HEADLINES
NUMBER SIX TAKES A FALL – In the NAIA the BETHEL (TN) WILDCATS played host to the nation’s number 6 team – the REINHARDT UNIVERSITY EAGLES (should be the Rottweilers). In this tale of two Halves the Wildcats were on top 21-0 by the midpoint. In the 2nd Half a furious Reinhardt University rally fell just short as Bethel U won out 34-33.
HILLSDALE HOME STAND – The storied HILLSDALE COLLEGE CHARGERS took the field against the visiting MISSOURI S&T MINERS. The Miners led the Chargers 10-7 in the opening Quarter and 24-17 at Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with Missouri S&T in front 31-24 before Hillsdale College came back in the 4th for a 38-31 victory.
DOWN GOES NUMBER SEVEN – NCAA Division Two’s 22nd ranked HARDING UNIVERSITY BISON welcomed the number 7 team in the nation – the OUACHITA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY TIGERS. A 14-7 1st Quarter edge for the Bison became a 24-7 advantage by the Half. After the break both teams scored 14 more points as Harding University upset OBU 38-21. Continue reading
NUMBER FIVE TAKES A FALL – In NCAA Division 2 the NEWBERRY COLLEGE WOLVES hosted the nation’s 5th ranked LENOIR-RHYNE UNIVERSITY BEARS. A 7-7 1st Quarter tie became a 14-14 score at the Half. In the 3rd Quarter the Wolves went up 28-14 then held on in the 4th for a 28-21 Upset victory. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER EIGHT – Down in NCAA Division 3 the URSINUS COLLEGE BEARS visited the number 8 team in the country – the MUHLENBERG COLLEGE MULES. By Halftime the score was knotted up at 14-14. The 3rd Quarter ended in a 28-28 deadlock, following which the Bears won it in the 4th by a final score of 42-35. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER TEN – Up in the NAIA the 16th ranked KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY COYOTES took it on the road against the number 10 BETHEL COLLEGE (KS) THRESHERS. The Threshers were out in front 14-7 in the opening Quarter and 21-17 at the midpoint. Bethel College held a 24-17 advantage to end the 3rd Quarter but the Coyotes stormed from behind in the 4th to win the game 31-24. 
BLUEFIELD CONQUERS DIVISION TWO – The NAIA’s BLUEFIELD COLLEGE RAMBLING RAMS took it on the road against the NCAA Division Two team the EMORY & HENRY COLLEGE WASPS. For newbies this is like when 1AA teams take on 1A teams. Trailing 38-17 in the 4th Quarter the Rambling Rams came back to win 46-45!
GIANT-KILLERS – This week 3 NCAA Division 3 teams imitated the NAIA’s usual schtick of defeating teams from higher divisions. The UW-OSHKOSH TITANS won 28-10 at D2’s NORTHERN MICHIGAN WILDCATS ### Meanwhile the LINFIELD COLLEGE WILDCATS hammered D2’s SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY CLAN 56-20 ### And the WHITWORTH UNIVERSITY PIRATES edged D2’s LINCOLN (CA) UNIVERSITY OAKLANDERS 31-29. 
HISTORY WAS MADE – The BLUEFIELD STATE BIG BLUE managed the FIRST victory for their revived intercollegiate football program! After losing last week the Big Blue visited the ELIZABETH CITY STATE VIKINGS. Bluefield State trailed 21-0 in the 1st Quarter but tied things up 21-21 by Halftime. The Vikings went up 27-21 in the 3rd but the Big Blue came back to win it 35-27. 
MARATHON GAME OF THE WEEK – This particular designation goes to the clash between the SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY RIVER HAWKS and their hosts the FRANKLIN & MARSHALL COLLEGE DIPLOMATS. It took FIVE OVERTIMES before the River Hawks emerged with a 30-28 victory. 
INDIANA WESLEYAN CONQUERS DIVISION ONE – We already have 2021’s 2nd instance of an NAIA team toppling an NCAA Division ONE team. Every season these games in which NAIA football teams knock off teams from higher divisions like NCAA Divisions One or Two are great David vs Goliath stories! Yesterday the INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS hosted the D1 VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY BEACONS and won an authoritative 28-10 Upset.
LAWRENCE TECH CONQUERS DIVISION TWO – In the equivalent of a 1AA (FCS) team upsetting a 1A (FBS) team, the NAIA’s LAWRENCE TECH BLUE DEVILS took it on the road against the NCAA Division Two team the BLUEFIELD STATE BIG BLUE. A 7-7 1st Quarter tie was unchanged at Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended in a 14-14 deadlock before the Blue Devils won the game 21-14 in the 4th. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER ELEVEN – Meanwhile, down in NCAA Division Three the 19th ranked WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON COLLEGE PRESIDENTS traveled to face the number 11 JOHN CARROLL UNIVERSITY BLUE STREAKS. The defenses dominated the scoreless 1st Half, then the 3rd Quarter ended in a 7-7 tie. In the 4th the Presidents won it 21-7. 
