HEADLINES
NUMBER TWO TAKES A FALL – In the NJCAA the 14th ranked IOWA CENTRAL COLLEGE TRITONS welcomed the number 2 team in the nation – the IOWA WESTERN COLLEGE REIVERS. The Tritons put the Reivers on Upset Alert with a 12-10 1st Quarter edge which became a tighter 18-17 lead at Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with Iowa Central College on top 21-17 before they won it 28-26 from there. The NJCAA’s number 1 East Mississippi College lost Thursday night.
ONE AND TWO ROLL – Meanwhile, up in the NAIA, the top ranked defending champions – the MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS – annihilated the visiting UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IL) FIGHTING SAINTS to the tune of EIGHTY to NOTHING ### And the number 2 BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS eviscerated their hosts the GRACELAND UNIVERSITY YELLOW JACKETS 72-7.
CELEBRATING FOOTBALL – Also in the NAIA the 4th ranked KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY COYOTES welcomed the TEXAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY RAMS for their season-opening event called Celebrating Football. The Coyotes wound up doing all the celebrating, doubling up on the Rams for a 48-24 triumph. Continue reading
NUMBER ONE GOES DOWN – In the NJCAA the HINDS COLLEGE EAGLES welcomed the top ranked, two-time defending champions – the EAST MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE LIONS. A 13-10 lead for the Eagles in the opening Quarter remained unchanged at Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with the Lions on top 16-10 but Hinds College dominated the 4th, including a pick-six as they toppled Number One 24-16. 
AND NUMBER FOUR COMES TUMBLING AFTER – Meanwhile the COAHOMA COLLEGE TIGERS took on the visiting 4th ranked JONES COUNTY COLLEGE BOBCATS. The Tigers led 6-0 in the 1st before the Bobcats went up 7-6 at the Half. Coahoma College seized an 18-7 lead in the 3rd Quarter and won it by a final score of 18-10. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER NINE – Up in the NAIA the 23rd ranked ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE BATTLIN’ BEARS traveled to face the number 9 team in the nation – the DICKINSON STATE BLUE HAWKS. The Battlin’ Bears defense kept the Blue Hawks off the scoreboard the entire 1st Half as a 3-0 Rocky Mountain College lead in the 1st Quarter became 10-0 at the break. That became a 20-7 advantage in the 3rd Quarter before the Battlin’ Bears had to hold on by their fingertips in the 4th for a 23-21 upset win. 
NUMBER TEN TRIUMPHANT – In the sole NAIA game yesterday the 10th ranked REINHARDT UNIVERSITY EAGLES (should be the Rottweilers) hosted the WEBBER INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY WARRIORS. The Warriors, coming off last year’s 7-win season, gave the Eagles almost more than they could handle in the 1st Half, holding Reinhardt to a mere 3-0 lead by the break. The 3rd Quarter ended with the Eagles up 9-0 before RU went on to win the game 16-6. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER THREE – In the NJCAA the 6th ranked SNOW COLLEGE BADGERS visited the number 3 team in the nation – the GARDEN CITY COLLEGE BRONCBUSTERS. The Broncbusters led 3-0 in the 1st Quarter and 13-3 at Halftime, but the Badgers had a 24 point 3rd Quarter enroute to a 30-27 comeback victory. 
NUMBER SIXTEEN FALLS – The FORT SCOTT COLLEGE GREYHOUNDS welcomed the 16th ranked HIGHLAND COLLEGE SCOTTIES yesterday. These two Jayhawk Conference rivals served up one of the best games of the day in a tightly fought smash-mouth affair. In the end the Greyhounds knocked off the Scotties by a final tally of 20-16. 
6. SAINT XAVIER UNIVERSITY COUGARS ### 7. DICKINSON STATE BLUE HAWKS ### 8. REINHARDT UNIVERSITY EAGLES (Should be the Rottweilers) ### 9. EVANGEL UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS ### 10. BAKER UNIVERSITY WILDCATS ### 
The MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS are the NAIA Champions for 2018. 
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) 
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. 
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. 
