*** NAIA ***
FIRST QUARTERFINAL – The SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY RAIDERS traveled to the Blue Grass State to play the LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS for the right to advance to the Semifinals. The Raiders led 14-0 in the 1st Quarter and 21-10 by Halftime but then had to withstand a furious comeback attempt by the Blue Raiders. Ultimately Southern Oregon University prevailed by a tight 34-29.
SECOND QUARTERFINAL – In this game the REINHARDT UNIVERSITY EAGLES (should be the Rottweilers) hosted the GEORGETOWN (KY) COLLEGE TIGERS. The Tigers led the Eagles 10-7 after 1 Quarter of play but Reinhardt University went on top 14-10 by the break. From there it was mostly a defensive struggle with the Eagles moving on by a score of 17-10. Continue reading
VICTORY BOWL – Each year the season-ending event in the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) is the Victory Bowl. This year’s edition pitted the CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY TIGERS against the SOUTHWESTERN ASSEMBLIES OF GOD UNIVERSITY LIONS. The Lions led this catfight 7-6 in the 1st Quarter and 21-19 at Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with the Tigers on top 32-21 before they went on to win it 41-28. 
UPSET IN BALDWIN CITY – The 11th seeded GEORGETOWN (KY) COLLEGE TIGERS visited the 6 seeds – the BAKER UNIVERSITY WILDCATS – in this First Round clash. A 14-13 1st Quarter lead for the Tigers became a 26-20 Wildcats edge by the Half. The 4th Quarter started with Georgetown College back on top 34-33, and a Safety gave them a 36-33 victory. 
TOP SEEDS IN A THRILLER – The top seeds – the UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS – welcomed the 16th seeded BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS. After a lengthy lightning delay the Alpha and Omega of this year’s NAIA playoffs finally squared off. The Ravens gave the Cougars almost more than they could handle, but in the end the University of Saint Francis moved on to the Second Round with a 26-21 win. 
TEN OVER SEVEN – Yes, it seems that no matter what the sport, 10 seed over 7 seed upsets are virtually a postseason tradition. In this particular game the 10th seeded NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS faced the 7 seeds – the LANGSTON UNIVERSITY LIONS. The Red Raiders proceeded to shock, then obliterate their hosts to the tune of FIFTY-FIVE to SEVEN! 
(1) UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS 
(16) BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS 
(2) REINHARDT UNIVERSITY EAGLES 
(15) CONCORDIA (MI) CARDINALS 
NUMBER ONE GETS KNOCKED OFF – Division Two’s PITTSBURG (KS) STATE GORILLAS hosted the top ranked team in the nation – the defending National Champion NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE BEARCATS. Not only did the Gorillas defeat the Bearcats 20-10, but this loss ended NW Missouri State’s THIRTY-EIGHT game winning streak. Pitt State led 17-7 at Halftime and stayed on top from there to the delight of the crowd at The Jungle. 
HILLSDALE STRONG – The storied HILLSDALE COLLEGE CHARGERS (whose own THIRTY-FOUR game winning streak was just recently topped by NW Missouri) took it on the road yesterday to Philippi, WV to take on the ALDERSON BROADDUS UNIVERSITY BATTLERS. The spectators got treated to an Instant Classic, with the Chargers prevailing by a final score of 37-31. 
LANGSTON TOPPLES THE NCAA – Yet another NAIA college football team has upset a team from the NCAA Division Two. For newbies to these levels that is like when a 1AA team upsets a 1A team. The LANGSTON UNIVERSITY LIONS traveled to face the NCAA’s LANE COLLEGE DRAGONS yesterday and defeated them in a 27-21 game for the ages. 
THAT WAS NUMBER FIIIIVE! – The UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA-WESTERN BULLDOGS welcomed the number 5 team in the nation – the MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS. The Bulldogs proceeded to celebrate their scheduled Booster Bash by dragging down the 5th ranked Orediggers 42-35 in an undeniable thriller. 
OTHER UPSETS IN THE RANKINGS – The DORDT COLLEGE DEFENDERS took it on the road against the 12th ranked DOANE COLLEGE TIGERS and prevailed by a final score of 21-16 ### And the (17) STERLING COLLEGE WARRIORS marked Homecoming with a mild upset of the visiting (16) TABOR COLLEGE BLUE JAYS in a 23-21 Instant Classic. 
NUMBER TWO TAKES A FALL – In NCAA Division Two the number 15 ASHLAND UNIVERSITY EAGLES hosted the 2nd ranked FERRIS STATE BULLDOGS. The defense for the Eagles was nearly perfect in this game which sent a rupture through the D2 rankings. When all was said and done Ashland University had defeated the Bulldogs by a score of 20-3. 
