*** HEADLINES ***
NUMBER TWO FALLS – The 6th ranked UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA LIONS hosted the number 2 team in the nation – the UNIVERSITY OF WEST GEORGIA WOLVES. This was a game for the ages which had football fans across the nation on the edge of their seats. In the end the Lions prevailed over the Wolves, eking out a 24-23 victory.
TOPPLING NUMBER FOUR – Meanwhile the unranked TIFFIN UNIVERSITY DRAGONS did battle with their guests – the number 4 ASHLAND UNIVERSITY EAGLES. This was another hard-fought affair that provided 4 Quarters of gridiron gold. The Dragons managed to drag down the Eagles by a final tally of 35-32. Continue reading
FLORIDA TECH CONQUERS DIVISION ONE – Division Two’s FLORIDA TECH PANTHERS took it on the road against Division ONE’s PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE BLUE HOSE. The Panthers sent a message, pushing the Blue Hose around the field on both sides of the ball. Florida Tech handily defeated Presbyterian College by a score of 28-7. 
NUMBER SIX TAKES A FALL – The 18th ranked EMPORIA STATE HORNETS visited the number 6 team in the country – the UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL MISSOURI MULES. This was a Battle Royal in which 4 Quarters wasn’t enough … One Overtime period wasn’t enough either. In DOUBLE OVERTIME the Hornets emerged with a 37-31 triumph over the Mules. 
DAVENPORT CONQUERS THE WORLD – Every week in college football season NAIA teams topple teams from higher divisions. Yesterday the DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY PANTHERS absolutely hammered NCAA Division TWO’s KENTUCKY WESLEYAN COLLEGE PANTHERS. Davenport U sent KWC back home reeling from a 41-7 head-slam. (As always a win over a higher division counts as 2 wins in the NAIA/NCAA rivalry.) 
TUSKEGEE TOPPLES FAMU – Meanwhile NCAA Division Two’s TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY GOLDEN TIGERS hosted Division ONE’s FLORIDA A&M RATTLERS. The Golden Tigers and Rattlers played 4 bone-crushing Quarters of football and when all of the dust had settled Tuskegee University was the team left standing. The final tally in this game was Golden Tigers 20 FAMU 17. 
MARIAN UNIVERSITY RULES THE WORLD – Every week multiple NAIA teams upset teams from higher divisions. Starting us off this week are the MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS from the NAIA, who traveled to face the NCAA Division Two team the UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS GREYHOUNDS. The Knights showed the Greyhounds how it’s done, spanking them 38-16. 
DOANE COLLEGE PLAYED GIANT-SLAYER, TOO – The NAIA’s DOANE COLLEGE TIGERS were on the road against the NCAA Division Two team the WILLIAM JEWELL COLLEGE CARDINALS. The Tigers nearly doubled-up on their higher division opponent in a 23-12 upset. These wins over higher division foes count as 2 wins in the rivalry so this made it NAIA-4, D3-0 so far this week. 
LANGSTON RULES THE WORLD – The NAIA tradition of upsetting higher division teams at least once a week continues! The LANGSTON UNIVERSITY LIONS were guests of the NCAA Division TWO team the LINCOLN (MO) UNIVERSITY BLUE TIGERS. The Lions proceeded to mar this game called the L.U. Classic, toppling the home team by a final score of 23-13. 
THE JAVELINAS ALSO RULE THE WORLD – The NCAA Division Two team called the TEXAS A&M AT KINGSVILLE JAVELINAS took it on the road against the Division ONE team the UNIVERSITY OF THE INCARNATE WORD CARDINALS. When the dust had settled in this thrilling game the Javelinas had also brought down a higher division team, in this case by a count of 31-22. 
MESS WITH FIRE AND YOU GET BURNED – The SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY FIRE traveled to face the 19th ranked FAULKNER UNIVERSITY EAGLES (should be the Furies) in a game marking 10 years of the Faulkner football program. The Fire marred the celebration in what turned out to be a textbook example of defensive football. The final score was Southeastern University 10 Faulkner University 6. 
UPSETS IN THE TOP TWENTY-FIVE – The unranked DAKOTA STATE TROJANS paid a visit to the number 16 team in the nation – the DAKOTA WESLEYAN TIGERS. At the end of a game that saw 9 lead changes the Trojans defeated the Tigers for the 1st time in 12 years. The final count was DSU 34 DWU 30. ### And the MISSOURI VALLEY COLLEGE VIKINGS toppled the homestanding (23) WILLIAM PENN UNIVERSITY STATESMEN by a baseball score of EIGHT to SEVEN! 
UPSET IN THE TOP 20 – The unranked UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS PATRIOTS hosted the number 17 CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY TIGERS. The 1st Quarter ended with the Tigers on top 10-0 but by Halftime the Patriots had come from behind to take a 13-10 edge. After the break UC added 10 more points to the 7 managed by Campbellsville University, resulting in a 23-17 Patriots victory. RB Seph Burke rushed for 144 yds for Cumberlands. 
Just a friendly reminder from Balladeer’s Blog that TONIGHT is the start of the 2016 season, no matter how much the weasels at ESPN try to pretend NEXT weekend is the opening weekend for college football.
The action tonight includes games between the UNIVERSITY OF JAMESTOWN JIMMIES and their hosts, the VALLEY CITY STATE VIKINGS … The LYON COLLEGE SCOTS and the visiting WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY PIONEERS (should be the Flying W’s as in the cattle brand) … 
Yes, the most wonderful time of the year begins next Thursday, August 25th! The NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) kicks off the 2016 college football season with a slate of four Thursday night games. 
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