NAIA
SOMEONE’S “O” HAD TO GO – In a battle of unbeaten teams the KEISER UNIVERSITY SEAHAWKS traveled to face the SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY FIRE. After a 14-14 tie in the opening Quarter the Seahawks led 24-14 at the Half. From there the Fire pulled to within 3 points but no further as Keiser improved to 4-0 with a 31-28 triumph.
INSTANT CLASSIC IN ATCHISON – The BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS welcomed the PERU STATE BOBCATS yesterday. A 14-7 1st Quarter lead for the Ravens became a 21-21 tie at Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with Benedictine College up 28-27 over the Bobcats before winning it 31-27 when all was said and done.
CRUSADE IN MISSOURI – The EVANGEL UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS took on the visiting CLARKE UNIVERSITY PRIDE in this game. The Crusaders led 7-6 in the 1st Quarter and 21-6 at the break before the Pride fought to within 21-13 in the 3rd. Evangel University flexed their muscles in the 4th for a 28-13 victory. Continue reading
SHOOTOUT IN IOWA – The NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS took it on the road to face the DORDT COLLEGE DEFENDERS yesterday. The Red Raiders grabbed a 14-0 lead before the Defenders made it a 14-7 game by the end of the 1st Quarter. That became a 28-21 Northwestern College lead at Halftime and 42-30 in the 3rd Quarter. From there the Red Raiders held on to win it 48-40. 
TIGER ON TIGER VIOLENCE – The DAKOTA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY BLUE TIGERS visited the DOANE COLLEGE TIGERS. A 7-0 1st Quarter edge for the Blue Tigers was cut to 14-13 by the Half. Dakota Wesleyan went up 21-13 in the 3rd Quarter then held on against a furious Tigers rally in the 4th to get off the schneid 29-26. 
UNHAPPY HOMECOMINGS – The BAKER UNIVERSITY WILDCATS ruined Homecoming for the CLARKE UNIVERSITY PRIDE by obliterating them 57-3 ### Meanwhile the AVILA UNIVERSITY EAGLES (formerly the Avalanche) won a 41-6 game at the BETHANY COLLEGE SWEDES ### And the WALDORF COLLEGE WARRIORS handed the DAKOTA STATE TROJANS a 20-14 Homecoming loss. 
ONE-POINT WONDER – The AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY GYRENES played host to the WARNER UNIVERSITY ROYALS yesterday. The Gyrenes were up 7-3 in the 1st Quarter but the Royals knotted things up at 17-17 by Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with Warner U leading 31-23 before Ave Maria University came back in the 4th to win the game 32-31.
UNHAPPY HOMECOMINGS – The DOANE COLLEGE TIGERS ruined Homecoming for the HASTINGS COLLEGE BRONCOS by defeating them 52-37 ### Meanwhile the CONCORDIA (NE) BULLDOGS won 24-9 at the BRIAR CLIFF UNIVERSITY CHARGERS’ Homecoming ### And the KEISER UNIVERSITY SEAHAWKS crushed the SAINT THOMAS UNIVERSITY BOBCATS 49-10 to spoil their festivities. 
CLASH IN KANSAS – The BETHEL COLLEGE THRESHERS improved to 3-0 against their hosts the STERLING COLLEGE WARRIORS. The Threshers converted a 9-7 1st Quarter edge into a 35-7 advantage at the Half. From there they outscored the Warriors 16-14 for a 51-21 victory. 
NO WIN FOR YOU! – The AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY GYRENES kept the visiting FLORIDA MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY LIONS winless. The Lions are playing in their very first year of intercollegiate football and the Gyrenes made them 0-2 with a 42-6 beatdown. 
WORKIN’ OVERTIME – The CONCORDIA (NE) BULLDOGS hosted the HASTINGS COLLEGE BRONCOS on Saturday. Four Quarters weren’t enough for these two Great Plains Athletic Conference foes, with Regulation ending in a 28-28 tie. In Overtime Concordia shut out the Broncos then scored a Touchdown to win it 34-28. 
COMEBACK KIDS – The WARNER UNIVERSITY ROYALS hosted the WEBBER INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY WARRIORS yesterday. The Royals were chasing the Warriors 3-0 to end the 1st Quarter and 10-3 come Halftime. Late in the 3rd Quarter Warner University tied things up at 10-10 before finishing off Webber International in the 4th by a final score of 24-17. 
DYNAMIC DEFENDERS – The DORDT COLLEGE DEFENDERS took it on the road against the MIDLAND UNIVERSITY WARRIORS (should be the Lutherans). Neither team scored in the first 12 and a half minutes of the opening Quarter but the Defenders were on top 14-0 before the 2nd Quarter got underway. At the Half Dordt College was up 14-7 and 16-7 to end the 3rd. From there the Defenders won out 22-14. 
AG BOWL – The 5th Annual Ag Bowl pitted the DICKINSON STATE BLUE HAWKS against the DAKOTA STATE TROJANS. A 14-7 1st Quarter lead for the Blue Hawks became a 14-14 tie by the midpoint of the game. After the break Dickinson State led the Trojans 20-14 in the 3rd Quarter, then carried through with a 26-14 triumph. 
Balladeer’s Bowl always pits the NAIA football champs against the NCAA D3 football champs. The results are in, and the NAIA champs got the victory. The MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS defeated the NORTH CENTRAL (IL) COLLEGE CARDINALS in Balladeer’s Bowl X. 
The MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS are the NAIA Champions for 2019. 
Readers of Balladeer’s Blog get to vote on the winner, to be announced on New Year’s Day, so NAIA and D3 boosters can begin their annual deluge of emails to me arguing for their choice. 
NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) 
USCAA (United States Collegiate Athletic Association)
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA ARGONAUTS were not only THE story of the D2 playoffs once again but this time they sealed the deal against their opponents the MINNESOTA STATE MAVERICKS! A 14-14 1st Quarter tie turned into a 38-21 Argonauts lead by the Half. 
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The number 1 team in the nation – the MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST COLLEGE BULLDOGS – took on the 2nd ranked LACKAWANNA COLLEGE FALCONS for the NJCAA crown. A 7-0 Bulldogs lead in the 1st Quarter became a 13-10 advantage for the Falcons by Halftime. Neither team scored in the 3rd Quarter but Mississippi Gulf Coast exploded in the 4th to win the game 24-13. * THE BULLDOGS ARE NJCAA CHAMPIONS * 
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