NUMBER ONE GETS DETHRONED – The 4th ranked EAST MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE LIONS welcomed the number 1 team in the nation – the NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE RANGERS. The Lions seized a 7-0 edge in the opening Quarter and built that into a 24-17 advantage at Halftime. After a tight 3rd Quarter East Mississippi College exploded for 20 points in the 4th, winning the game 51-32.
THE ALL-NAME GAME OF THE WEEK – The SCOTTSDALE COLLEGE FIGHTING ARTICHOKES (yes, really) traveled to face the EASTERN ARIZONA COLLEGE GILA MONSTERS. The Fighting Artichokes managed a 12-8 1st Quarter lead and then took charge from there. At the break they led the Gila Monsters 19-8 on their way to a FIFTY-TWO to TWENTY evisceration of their opponents. Continue reading
NAIA OVER NCAA – The lone NAIA vs NCAA battle this week saw the NAIA’s PRESENTATION COLLEGE SAINTS welcome the FINLANDIA UNIVERSITY LIONS out of the NCAA. The Saints showed the Lions how football is played, eviscerating them by a score of SEVENTY-FOUR to NOTHING! So far in 2016 the NAIA has won three weeks, the NCAA has won one week and two weeks have been a tie. 
USCAA GAME OF THE WEEK – Meanwhile in the USCAA (United States Collegiate Athletic Association) the WILLIAMSON COLLEGE OF THE TRADES MECHANICS took the field against the visiting GATTACA (NJ) COLLEGE STRAYERS. The Mechanics dominated in the game, doubling up on Gattaca College 28-14. 
MONARCHS ARE SIX AND OH – The 17th ranked LOS ANGELES VALLEY COLLEGE MONARCHS remained unbeaten following their defeat of the homestanding MOUNT SAN JACINTO COLLEGE EAGLES. The Monarchs seized a 20-0 lead in the 1st Quarter and didn’t let up from there, ultimately clobbering the Eagles by a final score of FIFTY-FIVE to FOURTEEN! 
DAWN FOR THE DONS – At the other extreme the SANTA ANA COLLEGE DONS finally got off the schneid for 2016. The Dons were on the road against the LOS ANGELES SOUTHWEST COLLEGE COUGARS and parlayed a 14-7 1st Quarter edge into a 38-14 Halftime advantage. Santa Ana College coasted from there for a 52-22 blowout win. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER SIX – The 12th ranked BUTTE COLLEGE ROADRUNNERS, where Aaron Rodgers got his start, were on the road against the number 6 CITY COLLEGE OF SAN FRANCISCO RAMS. The Roadrunners were looking for redemption after losing at home the week before and seized a 16-0 lead in the 1st Quarter. Butte College never looked back from there, spanking the Rams by a final score of FORTY-FOUR to SEVEN! 
NUMBER THREE GETS KNOCKED OFF – The unranked BLINN COLLEGE BUCCANEERS traveled to face the number 3 team in the nation – the TYLER COLLEGE APACHES. A 14-14 tie at Halftime became a 29-24 edge for the Buccaneers to end the 3rd Quarter. From there Blinn College toppled the Apaches by a final score of 50-35. 
In the style of Balladeer’s Blog’s separate examinations of Hawaiian and Samoan myths as a subset of Polynesian Mythology comes this look at the deities worshipped on the Polynesian outliers Bellona Island and Rennell Island. Despite its much smaller size Bellona had a larger population for much of their history.
MAHUIKE – The earthquake god of Bellona and Rennell Islands (henceforth Bel-Ren). Like his counterparts in Hawaii and Samoa, Mahuike lived far underground and caused earthquakes by pushing at the earth with both of his arms.
NUMBER TEN GETS KNOCKED OFF – The 24th ranked COLLEGE OF SAN MATEO BULLDOGS traveled to take on the number 10 team – the BUTTE COLLEGE ROADRUNNERS. A 7-7 tie in the 1st Quarter became a 14-7 lead for the Bulldogs by Halftime. Neither team scored in the 2nd Half so 14-7 was the final tally, too. The Roadrunners did not exactly get their Buttes kicked (Thank you! I’m here all week!) but they still lost at home. 
NUMBER TWELVE FALLS AT HOME – The crowd at Mashin-Roth Stadium was stunned on Saturday night as the unranked CHAFFEY COLLEGE PANTHERS came to visit the 12th ranked GROSSMONT COLLEGE GRIFFINS. At the midpoint the Panthers held just a 3-0 advantage and the 3rd Quarter ended in a 10-10 tie, but in the 4th Chaffey College managed a 17-10 upset of the Griffins. 
Every Raiders fan that is determined to keep the team from moving to Las Vegas must now look to Ronnie Lott and Rodney Peete because these retired National Football League Players just might have what it takes to subvert 
FLORIDA TECH CONQUERS DIVISION ONE – Division Two’s FLORIDA TECH PANTHERS took it on the road against Division ONE’s PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE BLUE HOSE. The Panthers sent a message, pushing the Blue Hose around the field on both sides of the ball. Florida Tech handily defeated Presbyterian College by a score of 28-7. 
NUMBER SIX TAKES A FALL – The 18th ranked EMPORIA STATE HORNETS visited the number 6 team in the country – the UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL MISSOURI MULES. This was a Battle Royal in which 4 Quarters wasn’t enough … One Overtime period wasn’t enough either. In DOUBLE OVERTIME the Hornets emerged with a 37-31 triumph over the Mules. 
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