*** HEADLINES ***
MARIAN UNIVERSITY RULES THE WORLD – Every week multiple NAIA teams upset teams from higher divisions. Starting us off this week are the MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS from the NAIA, who traveled to face the NCAA Division Two team the UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS GREYHOUNDS. The Knights showed the Greyhounds how it’s done, spanking them 38-16.
DOANE COLLEGE PLAYED GIANT-SLAYER, TOO – The NAIA’s DOANE COLLEGE TIGERS were on the road against the NCAA Division Two team the WILLIAM JEWELL COLLEGE CARDINALS. The Tigers nearly doubled-up on their higher division opponent in a 23-12 upset. These wins over higher division foes count as 2 wins in the rivalry so this made it NAIA-4, D3-0 so far this week. Continue reading
NCAA D3 – UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT WHITEWATER WARHAWKS ### 2. UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT UNION PURPLE RAIDERS (Defending Champions) ### 3. UNIVERSITY OF SAINT THOMAS TOMMIES ### 4. LINFIELD COLLEGE WILDCATS ### 5. WHEATON (IL) COLLEGE THUNDER ### 
LANGSTON RULES THE WORLD – The NAIA tradition of upsetting higher division teams at least once a week continues! The LANGSTON UNIVERSITY LIONS were guests of the NCAA Division TWO team the LINCOLN (MO) UNIVERSITY BLUE TIGERS. The Lions proceeded to mar this game called the L.U. Classic, toppling the home team by a final score of 23-13. 
THE JAVELINAS ALSO RULE THE WORLD – The NCAA Division Two team called the TEXAS A&M AT KINGSVILLE JAVELINAS took it on the road against the Division ONE team the UNIVERSITY OF THE INCARNATE WORD CARDINALS. When the dust had settled in this thrilling game the Javelinas had also brought down a higher division team, in this case by a count of 31-22. 
MESS WITH FIRE AND YOU GET BURNED – The SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY FIRE traveled to face the 19th ranked FAULKNER UNIVERSITY EAGLES (should be the Furies) in a game marking 10 years of the Faulkner football program. The Fire marred the celebration in what turned out to be a textbook example of defensive football. The final score was Southeastern University 10 Faulkner University 6. 
The MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS are the NAIA champs and the UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT UNION PURPLE RAIDERS are the champs of D3.
Readers of Balladeer’s Blog get to vote on the winner over the next week, so NAIA and D3 boosters can begin their annual deluge of emails to me arguing for their choice. 
NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) 
BEARCATS BACK ON THE THRONE – Since 1998 the NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE BEARCATS have won 5 National Championships and played in 9 title games, making them the most dominant team in D2 football for nearly 2 decades. Yesterday they took on the SHEPHERD UNIVERSITY RAMS, who were playing in their very first championship game. The Bearcats dominated from start to finish, winning by a final count of 34-7. * The Bearcats are the 2015 Champions of NCAA Division Two! * 
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO RAMS took on the SADDLEBACK COLLEGE GAUCHOS for the CCCAA title. The Rams notched a 6-0 lead in the 1st Quarter but neither team scored in the 2nd. The 2nd Half saw CCSF make it a 13-0 game headed into the 4th Quarter. The Gauchos outscored the Rams 14-13 in that Quarter, but CCSF won the game 26-14. * THE RAMS ARE CCCAA CHAMPIONS. * 
MISSISSIPPI BOWL – The number 1 NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE RANGERS clashed with the 2nd ranked ROCHESTER TECH YELLOW JACKETS for the NJCAA title. The Rangers held the Yellow Jackets scoreless until the 4th Quarter while scoring at will themselves. At the Half Northwest Mississippi led 35-0 on their way to a 66-13 annihilation of Rochester Tech. * The Rangers are NJCAA Champions for 2015.* 
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY RAIDERS – the defending champions of NAIA football – visited the MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS yesterday. The Raiders led 6-0 in the 1st Quarter but trailed the Mustangs 7-6 at Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with SOU on top 23-21 and in the 4th the Raiders outscored the Mustangs 7-6 for a 30-27 victory and a return trip to the title game on December 19th. 
