*** HEADLINES ***
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. Continue reading
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. 
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: 
The number 5 team in the nation – the MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS – take it on the road against the 24th ranked SAINT XAVIER UNIVERSITY COUGARS. 
The 25th ranked SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY RAIDERS will be hosting the number 7 EASTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY MOUNTAINEERS. 
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. 
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