DOWN GOES NUMBER THREE – The 14th ranked BLINN COLLEGE BUCCANEERS welcomed the number 3 team in the nation – the TRINITY VALLEY COLLEGE CARDINALS – on Saturday. The Buccaneers and Cardinals were tied 14-14 in the 1st Quarter but Blinn College grabbed a 24-17 lead by Halftime. A 24-24 tie to end the 3rd Quarter ultimately became a 31-27 triumph for the Buccaneers, who are still unbeaten for 2017.
AND NUMBER FOUR COMES TUMBLING AFTER – The BUTLER (KS) GRIZZLIES battled the 4th ranked IOWA WESTERN COLLEGE REIVERS. A 14-0 1st Quarter lead for the Grizzlies was cut to a mere 14-13 edge by the break. Butler College made it a 21-13 game in the 3rd Quarter, with the Reivers scoring a Touchdown in the 4th but missing the 2-point conversion attempt. The Grizzlies won it 21-19.
HUTCH EDGES THE DEFENDING CHAMPS – The storied HUTCHINSON COLLEGE BLUE DRAGONS took it on the road against the Defending National Champions – the number 11 GARDEN CITY COLLEGE BRONCBUSTERS. The opening Quarter ended in a 7-7 tie with the Blue Dragons on top 14-7 at Halftime. Hutchinson College led the Broncbusters 28-21 to start the 4th Quarter and from there held on for a 31-28 road upset. Continue reading
DOWN GOES NUMBER THREE – The INDEPENDENCE COLLEGE PIRATES welcomed the defending National Champions – the number 3 GARDEN CITY COLLEGE BRONCBUSTERS. The score was tied at 14-14 by Halftime but from there the Pirates outscored the Broncbusters 13-9 to pull off a nation-shaking 27-23 upset. 
VICTORIOUS VERMILION – The VERMILION COLLEGE IRONMEN took the field against the MINNESOTA TECH SPARTANS on Saturday. The Ironmen trailed the Spartans 7-0 after 1 Quarter of play but knotted things up at 7-7 by the break. The 3rd Quarter ended with Vermilion College on top 14-7 and from there the Ironmen won it 28-7. 
NUMBER ONE SURVIVES A CLOSE CALL – Last night the number 1 team in the nation – the dynastic NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE BEARCATS – took it on the road against the WASHBURN UNIVERSITY ICHABODS. This game went right down to the wire, with the Bearcats holding on in the end for a 20-14 victory in this Instant Classic. 
STUNG BY THE HORNETS – Meanwhile, NCAA Division Two’s 11th ranked EMPORIA STATE HORNETS had no trouble at all with the visiting UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT KEARNEY LOPERS. The Hornets dominated the reeling Lopers on both sides of the ball for a FORTY-FIVE to THIRTEEN blowout win. 
HOME-STANDS – The SCOTTSDALE COLLEGE FIGHTING ARTICHOKES hosted the GLENDALE COLLEGE GAUCHOS on Saturday and manhandled them by a score of 37-7 ### Meanwhile the NORTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA A&M GOLDEN NORSEMEN lambasted the visiting NEW MEXICO MILITARY INSTITUTE BRONCOS (should be the Cavalry) 40-7 ### And the MESABI RANGE COLLEGE NORSE clobbered the MINNESOTA STATE SPARTANS 42-15. 
WHEN TITANS CLASH – The 12th ranked team in the nation – the IOWA WESTERN COLLEGE REIVERS – played host to the HUTCHINSON COLLEGE BLUE DRAGONS. By Halftime the Reivers held a 21-7 advantage over the Blue Dragons. After the break Iowa Western College had to withstand Hutchinson’s furious comeback attempt to emerge with a 27-21 victory. The Reivers improve to 2-0, Hutch is now 1-1. 
SHUTOUTS – The ASA COLLEGE AVENGERS folded, spindled and mutilated their guests the NEW JERSEY ACADEMY WARRIORS in a 49-0 laugher. ### And the GEORGIA MILITARY COLLEGE BULLDOGS sent the MIDDLE GEORGIA STATE KNIGHTS back home reeling from a SEVENTY-ONE to NOTHING trouncing. 
ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY RULES THE WORLD – Several times a year NAIA football teams manage upsets of teams from NCAA Division TWO! Yesterday saw multiple instances, too, like the ARIZONA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FIRESTORM battling the Division 2 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY CLAN (as in Scottish Clan). The Firestorm won this Instant Classic by a final score of 34-28. 
TAYLOR UNIVERSITY TOPPLES D2 AS WELL – For newbies to these divisions these NAIA over NCAA Division 2 upsets are like when 1AA teams upset 1A teams. In this game the TAYLOR UNIVERSITY TROJANS did battle with D2’s MALONE UNIVERSITY PIONEERS. Spectators got more than their money’s worth in this matchup, too, which saw the Trojans emerge with a 28-21 victory. 
LANGSTON CRUSHES DIVISION TWO – The NAIA’s LANGSTON UNIVERSITY LIONS took on NCAA Division Two’s LINCOLN (MO) UNIVERSITY BLUE TIGERS in The LU Classic. The Lions dominated the Blue Tigers on both sides of the ball, defeating them 30-14 in their own house. REMEMBER: Any wins over D2 teams count as 2 wins each in my weekly NAIA vs NCAA Division Three tally. 
NUMBER THREE GETS KNOCKED OFF – In D2 the UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS GREYHOUNDS welcomed the number 3 team in the nation – the GRAND VALLEY STATE LAKERS. The dynastic Lakers appeared to be in the driver’s seat with a 13-0 1st Quarter lead, but by Halftime the Greyhounds had made it a 13-10 game. 
AND NUMBER FIVE CAME TUMBLING AFTER – Over in the NAIA the 24th ranked SAINT XAVIER UNIVERSITY COUGARS clashed with the nation’s number 5 team – the MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS. A 1st Quarter 6-0 edge for the Cougars turned into a commanding 26-7 lead by the Half. 
OUR DIVISION CAN BEAT UP YOUR DIVISION – 2017’s first round of NAIA football vs NCAA Division 3 football resulted in a split. 
No matter WHAT the 4-letter network says, this is Week TWO of the 2017 College Football season. Tonight will feature some clashes between ranked opponents in the various divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog: 
The number 5 team in the nation – the MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS – take it on the road against the 24th ranked SAINT XAVIER UNIVERSITY COUGARS. 
The 25th ranked SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY RAIDERS will be hosting the number 7 EASTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY MOUNTAINEERS. 