NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) 1. MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS ### 2. UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS (Defending Champions) ### 3. EVANGEL UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS ### 4. UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS PATRIOTS ### 5. LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS ###
6. NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS ### 7. REINHARDT UNIVERSITY EAGLES (should be the Rottweilers) ### 8. ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM ### 9. CONCORDIA (MI) CARDINALS ### 10. KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY COYOTES ### Continue reading
DOWN GOES NUMBER THREE – Meanwhile NCAA Division Two’s 7th ranked MIDWESTERN STATE MUSTANGS hosted the number 3 team in the nation – the UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA ARGONAUTS. Another Mustangs team delivered a nationwide shock-wave as Midwestern State proceeded to crush the Argonauts to the tune of 38-17. 
WHAT, YOU COULDN’T SCORE ONE HUNDRED? – In the NJCAA the DODGE CITY COLLEGE CONQUISTADORS took the field against the visiting GORDON’S SPORTS ACADEMY ARTISTS. The Conquistadors were apparently playing basketball while their opponents played soccer. Dodge City College utterly mutilated Gordon’s NINETY-THREE to NOTHING! 
NUMBER SIX TAKES A FALL – Every year Balladeer’s Blog covers the intense gridiron rivalry between the NAIA and NCAA Division Three. Yesterday the NAIA’s UN-ranked CARROLL (MT) COLLEGE FIGHTING SAINTS welcomed D3’s number 6 LINFIELD COLLEGE WILDCATS. The Fighting Saints led 7-0 at the break, then followed through with a 21-14 triumph. 
YET ANOTHER NAIA TEAM DEFEATS AN NCAA D2 TEAM – The NAIA’s CONCORDIA (MI) CARDINALS took it on the road to face the NCAA Division Two team the MALONE UNIVERSITY PIONEERS. The higher division Pioneers were at home, too, but none of that mattered as the Cardinals showed Malone how football is played in the NAIA. Concordia won the game 42-27. 
DIVISION TWO OVER DIVISION ONE – NCAA Division Two’s MOREHOUSE COLLEGE MAROON TIGERS likewise played at a higher division team yesterday. In this case the Maroon Tigers traveled to face NCAA Division One’s UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT PINE BLUFF GOLDEN LIONS. By Halftime Morehouse had the Golden Lions on Upset Alert with a 28-20 lead and followed through with a 34-30 victory. 
NUMBER FIVE GOES DOWN – In the NJCAA the HUTCHINSON COLLEGE BLUE DRAGONS were on the road against the number 5 team in the nation – the INDEPENDENCE COLLEGE PIRATES. A 14-7 Blue Dragons lead in the opening Quarter turned into a 37-7 advantage at the break and ultimately a 37-27 win for Hutchinson College. 
USCAA OVER NCAA – The NEWPORT NEWS APPRENTICE SCHOOL BUILDERS (formerly the Shipbuilders) from the USCAA (United States Collegiate Athletic Association) visited the NCAA Division Three GREENSBORO COLLEGE PRIDE. The Builders converted a 7-0 1st Quarter lead into a 26-6 Halftime advantage. From there NNAS coasted to a 34-13 triumph. 
ANOTHER NAIA TRIUMPH OVER NCAA D2 – The UNIVERSITY OF PIKEVILLE BEARS are the latest NAIA team to defeat an NCAA Division Two team. (For newbies that’s like when a 1AA team upsets a 1A team) Their opponents were D2’s LIVINGSTONE COLLEGE BLUE BEARS, for a sort of “Bear Necessities Bowl.” The University of Pikeville utterly destroyed visiting Livingstone College by a score of FIFTY-TWO to TWENTY-THREE! 
NUMBER TEN GOES DOWN – NCAA Division Two’s number 10 team in the nation – the UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS GREYHOUNDS – took it on the road last night against the 14th ranked GRAND VALLEY STATE LAKERS. The Lakers were clearly feeling their dynastic past as they dominated on both sides of the ball while clobbering the Greyhounds 30-7. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER SIX – The 15th ranked MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS welcomed the number 6 team in the nation – the SAINT XAVIER UNIVERSITY COUGARS. The Knights proceeded to annihilate the Cougars, leading them 17-0 in the 1st Quarter and 38-0 at Halftime. After the break Saint Xavier University mustered just 7 points in the 3rd Quarter while Marian University added 14 more in the 4th for a FIFTY-TWO to SEVEN blowout. 
