On Thursday, August 24th, the 2023 college football season will kick off in the divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog. Below is my Preseason Top 25 for the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics).
*** 1. MORNINGSIDE UNIVERSITY MUSTANGS ### 2. NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS ### 3. KEISER UNIVERSITY SEAHAWKS ### 4. MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS ### 5. LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS ###
6. SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE MOUNDBUILDERS ### 7. GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS (should be Zebras) ### 8. BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS ### 9. REINHARDT UNIVERSITY EAGLES (should be Rottweilers) ### 10. INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS ### Continue reading
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics)
NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association)
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS and the KEISER UNIVERSITY SEAHAWKS battled it out for the NAIA title on Saturday. After a scoreless 1st Quarter, Halftime arrived with things knotted up at 7-7. The Red Raiders went on top 21-17 in the 3rd Quarter, and an action-packed 4th saw Northwestern College defeat the Seahawks 35-25. * THE RED RAIDERS ARE NAIA CHAMPIONS * 
The competing teams are the NORTH-WESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS and the KEISER UNIVERSITY SEA HAWKS. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 Noon ET. 
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES OREDIGGERS took the field against the SHEPHERD UNIVERSITY RAMS in this game. A 3-0 1st Quarter edge for the Orediggers turned into a 17-3 advantage by Halftime. After the break the Colorado School of Mines limited the Rams to just 10 points in the 4th Quarter while piling up points for themselves. The final score was Orediggers 44 Shepherd U. 13. 
FIRST SEMIFINAL – The KEISER UNIVERSITY SEA HAWKS visited the GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS (should be the Zebras) in this game. The 1st Quarter ended with the Sea Hawks up 7-0 before expanding that to a 21-7 advantage by Halftime. After the break, Keiser University outscored Grand View 17-14 for a 38-21 Upset and a trip to the title game on December 17th. 
SECOND SEMIFINAL – Up next the NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS took the field against the INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS. A 17-0 Red Raiders lead in the opening Quarter remained unchanged at the Half. The 3rd Quarter ended with Northwestern College on top 31-0 and the 4th in a 38-7 Red Raiders win. It will be Red Raiders and Sea Hawks in the Championship Game. 
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) 1. MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE MUSTANGS ### 2. NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS ### 3. GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS ### 4. BETHEL (TN) UNIVERSITY WILDCATS ### 5. SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE MOUNDBUILDERS ### 
LINCOLN TOPPLES NCAA DIVISION TWO – The unaffiliated LINCOLN (CA) UNIVERSITY OAKLANDERS took it on the road against NCAA Division 2’s BLUEFIELD STATE BIG BLUES. In a blow to the pride of the upper divisions, the Oaklanders emerged with a 20-17 Upset win in this Instant Classic. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER SEVEN – In NCAA D2 the 24th ranked UNIVERSITY OF WEST GEORGIA WOLVES traveled to face the number 7 team in the country – the DELTA STATE STATESMEN. The Statesmen led 14-7, 28-17 and 35-24 in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Quarters respectively. In the 4th, the Wolves exploded for 28 points and a 52-42 comeback victory. 
NUMBER TWO TAKES A FALL – Down in the NJCAA the number 8 COFFEYVILLE COLLEGE RED RAVENS welcomed the 2nd ranked IOWA WESTERN COLLEGE REIVERS yesterday. Believe it or not the Red Ravens held the Reivers to just 7 points and those came in the opening Quarter. Coffeyville led 16-7 at Halftime before winning the game 23-7. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER THREE – In the NAIA the number 6 team in the nation – the BETHEL (TN) WILDCATS – traveled to face the 3rd ranked LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS. A 7-7 tie at Halftime turned into a 21-13 Wildcats lead to end the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th Bethel U. held on for a 21-16 Upset of the Blue Raiders. 
NUMBER SEVEN TAKES A FALL – Down in NCAA Division Three the 19th ranked SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY RIVER HAWKS played host to the number 7 JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY BLUE JAYS. The River Hawks put the Blue Jays on Upset Alert at the midpoint with a 14-12 edge. Each team scored 12 points in the 2nd Half for a 26-24 Susquehanna victory. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER NINE – Up in NCAA Division 2 the storied HILLSDALE COLLEGE CHARGERS welcomed the number 9 ASHLAND UNIVERSITY EAGLES. After a 7-7 1st Quarter tie the Chargers led 14-10 at the Half and then 22-20 in the 3rd Quarter before winning out by a final score of 36-20. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER THREE – In NCAA Division 3 the UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT PLATTEVILLE PIONEERS welcomed the number 3 team in the land – the UW-WHITEWATER WARHAWKS. The Pioneers put the Warhawks on Upset Alert at Halftime with a 14-10 lead, then kept them at arm’s length the rest of the way for a 17-13 victory.
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER SEVEN – In the NAIA the UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA-WESTERN BULLDOGS faced the visiting number 7 COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES. A 20-14 Bulldogs edge at the Half became 34-28 to end the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th UM-Western won out 40-35.
SPIRIT OF EIGHTY-ONE – Staying in the NAIA for the moment, the (25) ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM visited the TEXAS COLLEGE STEERS. The Firestorm seized a quick 21-0 lead in the 1st Quarter and never looked back from there. In the end ACU had utterly eviscerated the Steers to the tune of EIGHTY-ONE to NINETEEN. 
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