*** NJCAA ***
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The GARDEN CITY COLLEGE BRONCBUSTERS did battle with the ARIZONA WESTERN COLLEGE MATADORS for the national title. The 2016 El Toro Bowl saw the Broncbusters grab a 7-0 lead in the 1st Quarter, then take a 19-14 edge into the locker room at the Half. Neither team scored in the 3rd Quarter and the Matadors went up 22-19 in the 4th. Garden City scored a TD with 30 seconds left in the game but muffed the 2-point conversion attempt. Arizona Western failed to score and the Broncbusters won their 1st National Championship 25-22!
*** NAIA ***
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The BAKER UNIVERSITY WILDCATS managed a very dramatic 4th Quarter comeback to advance to the NAIA National Championship Game. The Wildcats hosted the EASTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY MOUNTAINEERS and after a 7-7 1st Quarter tie held a 24-17 advantage at Halftime. The Mountaineers took a 27-24 edge in the 3rd Quarter and extended that to 41-24 in the 4th. From there Baker University scored TWENTY-ONE UNANSWERED POINTS to win this Instant Classic by a score of 45-41! Continue reading
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS TOPPLED – The 10th seeded EASTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY MOUNTAINEERS traveled to face the top seeded Defending National Champions of NAIA football – the MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS. After a scoreless 1st Quarter the Mountaineers put the Knights on upset alert with a 10-0 Halftime lead. Following the break Eastern Oregon consummated the upset by bringing down Marian U in a 17-0 shutout. 
COMEBACK COUGARS – The 4 seeds – the UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS – hosted the 5th seeded MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS yesterday. The Mustangs grabbed a quick 10-0 lead in the 1st Quarter and extended that to a 20-7 advantage over the Cougars by the break. USF pulled to within 28-21 to end the 3rd Quarter then outscored Morningside 21-7 in the 4th for a 42-35 triumph. 
OVERTIME MAGNUM OPUS – The (8) LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS hosted the (9) GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS in a typically tight 8 seed versus 9 seed game. The Blue Raiders came back from being down 3-0 in the 1st Quarter to take a 17-10 lead into Halftime. The Vikings retook the lead 27-24 to end the 3rd Quarter, with a 4th Quarter Field Goal from Lindsey Wilson forcing OT with a 27-27 tie. The Blue Raiders scored 7 on their possession then shut out Grand View for a 34-27 triumph.
THE WAR OUT WEST – The (6) MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS took the field against the visiting (11) DICKINSON STATE BLUE HAWKS. The Orediggers seized a 14-0 advantage in the 1st Quarter with the two teams exchanging a Touchdown apiece in the 2nd. After the break the Blue Hawks edged closer but Montana Tech kept them off at just enough distance for a 28-21 victory. 
(1) MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS (Defending Champions) ### Conference Affiliation: Mid-States Football Association (Conference Champs, too)
will host the (16) ROBERT MORRIS (IL) UNIVERSITY EAGLES ### Conference Affiliation: Mid-States Football Association ### 2:00pm ET 
(2) BAKER UNIVERSITY WILDCATS ### Conference Affiliation: Heart of America Athletic Conference (South Division Champions) ### will host the 
(15) STERLING COLLEGE WARRIORS ### Conference Affiliation: Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (At-Large 6) ### 1:00pm ET 
POINT UNIVERSITY CONQUERS THE NCAA – Once again a team from the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) toppled a team from a higher division. In this case the POINT UNIVERSITY SKYHAWKS took it on the road against NCAA Division Two’s BENEDICT COLLEGE TIGERS. The Skyhawks won handily in a 22-7 statement game. 
NUMBER ONE GETS UPSET AT HOME – The 16th ranked JOHN CARROLL UNIVERSITY BLUE STREAKS paid a visit to the number 1 UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT UNION PURPLE RAIDERS yesterday. A 13-0 1st Quarter lead for the Blue Streaks became a 13-7 advantage by Halftime and a 21-13 lead for the Purple Raiders to end the 3rd. JCU came from behind to eke out a 31-28 victory. 
CLOSE CALLS FOR A PAIR OF NUMBER TWOS – In D2 the 2nd ranked GRAND VALLEY STATE LAKERS needed Double Overtime to put away their hosts the SAGINAW VALLEY STATE CARDINALS by a score of 62-56 ### And D3’s number 2 UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT WHITEWATER WARHAWKS had to survive a 27-20 Overtime duel with the visiting UW-RIVER FALLS FALCONS. 
NUMBER SIX FALLS IN A DEFENSIVE EPIC – Over in the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) the BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS paid a visit to the number 6 team in the nation – the GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS. This text-book example of stellar gridiron defense ended in a 7-3 upset win for the Ravens. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER SEVEN – Yesterday the unranked MICHIGAN TECH HUSKIES welcomed the number 7 team in the nation – the ASHLAND UNIVERSITY EAGLES. The Huskies defied all the prognosticators and made believers out of everyone by toppling the stunned Eagles in a 27-24 game for the ages! 
HANGING NINETY – The 6th ranked GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS traveled to face the CULVER-STOCKTON COLLEGE WILDCATS. The Vikings – apparently sharing Balladeer’s Blog’s weariness with teams called Wildcats, Eagles, Tigers and Bulldogs – proceeded to fold, spindle and mutilate their opponents. In the end Grand View University emerged with a NINETY to NOTHING win. 
DAVENPORT CONQUERS THE WORLD – As usual an NAIA team toppled a team from a higher division in yesterday’s action. The NAIA’s DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY PANTHERS squared off against the visiting QUINCY UNIVERSITY HAWKS from NCAA Division TWO. This was a true game for the ages, with the Panthers squeezing out a 14-10 upset. 
THAT WAS NUMBER FIIIIIIVE! – The unranked WEST TEXAS A&M BUFFALOES welcomed the number 5 team in the nation – the MIDWESTERN STATE MUSTANGS. For 4 bruising Quarters these two teams went blow for blow but there could only be one winner. That winner turned out to be the Buffaloes, who dragged down the Mustangs by a score of 35-27. 
NAIA OVER NCAA – The lone NAIA vs NCAA battle this week saw the NAIA’s PRESENTATION COLLEGE SAINTS welcome the FINLANDIA UNIVERSITY LIONS out of the NCAA. The Saints showed the Lions how football is played, eviscerating them by a score of SEVENTY-FOUR to NOTHING! So far in 2016 the NAIA has won three weeks, the NCAA has won one week and two weeks have been a tie. 
USCAA GAME OF THE WEEK – Meanwhile in the USCAA (United States Collegiate Athletic Association) the WILLIAMSON COLLEGE OF THE TRADES MECHANICS took the field against the visiting GATTACA (NJ) COLLEGE STRAYERS. The Mechanics dominated in the game, doubling up on Gattaca College 28-14. 
NUMBER THREE GETS TAKEN DOWN – The 6th seeded MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS welcomed the Number 3 team in the nation – the DOANE COLLEGE TIGERS. The Mustangs are still boiling from their undeserved drop in the rankings a few weeks ago and took their anger out on the Tigers in a SIXTY-NINE to SEVEN blowout. 
NUMBER EIGHT FALLS AT HOME – The Number 18 HARDING UNIVERSITY BISON traveled to take on the 8th ranked HENDERSON STATE REDDIES yesterday. To the shock of the entire country the Bison proceeded to dismember the Reddies on their own field, manhandling them to the tune of 35-3. 
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