HEADLINES
SAINTS PRESERVE US! – NCAA Division Three’s THOMAS MORE COLLEGE SAINTS borrowed a page from NAIA football yesterday by defeating a team from NCAA Division TWO – in this case the LAKE ERIE COLLEGE STORM. By Halftime the Saints had compiled a 28-0 advantage, then coasted to a 44-zip shutout of the higher division team.
DOWN GOES NUMBER FIVE – Up in the NAIA the 8th ranked BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS traveled to face the number 5 team in the nation – the GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS (should be the Zebras). A 7-7 1st Quarter tie became 10-10 at the break and then 13-13 to end the 3rd. From there the Ravens exploded offensively to win the game 25-13.
ANOTHER NUMBER FIVE TAKES A FALL – In NCAA Division Two the number 22 FORT HAYS STATE TIGERS were on the road against the country’s 5th ranked NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE BEARCATS. The Tigers grabbed a quick 14-0 lead in the 1st Quarter but the Bearcats cut that to just 14-10 by the Half. In the 3rd Quarter the Fort Hays State edge was whittled down to 17-16, which wound up as the final tally, too, since the Defenses dominated the 4th. Continue reading
NUMBER TEN FALLS – In D3 the UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT STEVENS POINT POINTERS welcomed the number 10 team in the nation – the UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT OSHKOSH TITANS. A 14-14 Halftime tie became a 17-14 edge for the Pointers to end the 3rd Quarter. From there UW-Stevens Point pulled off a 27-21 Upset. 
USCAA GAME OF THE WEEK – The NEWPORT NEWS APPRENTICE SCHOOL BUILDERS (Shipbuilders) traveled to face the COPPIN STATE EAGLES (C) in the Game of the Week in the USCAA (United States Collegiate Athletic Association). The Builders parlayed a 13-0 lead at the break into an authoritative 33-0 smackdown. 
THEIR OWN PRIVATE IDAHO – Up in the NAIA the COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES played host to the country’s number 18 EASTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY MOUNTAINEERS. The Coyotes held a 27-14 Halftime advantage, then got more and more separation from the Mountaineers. The final tally was College of Idaho 48 Eastern Oregon University 24. 
TOPPLING NUMBER FOUR – Yesterday the NAIA’s CUMBERLAND UNIVERSITY PHOENIX hosted the number 4 team in the nation – the LINDSEY WILSON COLLEGE BLUE RAIDERS. The Phoenix put the Blue Raiders on Upset Alert with a 10-7 Halftime lead that became 17-13 to end the 3rd Quarter. In the end Cumberland U made it a happy Senior Day by holding on for a 24-21 triumph. 
MARATHON GAME OF THE DAY – Down in NCAA Division Three came Saturday’s longest game. The WESTERN CONNECTICUT STATE COLONIALS faced the visiting BRIDGEWATER STATE BEARS and, though trailing 21-14 at the break, came back to force Overtime with a 28-28 tie. The 1st OT ended in a 34-34 deadlock, neither team scored in the 2nd and the 3rd ended at 42-42. In the FOURTH OVERTIME the Colonials won it 50-48.
NUMBER SIX GETS DEEP-SIXED – Back in the NAIA the MIDAMERICA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY PIONEERS took it on the road against the country’s 6th ranked EVANGEL UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS. The Pioneers were chasing the Crusaders 19-13 at the Half but in the 4th Quarter they outscored EU 20-7 for a stunning 33-26 Upset victory. 
NUMBER THREE FALLS ON THE ROAD – In NCAA Division Three the 8th ranked SAINT JOHN’S UNIVERSITY JOHNNIES played host to the number 3 team in the nation – the UNIVERSITY OF SAINT THOMAS TOMMIES. After a 7-6 1st Quarter lead for the Tommies the Johnnies went on top 19-7 and 33-20 in the 2nd and 3rd Quarters respectively. From there Saint John’s University won it 40-20. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER SEVEN – Up in the NAIA the number 24 EASTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY MOUNTAINEERS visited the country’s number 7 team – the SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY RAIDERS (should be the Sea Gulls). The 1st Half was a defensive epic resulting in a 3-3 tie at Halftime. After the break the Mountaineers outscored SOU 24-14 for a 27-17 upset triumph. 
SEVENTY-EIGHT – In the NJCAA the ASA (NY) COLLEGE AVENGERS took the field against their guests the CAPP CRUSADERS. The Avengers dominated on both sides of the ball, utterly annihilating the hapless Crusaders in the process. When all was said and done ASA College won by a final tally of SEVENTY-EIGHT to SIX! 
NJCAA – 1. GARDEN CITY COLLEGE BRONCBUSTERS ### 2. EAST MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE LIONS (Defending National Champions) ### 3. LACKAWANNA COLLEGE FALCONS ### 4. IOWA WESTERN COLLEGE REIVERS ### 5. NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI RANGERS ### 
6. HUTCHINSON COLLEGE BLUE DRAGONS ### 7. SNOW COLLEGE BADGERS ### 8. EASTERN ARIZONA COLLEGE GILA MONSTERS ### 9. BLINN COLLEGE BUCCANEERS ### 10. ARIZONA WESTERN COLLEGE MATADORS ### 
DIVISION TWO OVER DIVISION ONE – The UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA ARGONAUTS, from NCAA Division Two, traveled to take on Division ONE’s UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA LIONS yesterday. A 10-10 Halftime tie became a 17-13 edge for the Argonauts in the 3rd Quarter and ultimately a 24-19 upset! This is like when a 1aa team topples a 1a team for you newbies. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER TWO – Over in the NAIA the 21st ranked ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE BATTLIN’ BEARS welcomed the number 2 team in the nation – the SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY RAIDERS (should be the Sea Gulls). After a scoreless 1st Quarter the Battlin’ Bears put SOU on Upset Alert with a 17-14 lead at the break. In the 2nd Half Rocky Mountain College outscored the Raiders 17-7 for a 34-21 triumph. 