CUMBERLAND NEARLY CONQUERS DIVISION ONE – Yesterday the NAIA’s CUMBERLAND UNIVERSITY PHOENIX came tantalizingly close to being the latest NAIA team to topple an NCAA Division ONE program. The Phoenix were on the road against the Presbyterian College Blue Hose and saw a 7-7 1st Quarter tie become a 17-7 Halftime lead for the Blue Hose. The 3rd Quarter ended in a 20-20 deadlock but Presbyterian College slipped by Cumberland U in the 4th, 27-20. 
TOP TEN TANGLE – In NCAA Division Three the number 10 team in the nation – the UNIVERSITY OF SAINT THOMAS TOMMIES – did battle with the 6th ranked SAINT JOHN’S UNIVERSITY JOHNNIES. The largest crowd in D3 history watched as the Tommies led the Johnnies 7-3 in the 1st Quarter and 17-10 at the Half. From there the University of Saint Thomas held on for a thrilling 20-17 victory. 
MECHANICS MAKE IT TWO IN A ROW – In the USCAA (United States Collegiate Athletic Association) the WILLIAMSON COLLEGE OF THE TRADES MECHANICS followed up last week’s tight victory with a blowout win this week. Yesterday the Mechanics battled the GATTACA COLLEGE NEW JERSEYANS and parlayed a 39-0 Halftime lead into a 45-20 triumph. 
SIXTY-ONE – The NAIA’s (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) LYON COLLEGE SCOTS were on the road against the TRINITY BIBLE COLLEGE LIONS from the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association). The Scots achieved defensive perfection while piling on the points for a SIXTY-ONE to NOTHING massacre of the Lions. 
TRIPLE OVERTIME – The game between the OTTAWA UNIVERSITY BRAVES and their hosts the FRIENDS UNIVERSITY FALCONS was the Marathon Game of the Day on Saturday. Regulation ended in a 21-21 tie, sending the game into Overtime. Things were still deadlocked after 1 OT session and again after the 2nd OT. It took Triple Overtime before the Braves at last emerged with a 34-28 victory. 
MORNINGSIDE CONQUERS THE NCAA – Each week of college football season often sees various NAIA college teams upsetting NCAA Division Two teams. This is like when 1AA teams upset 1A teams. Yesterday the NAIA’s MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS faced the NCAA’s Division Two team the TRUMAN STATE BULLDOGS. The Mustangs held a commanding 28-10 Halftime lead but needed to hold on for a 35-30 victory. 
NUMBER FOUR TAKES A FALL – Meanwhile in NCAA Division Three the UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT STOUT BLUE DEVILS welcomed the number 4 team in the nation – the UNIVERSITY OF SAINT THOMAS TOMMIES. A 7-6 1st Quarter lead for the Tommies became a 14-14 tie at the Half. After the break the Blue Devils outscored UST 11-8 for an earth-shaking 25-22 upset. 
NUMBER SEVEN GOES DOWN – In NCAA Division Two the WEST TEXAS A&M BUFFALOES played host to the nation’s 7th ranked COLORADO STATE AT PUEBLO THUNDER WOLVES. The Buffaloes were trailing the Thunder Wolves 7-3 in the 1st Quarter and 21-11 at the midpoint. Neither team scored in the 3rd Quarter, with the Buffaloes notching 13 points in the 4th to win the game 24-21. 
ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY RULES THE WORLD – Several times a year NAIA football teams manage upsets of teams from NCAA Division TWO! Yesterday saw multiple instances, too, like the ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM battling the Division 2 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY CLAN (as in Scottish Clan). The Firestorm won this Instant Classic by a final score of 34-28. 
TAYLOR UNIVERSITY TOPPLES D2 AS WELL – For newbies to these divisions these NAIA over NCAA Division 2 upsets are like when 1AA teams upset 1A teams. In this game the TAYLOR UNIVERSITY TROJANS did battle with D2’s MALONE UNIVERSITY PIONEERS. Spectators got more than their money’s worth in this matchup, too, which saw the Trojans emerge with a 28-21 victory. 
NUMBER THREE GETS KNOCKED OFF – In D2 the UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS GREYHOUNDS welcomed the number 3 team in the nation – the GRAND VALLEY STATE LAKERS. The dynastic Lakers appeared to be in the driver’s seat with a 13-0 1st Quarter lead, but by Halftime the Greyhounds had made it a 13-10 game. 
AND NUMBER FIVE CAME TUMBLING AFTER – Over in the NAIA the 24th ranked SAINT XAVIER UNIVERSITY COUGARS clashed with the nation’s number 5 team – the MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS. A 1st Quarter 6-0 edge for the Cougars turned into a commanding 26-7 lead by the Half. 
OUR DIVISION CAN BEAT UP YOUR DIVISION – 2017’s first round of NAIA football vs NCAA Division 3 football resulted in a split. 
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