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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. Continue reading
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. 
The divisions of college football covered by Balladeer’s Blog kick off their 2016 season on August 25th!
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) – 1. MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS ### 2. MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS (Defending Champions) ### 3. UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS ### 4. SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY RAIDERS ### 5. GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS ### 
6. MONTANA TECH OREDIGGERS ### 7. BAKER UNIVERSITY WILDCATS ### 8. TABOR COLLEGE BLUE JAYS ### 9. REINHARDT UNIVERSITY EAGLES (I still say they should be called the Rottweilers) ### 10. DOANE COLLEGE TIGERS ### 
The divisions of college football covered by Balladeer’s Blog kick off their 2016 season on August 25th! 
Balladeer’s Bowl results are in, and for the sixth year in a row the NAIA football champions – in this case the MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS – defeated the NCAA D3 champions – the UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT UNION PURPLE RAIDERS. 
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