OTHER UPSETS IN THE TOP TWENTY-FIVE – The UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS PATRIOTS were on the road against the 11th ranked SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY FIRE and slipped past them in a 27-26 Instant Classic ### And the number 24 FAULKNER UNIVERSITY EAGLES traveled to upset the 19th ranked CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY TIGERS 16-10. 
LOVING THE SEVENTIES – The SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE MOUNDBUILDERS hosted the GRACELAND UNIVERSITY YELLOW JACKETS yesterday and eviscerated them SEVENTY-SIX to FOURTEEN ### And the 12th ranked BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS sent their guests the BETHANY COLLEGE SWEDES back home reeling from a SEVENTY-FIVE to SEVEN beatdown. Just burn the game tape and deny the game ever happened, Bethany. 
NUMBER TWO TAKES A FALL – The number 2 team in the nation – the REINHARDT UNIVERSITY EAGLES (Should be the Rottweilers) – traveled to face the BETHEL (TN) WILDCATS. The Wildcats put the Eagles on Upset Alert early on by seizing a 21-7 1st Quarter lead. 
CRUSADE IN MISSOURI – The EVANGEL UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS also knocked off a ranked visitor last night. They welcomed the 22nd ranked SOUTHWESTERN ASSEMBLIES OF GOD UNIVERSITY LIONS and made their own case to be ranked. The Crusaders led the Lions 7-0 after 1 Quarter of play, then 21-3 at the Half. A scoreless 3rd Quarter was followed by an action-packed 4th to make the final score Evangel U 28 SAGU 9. 
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH – The number 20 ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE BATTLIN’ BEARS hosted the CARROLL (MT) COLLEGE FIGHTING SAINTS last night. After a scoreless opening Quarter the Battlin’ Bears took a 13-0 lead into the locker room at Halftime. Rocky Mountain College made it a 19-0 game to end the 3rd Quarter while the Defenses shone in the 4th to make 19-zip the final score as well. 
The 20th ranked ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE BATTLIN’ BEARS will be hosting the CARROLL (MT) COLLEGE FIGHTING SAINTS. It’s a risky opening week clash between two Frontier Conference teams. 
The number 22 team in the nation, the SOUTHWESTERN ASSEMBLIES OF GOD UNIVERSITY LIONS, will take it on the road against the (RV) EVANGEL UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS. Crucial early season positioning is on the line in this battle. 
At number 25 are the DAKOTA STATE TROJANS, who travel to face the DAKOTA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY TIGERS (should be the Blue Tigers). This matchup will be the Midco Sports Network’s Game of the Week. 
6. SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY FIRE ### 7. DICKINSON STATE BLUE HAWKS ### 8. ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM ### 9. MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS ### 10. CUMBERLAND UNIVERSITY PHOENIX ### 
BACK TO BACK TITLES FOR USF – The UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS – the Defending Champions of NAIA football – did battle with the REINHARDT UNIVERSITY EAGLES (Should be the Rottweilers) in Daytona Beach. The Cougars notched their second straight football crown, leading the Eagles 17-0 in the 1st Quarter and 24-7 by Halftime. Reinhardt University shut out USF in the 2nd Half but could only muster 6 more points for themselves – and those in the 3rd Quarter – as the Cougars took the title by a final score of 24-13. * THE COUGARS ARE NAIA CHAMPIONS * 
FIRST SEMIFINAL – It took DOUBLE OVERTIME for a victor to be determined in this clash between the 2nd seeded REINHARDT UNIVERSITY EAGLES (should be the Rottweilers) and the 5 seeds – the SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY RAIDERS (should be the Sea Gulls). The Eagles parlayed a 14-7 1st Quarter lead into a 21-7 advantage by Halftime. From there the Raiders forced Overtime with a 24-24 tie. One extra session wasn’t enough (31-31) but after the 2nd, Reinhardt University advanced to the December 16th title game by a score of 37-34. 
FIRST QUARTERFINAL – The Regional 6 seeds – the UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA ARGONAUTS – are still stunning the nation in their young football program’s FIRST appearance in the D2 postseason. A 7-7 tie with the top seeded UNIVERSITY OF WEST ALABAAMA TIGERS in the 1st Quarter became a 14-7 Tigers edge at the Half. The 3rd Quarter saw the Argonauts go on top 21-14, while in the 4th the teams exchanged Touchdowns for a 28-21 Upset. In just their 2nd year, the University of West Florida is headed for the Semifinals! 
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