HEADLINES
BLUEFIELD CONQUERS DIVISION TWO – The NAIA’s BLUEFIELD COLLEGE RAMBLING RAMS took it on the road against the NCAA Division Two team the EMORY & HENRY COLLEGE WASPS. For newbies this is like when 1AA teams take on 1A teams. Trailing 38-17 in the 4th Quarter the Rambling Rams came back to win 46-45!
GIANT-KILLERS – This week 3 NCAA Division 3 teams imitated the NAIA’s usual schtick of defeating teams from higher divisions. The UW-OSHKOSH TITANS won 28-10 at D2’s NORTHERN MICHIGAN WILDCATS ### Meanwhile the LINFIELD COLLEGE WILDCATS hammered D2’s SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY CLAN 56-20 ### And the WHITWORTH UNIVERSITY PIRATES edged D2’s LINCOLN (CA) UNIVERSITY OAKLANDERS 31-29.
HISTORY WAS MADE – The BLUEFIELD STATE BIG BLUE managed the FIRST victory for their revived intercollegiate football program! After losing last week the Big Blue visited the ELIZABETH CITY STATE VIKINGS. Bluefield State trailed 21-0 in the 1st Quarter but tied things up 21-21 by Halftime. The Vikings went up 27-21 in the 3rd but the Big Blue came back to win it 35-27.
MARATHON GAME OF THE WEEK – This particular designation goes to the clash between the SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY RIVER HAWKS and their hosts the FRANKLIN & MARSHALL COLLEGE DIPLOMATS. It took FIVE OVERTIMES before the River Hawks emerged with a 30-28 victory. Continue reading
INDIANA WESLEYAN CONQUERS DIVISION ONE – We already have 2021’s 2nd instance of an NAIA team toppling an NCAA Division ONE team. Every season these games in which NAIA football teams knock off teams from higher divisions like NCAA Divisions One or Two are great David vs Goliath stories! Yesterday the INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS hosted the D1 VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY BEACONS and won an authoritative 28-10 Upset.
LAWRENCE TECH CONQUERS DIVISION TWO – In the equivalent of a 1AA (FCS) team upsetting a 1A (FBS) team, the NAIA’s LAWRENCE TECH BLUE DEVILS took it on the road against the NCAA Division Two team the BLUEFIELD STATE BIG BLUE. A 7-7 1st Quarter tie was unchanged at Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended in a 14-14 deadlock before the Blue Devils won the game 21-14 in the 4th. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER ELEVEN – Meanwhile, down in NCAA Division Three the 19th ranked WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON COLLEGE PRESIDENTS traveled to face the number 11 JOHN CARROLL UNIVERSITY BLUE STREAKS. The defenses dominated the scoreless 1st Half, then the 3rd Quarter ended in a 7-7 tie. In the 4th the Presidents won it 21-7. 
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) 
NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) 
USCAA (United States Collegiate Athletic Association)
The postseason has begun in the divisions of college football 
covered here at Balladeer’s Blog. The two teams participating in the NCCAA’s Victory Bowl are the defending champions – the OLIVET NAZARENE UNIVERSITY TIGERS – and the GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY PANTHERS. 
NAIA OVER NCAA D2 – Another NAIA team played giant-slayer against a higher division team yesterday. The NAIA’s ALLEN UNIVERSITY YELLOW JACKETS traveled to face the NCAA Division Two team the ELIZABETH CITY STATE VIKINGS. It took Overtime to do it, but in the end the Yellow Jackets prevailed by a final score of 32-29. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER NINE – Staying in D3, the 17th ranked UNIVERSITY OF SAINT THOMAS TOMMIES took the field against the visiting number 9 BETHEL (MN) ROYALS. A 7-0 1st Quarter lead for the Tommies became a 14-7 lead at the Half. The 2nd Half was nearly all defense with the University of Saint Thomas adding a Field Goal in the 4th Quarter to win out 17-7. 
TAKING DOWN NUMBER SIX – In NCAA Division Two the GLENVILLE STATE PIONEERS traveled to play the number 6 team in the nation – the NOTRE DAME COLLEGE FALCONS (School Motto: “No, not THAT Notre Dame”). The Pioneers needed Overtime to do it, but they brought down the Falcons 23-20 in the extra session. 
