HEADLINES
NAIA OVER NCAA DIVISION TWO – The NAIA’s FLORIDA MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY LIONS traveled to face the higher NCAA Division Two team the ALLEN UNIVERSITY YELLOWJACKETS. Allen University parlayed their 10-7 1st Quarter edge into a 31-21 advantage by Halftime. From there the Lions shut out their opponents and came from behind for a 38-31 Upset.
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER THREE – Down in NCAA Division Three, the 5th ranked team in the nation – the WHEATON COLLEGE THUNDER – played host to the number 3 UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT UNION PURPLE RAIDERS. The Thunder put Mount Union on Upset Alert with their 17-7 lead at the Half only for the Purple Raiders to tie things up at 17-17 in the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th, Wheaton College managed a 24-23 victory. Continue reading
NAIA OVER NCAA DIVISION TWO – Another Upset of a D2 team by an NAIA football team. The BETHEL (TN) WILDCATS took the field against the visiting MILES COLLEGE DRAGONS. The Wildcats grabbed a quick 13-3 advantage in the 1st Quarter, then made that 16-3 by Halftime. It was all defense from there as neither team added any more points to the scoreboard. 16-3 was the final count as well. 
NCAA DIVISION TWO OVER NCAA DIVISION ONE – In this game D2’s ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY LAKERS traveled to take on D1’s CHICAGO STATE COUGARS. Chicago State led 7-3 in the opening Quarter, but the Lakers took over from there. At the Half, Roosevelt U. was on top 27-14, which morphed into a 37-21 lead to end the 3rd Quarter. The teams exchanged TDs in the 4th as the Lakers won out 44-28. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER THREE – Back in the NAIA, the nation’s 7th ranked MORNINGSIDE UNIVERSITY MUSTANGS welcomed the number 3 BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS. A 7-7 1st Quarter tie became a 14-7 Mustangs advantage by the midpoint of the game. In the 3rd Quarter the Ravens went up 21-20 only to see Morningside University come back in the 4th for a 35-28 triumph. 
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics)
Independent College Football Teams
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The defending champs – the COLLEGE OF SAN MATEO BULLDOGS – battled the GOLDEN WEST COLLEGE RUSTLERS. A 7-0 opening Quarter edge for the Bulldogs became a 21-7 lead at the Half. 28-7 was the score to close the 3rd Quarter and a missed PAT ended a valiant Rustlers rally in the 4th as San Mateo held on to win 28-27.
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The KEISER UNIVERSITY SEAHAWKS took the field against the visiting COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES. The Seahawks watched their 9-0 1st Quarter lead morph into a 21-9 College of Idaho advantage by Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with Keiser pulling to within 21-16 of the Coyotes and an explosive 4th ended in a 36-27 victory for the Seahawks. 
FIRST QUARTERFINAL – The BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS traveled to face the FRIENDS UNIVERSITY FALCONS. A 10-0 1st Quarter lead for the Ravens became a 17-7 score going into Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with Benedictine College up 24-15 before they went on to eliminate the Falcons in the 4th 24-18. 
SECOND QUARTERFINAL – The COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES were on the road against the undefeated MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS in this game. At the Half, the Coyotes were clinging to a mere 14-13 edge over Montana Tech. An enormous 3rd Quarter for the College of Idaho put them on top 34-13, then a 4th Quarter rally for the Orediggers fell far short in a 41-26 loss. 
ROUND TWO: GAME TWO – In this game the MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS entertained the DORDT UNIVERSITY DEFENDERS. A 6-0 opening Quarter edge for the Knights became 14-0 at the Half. After the break, the Defenders outscored Marian University 18-12 but that still left them short as the Knights logged a 26-18 triumph. 
ROUND TWO: GAME THREE – The MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS took the field against the visiting CARROLL (MT) COLLEGE FIGHTING SAINTS. The Orediggers had it all their own way at first and took a 17-0 advantage into the locker room. The Fighting Saints rallied in the 3rd Quarter, pulling to within 24-21 of Montana Tech, but the Orediggers won out 31-21 in the 4th. 
ROUND ONE: GAME ONE – The SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY FIRE welcomed the REINHARDT UNIVERSITY EAGLES (should be Rottweilers). The Fire led 14-7 in the opening Quarter and 21-10 by Halftime. Neither team scored in the 3rd Quarter, but Reinhardt University mounted a fierce rally in the 4th. Southeastern University held on for a 24-22 victory. 
ROUND ONE: GAME TWO – A more lopsided affair was to be had in Oskaloosa, IA as the WILLIAM PENN UNIVERSITY STATESMEN played host to the TEXAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY RAMS. The 1st Half ended with the Statesmen out in front 21-3. After the break, William Penn U. outscored the Rams 17-6 to win the game 38-9.
ROUND ONE: GAME THREE – The UNIVERSITY OF ST. FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS took the field against the visiting EVANGEL UNIVERSITY VALOR. A 7-0 opening Quarter advantage for the Valor became a mere 10-7 edge come Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with the Cougars within 12-10, then in the 4th they came from behind for a 13-12 triumph. 
The 4th seeded CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO RAMS will host the 5 seeds – the FRESNO CITY COLLEGE RAMS. 
The 3rd seeded DIABLO VALLEY COLLEGE VIKINGS will host the 6 seeds – the BUTTE COLLEGE ROADRUNNERS. 
NUMBER FIVE FALTERS – Down in NCAA Division Three, the UNIVERSITY OF MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR CRUSADERS played host to the country’s number 5 HARDIN-SIMMONS UNIVERSITY COWBOYS. At the Half the score was knotted up at 7-7 but the 3rd Quarter ended with the Cowboys up 10-7. In the 4th, the Crusaders came from behind for a 21-17 Upset. 
UNLUCKY OVER LUCKY – Staying in D3 for a moment, the unlucky number 13 CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY CAPTAINS played the visiting lucky number 7 SALISBURY UNIVERSITY SEA GULLS. The Sea Gulls were up 30-28 at the midpoint of the game. From there, the Captains rallied to win out 45-42. 
Balladeer's Blog 