No matter WHAT the 4-letter network says, this is Week TWO of the 2017 College Football season. Tonight will feature some clashes between ranked opponents in the various divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog:
NAIA
The number 5 team in the nation – the MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS – take it on the road against the 24th ranked SAINT XAVIER UNIVERSITY COUGARS.
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The 25th ranked SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY RAIDERS will be hosting the number 7 EASTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY MOUNTAINEERS.
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NUMBER TWELVE TAKES A FALL – The BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS hosted the number 12 team in the nation – the MISSOURI VALLEY COLLEGE VIKINGS. The Vikings managed a 7-0 lead in the 1st Quarter but the Ravens exploded for 21 points in the 2nd Quarter to take a 21-7 lead by Halftime. 
WHEN RANKED TEAMS CLASH – Also in the NAIA the 2nd ranked BAKER UNIVERSITY WILDCATS took the field against the visiting number 23 WILLIAM PENN UNIVERSITY STATESMEN. The teams went blow-for-blow in a 7-7 1st Quarter but the Wildcats eked out a 10-7 edge at the Half. 
TWO NEW TEAMS HIT THE GRIDIRON – Two new NAIA football squads played their inaugural games yesterday. Both lost. 
TIGHTEST GAME OF THE NIGHT – The game between the HIGHLAND COLLEGE SCOTTIES and their hosts, the DODGE CITY COLLEGE CONQUISTADORS was a true Gridiron Armageddon. The 1st Quarter ended with the Conquistadors holding a 12-7 lead, but by Halftime the Scotties had cut that to an even tighter 12-10 score. 
UPSET IN THE TOP TWENTY – The second edition of the Ag Bowl (as in ag-riculture) saw the DAKOTA STATE TROJANS do battle with the number 17 team in the nation – the DAKOTA WESLEYAN TIGERS (should be Blue Tigers). 
The 15th ranked DICKINSON STATE BLUE HAWKS will host their Frontier Conference rivals the ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE BATTLIN’ BEARS. 
The EVANGEL UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS take it on the road against the number 9 team in the nation – the GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS. 
The WARNER UNIVERSITY ROYALS will likewise play Road Warriors as they travel to take on the UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS PATRIOTS. 
Meanwhile THE AG BOWL will pit the number 17 DAKOTA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY TIGERS against the DAKOTA STATE TROJANS in a North Star Athletic Association matchup. 
And the UNIVERSITY OF PIKEVILLE BEARS will be on the road to take on their familiar foes the CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY TIGERS. 
The Defending Champions – the GARDEN CITY COLLEGE BRONCBUSTERS – open the season hosting the ELLSWORTH COLLEGE PANTHERS. 
The HIGHLAND COLLEGE SCOTTIES, meanwhile, will travel to face the DODGE CITY COLLEGE CONQUISTADORS to begin their 2017 campaign. 
The NAIA’s LAWRENCE TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY BLUE DEVILS – after a seven decade hiatus – will be fielding a football team! 
Ragnar the Dog is a nut for college football!
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) 1. MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS ### 2. BAKER UNIVERSITY WILDCATS 3. UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS (Defending National Champions) ### 4. REINHARDT UNIVERSITY EAGLES (Should be the Rottweilers) ### 5. EASTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY MOUNTAINEERS ### 
6. ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM ### 7. LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS ### 8. MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS ### 9. MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS ### 10. DOANE COLLEGE TIGERS ### 
NEW YORK JETS 
GREEN BAY PACKERS 
ARIZONA CARDINALS 
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) 
NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) 
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The two winningest programs in D2 football history – the NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE BEARCATS and the UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA LIONS – faced each other in yesterday’s title tilt. Amid ample snowfall neither team scored in the 1st Quarter but the Bearcats – the defending champs – managed a 7-3 lead by Halftime. 
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