Following a critical week in the Frontier Conference, the league now has just two teams left in the NAIA Top 25.
The most recent NAIA Coaches Poll was released Monday with Carroll College holding steady at No. 3, while Eastern Oregon moved up one spot to No. 22. The Mounties snapped a two-game losing streak at home against Montana Tech on Saturday.
After the Saints beat then No. 21 Rocky Mountain College 30-7 Saturday in Helena, the Battlin’ Bears dropped out of the Top 25 this week. Rocky is still receiving votes, and the Bears have been ranked for three weeks and un-ranked three other weeks.
Saint Xavier of Illinois and Marian of Indiana remained No. 1 and No., respectively, while Georgetown of Kentucky moved up to No. 4 this week. MidAmerican Nazarene moved from No. 7 to No. 5 to round out the top five.
Two UM-Western players earned Frontier Conference honors following the Bulldogs dramatic 30-27 win over MSU-Northern last Saturday in Dillon. Western’s Zach McRae, a 6-foot, 220-pound senior quarterback from Dillon, Mont earned Offensive Player of the Week. In Western's 30-27 win over MSU-N, McRae was 18-of-25 passing for 221 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed for 59 yards on seven carries. McRae orchestrated the game winning drive with just 30 seconds remaining in the game.
Aukkarapong Sribenjakul, a 5-foot-7, 162-pound, sophomore kicker from Superior, Mont earned Special Team’s Player of the Week. In addition to his conference honors, he was also named National Player of the Week. In the 30-27 win over Northern, Sribenjakul was 3-of-4 in P.A.T.'s and kicked the game-winning, 31 yard field goal with 3.8 seconds left.
Mike Siegersma, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound sophomore defensive back from Nampa, Idaho was named Defensive Player of the Week. In addition to his conference honors, he was also named National Player of the Week. In No. 3 Carroll's 30-7 win over No. 21 Rocky Mountain College, Siegersma recorded six solo tackles, one assisted tackles, one tackle for loss and one pass interception. He also forced two fumbles that were recovered by Carroll and his interception was returned 70 yards for a touchdown.
Northern returns home this week to face Montana Tech. Saturday’s game will be Military Appreciation Day at Blue Pony Stadium.
NAIA Football Poll
The Associated Press
Rec. Pts Pvs
1. Saint Xavier (Ill.) (14) 7-0 340 1
2. Marian (Ind.) (1) 8-0 325 2
3. Carroll (Mont.) 6-1 314 3
4. Georgetown (Ky.) 6-0 302 5
5. MidAmerica Nazarene 5-1 285 7
6. Morningside (Iowa) 5-1 266 8
7. Benedictine (Kan.) 7-0 264 9
8. Azusa Pacific (Calif.) 6-1 246 10
9. Missouri Valley 5-1 226 4
9. William Penn (Iowa) 7-1 226 11
11. St. Francis (Ill.) 6-1 217 12
12. Saint Francis (Ind.) 4-2 188 6
13. St. Ambrose (Iowa) 5-1 183 14
14. Bethel (Tenn.) 5-1 151 17
15. Ottawa (Kan.) 5-2 148 16
16. Valley City State (N.D.) 6-1 137 18
17. Cumberland (Tenn.) 5-1 127 20
18. Doane (Neb.) 5-1 124 19
19. Dakota Wesleyan 5-1 121 13
20. Bethany (Kan.) 6-1 98 22
21. Southern Nazarene 5-2 75 15
22. Eastern Oregon 5-2 70 23
23. Northwestern (Iowa) 5-2 63 —
24. Langston (Okla.) 5-2 50 —
25. Shorter (Ga.) 4-2 31 —
Others receiving votes: Rocky Mountain (Mont.) 10; Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 6; Menlo (Calif.) 3; Grand View (Iowa) 1; Hastings (Neb.) 1.
