEY STATE LAKERS ### 8. KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY GOLDEN BEARS ### 
1. NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS ### 2. KEISER UNIVERSITY SEAHAWKS (Defending Champions) ### 3. MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS ### 4. GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS (should be Zebras) ### 
5. MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS ### 6. DORDT UNIVERSITY DEFENDERS ### 7. DICKINSON STATE UNIVERSITY BLUE HAWKS ### 8. SAINT XAVIER UNIVERSITY COUGARS ### 
AUGUST 24th
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics)
NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association)
THE NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPION-SHIP GAME BETWEEN THE NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS AND THE KEISER UNIVERSITY SEAHAWKS WILL BE PLAYED ON MONDAY THE 18th.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The battle for the D2 crown pitted the HARDING UNIVERSITY BISON against the COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES OREDIGGERS. The 1st Quarter ended in a 7-7 tie, but by Halftime the Bison were on top 21-7. Harding University shut out the Orediggers from there while continuing to score on the way to a 38-7 rout. * THE BISON ARE NCAA DIVISION TWO CHAMPIONS * 
Balladeer's Blog 