FIRST-EVER WIN FOR U.N.E. – Moving to NCAA Division Three, the UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND NOR’EASTERS are in their very first year of intercollegiate football. On Saturday they took on the visiting CURRY COLLEGE COLONELS and came back from a 14-7 1st Quarter deficit to go on top 28-21 by the midpoint. From there the Nor’easters had to hold on for a 44-42 victory, the FIRST in program history. 
DRAGONS R BALL Z – The VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY OF LYNCHBURG DRAGONS out of the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) took on an opponent a Division higher yesterday. They traveled to face NCAA Division TWO’s FORT VALLEY STATE WILDCATS and seized a quick 10-0 1st Quarter lead. That remained unchanged by the Half, following which the Dragons outscored the Wildcats 21-14 to win the game 31-14. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER ONE – The NAIA’s 6th ranked MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS visited the number 1 team in the nation – the Defending Champion UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS COUGARS. The Knights trailed 14-13 at Halftime but went on top of the Cougars 27-21 to end the 3rd Quarter. From there Marian University dominated the 4th for a 37-28 Upset victory. 
NUMBER TWO TAKES A FALL – Meanwhile, over in NCAA Division Two, the CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA VULCANS (as in the Roman god Vulcan) played host to the country’s 2nd ranked INDIANA UNIVERSITY IN PENNSYLVANIA CRIMSON HAWKS. The Vulcans were chasing the Crimson Hawks 14-7 in the 1st Quarter and 14-10 at the Half. From there Cal (PA) outscored IUP 26-10 to win it 36-24. 
DIVISION TWO OVER DIVISION ONE – NCAA Division Two’s TRUMAN STATE BULLDOGS traveled to take on Division ONE’s VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS. Though the Bulldogs trailed the Crusaders 7-6 at Halftime by the end of the 3rd Quarter they were on top 17-10. From there Truman State consummated the Upset with a 34-20 triumph. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER TWO – Also in D2, the UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA BRONCHOS (sic) hosted the number 2 team in the nation – the NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE BEARCATS. A 7-0 1st Quarter lead for the Bronchos became 14-3 at the Half. The 4th Quarter opened with UCO holding a 28-3 advantage before winning the game 31-21. 
NUMBER THREE FALLS ON THE SAME DAY – Staying in D2 for the moment, yesterday also saw the 23rd ranked COLORADO STATE AT PUEBLO THUNDER WOLVES visiting the number 3 TEXAS A&M AT COMMERCE LIONS. The defending National Champion Lions led 10-6 by the midpoint of the game but the Thunder Wolves went up 16-10 in the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th CSU-Pueblo outscored the champs 7-3 for a 23-13 victory. 
DOWN GOES NUMBER EIGHT – Over in the NAIA the ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY (IL) EAGLES welcomed the number 8 team in the country – the CONCORDIA (MI) CARDINALS. This game was a defensive epic which went scoreless until the 3rd Quarter when the Eagles notched 7 points. That wound up being all the scoring for the entire game as RMU-Illinois toppled the Cardinals by a baseball score of 7-0. 
NJCAA 1. IOWA WESTERN COLLEGE REIVERS ### 2. EAST MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE LIONS (Defending National Champions) ### 3. BLINN COLLEGE BUCCANEERS ### 4. NORTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA A&M GOLDEN NORSEMEN ### 5. NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE RANGERS ### 
6. GARDEN CITY COLLEGE BRONCBUSTERS ### 7. SNOW COLLEGE BADGERS ### 8. SCOTTSDALE COLLEGE FIGHTING ARTICHOKES (yes, really) ### 9. HUTCHINSON COLLEGE BLUE DRAGONS ### 10. ARIZONA WESTERN COLLEGE MATADORS ### 
NAIA OVER NCAA DIVISION TWO … YET AGAIN – Regular readers of Balladeer’s Blog know that NAIA football teams often upset higher division teams in NCAA Division Two. Yesterday the NAIA’s UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IL) FIGHTING SAINTS found themselves on the road against D2’s QUINCY UNIVERSITY HAWKS. The Fighting Saints notched an authoritative 41-26 upset win. 
D3 OVER D2 – An NCAA Division Three team borrowed a page from the NAIA yesterday by upsetting a D2 team. The 15th ranked UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT OSHKOSH TITANS traveled to face the Division Two team called the LINCOLN (MO) BLUE TIGERS. A 7-7 Halftime tie wound up as a 17-7 victory for the Titans. 
NUMBER EIGHT TAKES A FALL – In NCAA Division Two the VALDOSTA STATE BLAZERS visited the number 8 team in the nation – the UNIVERSITY OF WEST ALABAMA TIGERS. The Blazers put the Tigers on Upset Alert by Halftime with a 35-14 lead, then after the break they coasted to a 58-24 triumph. 
… AND NUMBER NINE CAME TUMBLING AFTER – Also in D2 the COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES OREDIGGERS welcomed the country’s 9th ranked COLORADO STATE AT PUEBLO THUNDER WOLVES. A 21-14 1st Quarter advantage for the Orediggers remained unchanged at the Half. From there Colorado School of Mines outscored the Thunder Wolves 14-7 to win the game 35-21. 
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