*** HEADLINES ***
ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY RULES THE WORLD – Several times a year NAIA football teams manage upsets of teams from NCAA Division TWO! Yesterday saw multiple instances, too, like the ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM battling the Division 2 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY CLAN (as in Scottish Clan). The Firestorm won this Instant Classic by a final score of 34-28.
TAYLOR UNIVERSITY TOPPLES D2 AS WELL – For newbies to these divisions these NAIA over NCAA Division 2 upsets are like when 1AA teams upset 1A teams. In this game the TAYLOR UNIVERSITY TROJANS did battle with D2’s MALONE UNIVERSITY PIONEERS. Spectators got more than their money’s worth in this matchup, too, which saw the Trojans emerge with a 28-21 victory.
LANGSTON CRUSHES DIVISION TWO – The NAIA’s LANGSTON UNIVERSITY LIONS took on NCAA Division Two’s LINCOLN (MO) UNIVERSITY BLUE TIGERS in The LU Classic. The Lions dominated the Blue Tigers on both sides of the ball, defeating them 30-14 in their own house. REMEMBER: Any wins over D2 teams count as 2 wins each in my weekly NAIA vs NCAA Division Three tally. Continue reading
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) 
NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) 
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The FULLERTON COLLEGE HORNETS and the AMERICAN RIVER COLLEGE BEAVERS played each other for the CCCAA title. The Beavers managed a 3-0 lead to end the 1st Quarter but by Halftime the Hornets held a 14-13 edge. After the break it seemed Fullerton College was putting it out of reach as they compiled a 29-13 lead but American River College came back to within 29-21 to end the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th a missed 2-point conversion by the Beavers gave the Hornets a 29-27 win and the 2016 title. 
SEMIFINAL ONE – This game pitted the NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE BEARCATS – the Defending Champions of D2 football – against the visiting FERRIS STATE BULLDOGS. The Bearcats led 21-13 at the break following which the two teams exchanged Touchdowns in the 3rd Quarter. Northwest Missouri State scored another TD in the 4th, making the score 35-20 and ending the scoring with just 4:45 left to play. The Bearcats return to the title game. 
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS TOPPLED – The 10th seeded EASTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY MOUNTAINEERS traveled to face the top seeded Defending National Champions of NAIA football – the MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS. After a scoreless 1st Quarter the Mountaineers put the Knights on upset alert with a 10-0 Halftime lead. Following the break Eastern Oregon consummated the upset by bringing down Marian U in a 17-0 shutout. 
HIGH DESERT BOWL – In this game the ANTELOPE VALLEY COLLEGE MARAUDERS took on the VICTOR VALLEY COLLEGE RAMS. The teams went blow for blow, with a 7-7 1st Quarter tie and a 14-14 Halftime draw. After the break the Marauders got some separation from the Rams, ultimately winning the game 35-21. 
GOLDEN STATE BOWL – The MOUNT SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE MOUNTIES clashed with the COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS COUGARS in this year’s Golden State Bowl. The Mounties actually fell behind 3-0 in the 1st Quarter but never let the Cougars score again. By the midpoint Mount SAC led 17-3 and in the 2nd Half coasted to a 27-3 victory. 
OVERTIME MAGNUM OPUS – The (8) LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS hosted the (9) GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS in a typically tight 8 seed versus 9 seed game. The Blue Raiders came back from being down 3-0 in the 1st Quarter to take a 17-10 lead into Halftime. The Vikings retook the lead 27-24 to end the 3rd Quarter, with a 4th Quarter Field Goal from Lindsey Wilson forcing OT with a 27-27 tie. The Blue Raiders scored 7 on their possession then shut out Grand View for a 34-27 triumph.
THE WAR OUT WEST – The (6) MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS took the field against the visiting (11) DICKINSON STATE BLUE HAWKS. The Orediggers seized a 14-0 advantage in the 1st Quarter with the two teams exchanging a Touchdown apiece in the 2nd. After the break the Blue Hawks edged closer but Montana Tech kept them off at just enough distance for a 28-21 victory. 
DOUBLE OVERTIME DYNAMITE – The SANTA BARBARA CITY COLLEGE VAQUEROS played host to the CITRUS COLLEGE OWLS in a game for the ages. The Vaqueros trailed the Owls 7-0 in the 1st Quarter and 14-10 at Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with Citrus College on top 28-17 but Santa Barbara City College came back to force Overtime with a 31-31 tie to end Regulation. The teams exchanged TDs in the 1st OT but in the 2nd the Vaqueros’ Carlos Benitez returned a blocked PAT for 2 points, cutting it to a 44-40 Owl lead. From there a TD run made it a 46-44 SBCC win. 
NUMBER THREE TAKES A FALL – The 6th ranked SADDLEBACK COLLEGE GAUCHOS welcomed the number 3 FULLERTON COLLEGE HORNETS for a Battle Royal. The Gauchos trailed the Hornets 14-6 in the 1st Quarter and 21-17 by Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with Fullerton College clinging to a 24-23 edge but Saddleback College managed a 4th Quarter comeback for a 30-27 victory. 
TAKING DOWN NUMBER TWO – The unranked GOLDEN WEST COLLEGE RUSTLERS engaged in a gridiron grudge match with the visiting 2nd ranked SADDLEBACK COLLEGE GAUCHOS. After a scoreless 1st Quarter the Rustlers managed a 7-0 edge by Halftime. From there Golden West College clung to a 14-10 lead over the Gauchos to end the 3rd Quarter and held their opponents off for a 20-17 upset win. 
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