NUMBER NINE NOOGIED – Over in the NAIA the CENTRAL METHODIST UNIVERSITY EAGLES welcomed the country’s 9th ranked EVANGEL UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS. The Eagles proceeded to make the Crusaders their prison brides, thrashing them by a final score of 42-7.
WAS THE OVER-UNDER ONE HUNDRED-FORTY POINTS? – Defense was apparently optional in yesterday’s D3 game between the FDU-FLORHAM DEVILS and the visiting ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY GOLDEN WOLVES. The Devils won this mega-shootout by a tally of EIGHTY-FOUR to FIFTY-SIX!
WE WENT TO A FOOTBALL GAME BUT A BASEBALL GAME BROKE OUT – At the other end of the scoring spectrum, the ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM found themselves on the road against the LYON COLLEGE SCOTS. This defensive epic ended in a 9-7 win for the Firestorm. 
NUMBER FOUR TAKES A FALL – In NCAA Division Three the CONCORDIA (Moorhead) COBBERS visited the number 4 team in the nation – the SAINT JOHN’S UNIVERSITY JOHNNIES. The Cobbers were on top 10-6 by Halftime but the Johnnies tied things up at 12-12 to force Overtime. In the extra session Concordia won the game 19-18 off a missed PAT by Saint John’s U. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER SEVEN – Up in NCAA Division Two the LINDENWOOD UNIVERSITY LIONS welcomed the country’s 7th ranked UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS GREYHOUNDS. After a scoreless 1st Quarter the Lions put the Greyhounds on Upset Alert with a 14-10 lead at the Half. From there Lindenwood University fulfilled the Upset by a final score of 34-27. 
AND NUMBER EIGHT CAME TUMBLING AFTER – Back in D3 the number 25 UNION (NY) DUTCHMEN took it on the road against the number 8 ITHACA COLLEGE BOMBERS. A 10-7 1st Quarter edge for the Dutchmen became 17-14 by the break. After a scoreless 3rd Quarter Union went on to a 31-21 win over the Bombers. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER SIX – In the NAIA the 18th ranked SIENA HEIGHTS UNIVERSITY SAINTS took it on the road against the number 6 team in the nation – the UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS. The Saints stunned the Cougars and the prognosticators by toppling USF by a final score of 24-14. 
MARATHON GAME OF THE DAY – This distinction goes to the clash between the NICHOLS COLLEGE BISON and their hosts the UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND NOR’EASTERS. The 4th Quarter ended in a 38-38 tie. One Overtime wasn’t enough. Two weren’t enough. Three weren’t enough. In the FOURTH OVERTIME the Bison emerged with a 51-48 triumph. 
USCAA SPOTLIGHT GAME – USCAA stands for United States Collegiate Athletic Association. The WILLIAMSON COLLEGE OF THE TRADES MECHANICS took the field against the visiting NEW JERSEY WARRIORS yesterday. The Mechanics led 7-3 at the Half before going on to win the game 14-3. 
THAT WAS NUMBER FIIIIVE – In the NAIA the 16th ranked EVANGEL UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS welcomed the number 5 team in the nation – the BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS. After a slow start the Crusaders made their move, overtaking the Ravens and Upsetting them by a final tally of 35-21. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER SIX – Over in NCAA Division Two the UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT KEARNEY LOPERS took the field against the visiting 6th ranked NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE BEARCATS. A 14-0 1st Quarter lead for the Lopers was unchanged at Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with UNK on top 21-14 and the 4th with a 24-17 triumph for the Lopers. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER SEVEN – Meanwhile, down in NCAA Division Three the BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN COLLEGE PANTHERS played host to the country’s number 7 team – the BERRY UNIVERSITY VIKINGS. The Panthers put the Vikings on Upset Alert with a 21-6 lead at the Half, then coasted to a 28-15 victory. 
NCCAA 1. OTTAWA UNIVERSITY (AZ) SPIRIT ### 2. CONCORDIA (MI) CARDINALS ### 3. GREENVILLE COLLEGE PANTHERS ### 4. GENEVA COLLEGE GOLDEN TORNADOES ### 