The 2019 college football season kicks off this Thursday, August 22nd in the divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog. Here’s the D2 preseason rankings per the Glitternight Index:
NCAA Division Two – 1. MINNESOTA STATE MAVERICKS ### 2. FERRIS STATE BULLDOGS ### 3. VALDOSTA STATE BLAZERS ### 4. NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE BEARCATS ### 5. TEXAS A&M AT COMMERCE LIONS ###
6. COLORADO STATE AT PUEBLO THUNDERWOLVES ### 7. GRAND VALLEY STATE LAKERS ### 8. OUACHITA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY TIGERS ### 9. UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS GREYHOUNDS ### 10. HILLSDALE COLLEGE CHARGERS ### Continue reading
September 14th – The UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA ARGONAUTS at the SHORTER UNIVERSITY HAWKS … 1pm ET 
September 21st – The DELTA STATE STATESMEN host the FLORIDA TECH PANTHERS … 7pm ET 
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) 
NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) 
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The VALDOSTA STATE BLAZERS welcomed the NOTRE DAME COLLEGE FALCONS yesterday. The Blazers grabbed a 9-0 lead in the opening Quarter only to see the Falcons eke out a 10-9 edge by Halftime. Valdosta State exploded for a 30-17 advantage to end the 3rd Quarter, then held on from there for a 30-24 triumph. The Blazers showed once again why the Gulf Coast Conference is called “the SEC of D2 Football.” 
SECOND SEMIFINAL – In this game the BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS traveled to take on the KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY COYOTES. Not only did this clash end in an Upset but it was an odd tale of two halves. By the break the Coyotes had come back from being down 13-0 in the opening Quarter to trailing the Ravens by a much tighter score of 20-14. 
INSTANT CLASSIC IN KANSAS – This game pitted the KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY COYOTES against the visiting DICKINSON STATE BLUE HAWKS. The Coyotes led 14-7 to end the opening Quarter but the Blue Hawks went up 28-21 at the Half. That was cut to a 34-28 Dickinson State edge in the 3rd Quarter before Kansas Wesleyan came from behind to win the game 43-40.
DEFENDING CHAMPS STILL ROLLING – The Defending National Champions – the UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS – hosted the BAKER UNIVERSITY WILDCATS yesterday. The Cougars trailed 7-0 in the 1st Quarter but went on top of the Wildcats 20-13 by Halftime. After the break USF outscored Baker 13-10 for a 33-23 victory. 
TROUBLE RIGHT HERE IN ORANGE CITY – The DICKINSON STATE BLUE HAWKS traveled to face Orange City, IA’s NORTHWESTERN COLLEGE RED RAIDERS. After a scoreless opening Quarter the Blue Hawks were on top of the Red Raiders 7-6 come Halftime. Neither team scored in the 3rd Quarter following which Dickinson State added 7 more points in the 4th for a 14-6 Upset. 
UPSET IN INDIANAPOLIS – The SAINT XAVIER UNIVERSITY COUGARS took it on the road against their familiar foes the MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS in this game. A 14-14 1st Quarter tie was unchanged at the break. In the 3rd Quarter the Cougars grabbed a 24-21 lead then added 10 more points from there to win it 34-21. 
The 2nd seeded TARLETON STATE TEXANS 
The 3rd seeded UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA AT DULUTH
BULLDOGS 
DEFEAT FOR TWO NUMBER NINES – Over in the NAIA the number 14 BAKER UNIVERSITY WILDCATS took the field against the visiting 9th ranked EVANGEL UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS and toppled them 19-7 ### And down in NCAA Division Three the (22) BETHEL (MN) ROYALS downed the (9) UNIVERSITY OF SAINT THOMAS TOMMIES 21-15. 
Balladeer's Blog 