*** HEADLINES ***
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. Continue reading
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. 
BIGGEST COMEBACK IN PROGRAM HISTORY – The storied HUTCHINSON COLLEGE BLUE DRAGONS added another page to their history on Saturday in their game against the COFFEYVILLE COLLEGE RED RAVENS. The Blue Dragons trailed by 25 points in the 2nd Quarter before notching TWENTY-THREE points to trail just 25-23 at Halftime. The 3rd Quarter ended with the Red Ravens still on top 42-36 but in the 4th Hutchinson College shut out Coffeyville and won the game 50-42. 
UNDER THE RADAR CLASSIC – The COLLEGE OF DUPAGE CHAPARRALS traveled to take on the IOWA CENTRAL COLLEGE TRITONS. After a scoreless 1st Quarter the Chaparrals snagged a 10-6 lead by the break. The Defenses reigned in the 3rd Quarter like they did in the 1st, and the College of DuPage scored a Field Goal in the 4th for a 13-6 triumph. Kicker Thiago Kapps led the Chaparrals in scoring with his 7 points. 
SHUTOUTS – The (19) EASTERN ARIZONA COLLEGE GILA MONSTERS hosted the ARIZONA ACADEMY SOUL PATROL and proceeded to make them their prison brides to the tune of SIXTY-EIGHT to NOTHING ### Meanwhile the ASA COLLEGE (FL) SILVER STORM battered the ADVANCE ACADEMY PANTHERS by a score of 52-0 ### And the CISCO COLLEGE WRANGLERS outdid even those one-sided scores, obliterating the REZOLUTION (sic) ACADEMY WILDCATS in a NINETY-EIGHT to NOTHING laugher. 
NUMBER TWELVE TAKES A FALL – The BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS hosted the number 12 team in the nation – the MISSOURI VALLEY COLLEGE VIKINGS. The Vikings managed a 7-0 lead in the 1st Quarter but the Ravens exploded for 21 points in the 2nd Quarter to take a 21-7 lead by Halftime. 
WHEN RANKED TEAMS CLASH – Also in the NAIA the 2nd ranked BAKER UNIVERSITY WILDCATS took the field against the visiting number 23 WILLIAM PENN UNIVERSITY STATESMEN. The teams went blow-for-blow in a 7-7 1st Quarter but the Wildcats eked out a 10-7 edge at the Half. 
TWO NEW TEAMS HIT THE GRIDIRON – Two new NAIA football squads played their inaugural games yesterday. Both lost. 
The 15th ranked DICKINSON STATE BLUE HAWKS will host their Frontier Conference rivals the ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE BATTLIN’ BEARS. 
The EVANGEL UNIVERSITY CRUSADERS take it on the road against the number 9 team in the nation – the GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS. 
The WARNER UNIVERSITY ROYALS will likewise play Road Warriors as they travel to take on the UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS PATRIOTS. 
Meanwhile THE AG BOWL will pit the number 17 DAKOTA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY TIGERS against the DAKOTA STATE TROJANS in a North Star Athletic Association matchup. 
And the UNIVERSITY OF PIKEVILLE BEARS will be on the road to take on their familiar foes the CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY TIGERS. 
The Defending Champions – the GARDEN CITY COLLEGE BRONCBUSTERS – open the season hosting the ELLSWORTH COLLEGE PANTHERS. 
The HIGHLAND COLLEGE SCOTTIES, meanwhile, will travel to face the DODGE CITY COLLEGE CONQUISTADORS to begin their 2017 campaign. 
NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) 
NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) 
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – The GARDEN CITY COLLEGE BRONCBUSTERS did battle with the ARIZONA WESTERN COLLEGE MATADORS for the national title. The 2016 El Toro Bowl saw the Broncbusters grab a 7-0 lead in the 1st Quarter, then take a 19-14 edge into the locker room at the Half. Neither team scored in the 3rd Quarter and the Matadors went up 22-19 in the 4th. Garden City scored a TD with 30 seconds left in the game but muffed the 2-point conversion attempt. Arizona Western failed to score and the Broncbusters won their 1st National Championship 25-22! 
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS TOPPLED – The 10th seeded EASTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY MOUNTAINEERS traveled to face the top seeded Defending National Champions of NAIA football – the MARIAN UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS. After a scoreless 1st Quarter the Mountaineers put the Knights on upset alert with a 10-0 Halftime lead. Following the break Eastern Oregon consummated the upset by bringing down Marian U in a 17-0 shutout. 
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