Most of the Frontier Conference had a week off this past Saturday, but the Montana Tech Orediggers kept rolling.
In the new NAIA Coaches Poll, the Orediggers held strong at No. 13 after dominating Dickinson State Saturday in Dickinson, N.D. Tech has now won five straight games after a season-opening, two-point loss to Eastern Oregon.
Speaking of the Mountaineers, they have now lost three straight after being drubbed by Southern Oregon last Saturday, and the Mounties are completely out of the Coaches Poll. With the 68-22 win, the Red Raiders inched into the receiving votes part of the poll this week.
Carroll had a much-needed bye week and held steady at No. 8 in this week’s poll. The Saints return to Frontier Conference action this Saturday with a home game against the UM-Western Bulldogs.
SOU’s Austin Dodge was named Frontier Conference Offensive Player of the Week. Dodge is a 6-foot-2, 205 lbs, sophomore quarterback from Vancouver, Wash. In addition to his Frontier honors, Dodge was also named the NAIA National Offensive Player of the Week. In Southern Oregon's 68-22 upset win over No. 24 Eastern Oregon, Dodge was 23 of 30 passing for 468 yards and five touchdowns, all in the first half. He had the fourth most passing yards in a single game in Southern Oregon history.
Dodge’s SOU teammate, Marquice O’Leary was named Defensive Player of the Week and Montana Tech kicker Matt Berg earned Special Teams’ Player of the Week honors.
Big Sandy native Shersteen Cline earned Frontier Conference Volleyball Player of the Week honors. Cline is a 5-foot-11 senior outside hitter from Big Sandy. Montana Tech won two matches over the weekend. The Orediggers beat the University of Great Falls 3-1 and Carroll College 3-2. Carroll was in the receiving votes category of the NAIA Top-25. Cline averaged nearly five kills per set with a hitting percentage of .260. She also averaged ,89 digs and .33 solo blocks.
MSU-Northern’s Abby Nicholas was also nominated for the award this week.
NAIA Football Poll
The Associated Press
Rec. Pts Pvs
1. Marian (Ind.) (12) 5-0 313 1
2. Georgetown (Ky.) (2) 6-0 303 2
3. Missouri Valley 5-0 287 3
4. Morningside (Iowa) 5-0 281 4
5. William Penn (Iowa) 6-0 261 5
6. Saint Xavier (Ill.) 4-1 249 6
7. Saint Francis (Ind.) 4-1 239 7
8. Carroll (Mont.) 4-2 234 8
9. Cumberlands (Ky.) 6-0 217 9
10. MidAmerica Nazarene 4-1 211 10
11. Northwestern (Iowa) 5-1 190 11
12. Benedictine (Kan.) 5-1 173 12
13. Montana Tech 5-1 170 13
14. Grand View (Iowa) 5-2 161 14
15. St. Ambrose (Iowa) 4-1 153 16
16. Cumberland (Tenn.) 5-1 138 17
17. Hastings (Neb.) 5-0 122 21
18. Baker (Kan.) 5-2 117 19
19. Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 4-1 91 25
20. St. Francis (Ill.) 4-3 67 15
21. Evangel (Mo.) 4-2 65 —
22. Doane (Neb.) 4-2 64 18
23. Robert Morris (Ill.) 6-1 37 —
24. Tabor (Kan.) 4-2 27 —
25. Friends (Kan.) 4-2 22 —
Others receiving votes: Southern Oregon 18; Faulkner (Ala.) 15; Kansas Wesleyan 10; Ottawa (Kan.) 4.