UNION COLLEGE CONQUERS DIVISION ONE – Every season we get David over Goliath victories in which NAIA teams defeat higher division teams from either NCAA Divisions One or Two. Last night the UNION COLLEGE BULLDOGS traveled to face NCAA Division ONE’s CAMPBELL UNIVERSITY CAMELS. A slender 13-10 Halftime edge for the Bulldogs ultimately turned into a 33-18 Upset victory! 
DEFENDING CHAMPS ROLL – Meanwhile, the defending National Champions in the NAIA – the LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS – opened their 2021 season by hosting the WEBBER INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY WARRIORS. The Blue Raiders converted a 13-7 1st Quarter lead into a 30-7 advantage at Halftime and finally into a 58-7 blowout victory.
SHUTOUT – In this game the BETHEL (KS) COLLEGE THRESHERS took it on the road against the MCPHERSON COLLEGE BULLDOGS (should be the Mastiffs). The Threshers led McPherson 3-0 in the opening Quarter and 10-0 at the Half. After a scoreless 3rd Quarter Bethel College went on to win the game by a final tally of 24-0. 
STALLIONS, INTERRUPTED – The NORTH AMERICAN UNIVERSITY STALLIONS debuted in intercollegiate football last year, but of course Covid wreaked havoc on that historic season, with countless games canceled around the country. Yesterday the Stallions played their first game of their 2021 campaign, so we’ll see how things go this time around. 
RANKED TEAMS ROLLING – The (2) NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS trounced their hosts the PRESENTATION COLLEGE SAINTS (should be the Angels) to the tune of 66-9 ### Meanwhile the (5) GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS (should be the Zebras) won a 37-10 home stand against the CENTRAL METHODIST UNIVERSITY EAGLES ### And the (7) BAKER UNIVERSITY WILDCATS won on the road against the CULVER STOCKTON COLLEGE WILDCATS 38-36. 
WAR IN THE WINDY CITY – In this game the ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY LAKERS welcomed the MAYVILLE STATE COMETS. A 14-6 opening Quarter lead by the Lakers was cut to a 24-19 advantage by the Half. In the 3rd Quarter Roosevelt University extended their lead to 30-19 before squelching the Comets’ 4th Quarter rally for a 37-32 victory. 
5. BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS ### 6. MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS ### 7. KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY COYOTES ### 8. KEISER UNIVERSITY SEAHAWKS ### 
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The number 1 team in the nation – the HUTCHINSON COLLEGE BLUE DRAGONS – clashed with the 2nd ranked SNOW COLLEGE BADGERS for the NJCAA football crown yesterday. 
TEXAS THRILLER – The KILGORE COLLEGE RANGERS traveled to face the TRINITY VALLEY COLLEGE CARDINALS. A 9-7 Rangers edge in the 1st Quarter was reduced to an even tighter 15-14 score by Halftime. Kilgore College got a little separation from the Cardinals in the 3rd Quarter, going up 33-26, then held on against a Trinity Valley College rally in the 4th for a 40-36 triumph. 
NEO ON THE ROAD – The NORTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA A&M GOLDEN NORSEMEN were likewise on the road, in their case at the BLINN COLLEGE BUCCANEERS. At the Half the Golden Norsemen led the Buccaneers by a score of 14-7 and never looked back from there. After the break Northeastern Oklahoma A&M led 34-14 to end the 3rd Quarter and won the game 41-21 in the 4th. 
ONE-POINT WONDER – The COFFEYVILLE COLLEGE RED RAVENS played host to the BUTLER (KS) GRIZZLIES in a true thriller. A 14-7 1st Quarter lead for the Grizzlies turned into a 16-14 edge for the Red Ravens by Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with Butler College back on top by a score of 21-16 and in the 4th Coffeyville outscored their opponents 13-7 for a 29-28 victory.
SHUTOUTS – The ASA COLLEGE (FL) SILVER STORM paid a visit to the FIELD OF DREAMS SPORTS ACADEMY STALLIONS and struck them down by a commanding score of 28-0 ### And the HOCKING COLLEGE HAWKS were less than gracious hosts to the SUSSEX COUNTY COLLEGE SKYLANDERS, drubbing them by a final tally of 25-0. 
WIN IT IN THE FOURTH – In this game the CISCO COLLEGE WRANGLERS took it on the road against the NORTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA A&M GOLDEN NORSEMEN. The Golden Norsemen were out in front 6-0 in the 1st Quarter and 13-0 by the Half. In the 3rd Quarter the Wranglers pulled to within 13-7 before coming from behind in the 4th to win it 17-16. 
Balladeer's Blog 