Four Frontier teams ranked in NAIA Top 25

Though the Montana State University-Northern football team isn't one of them, there are a Frontier-record tying four teams ranked in the first regular season NAIA Coaches Poll.

The NAIA Top 25 was released on Monday, and Eastern Oregon, Carroll College, Rocky Mountain College and Montana Tech are all ranked this week. The Mountaineers climbed to their highest ranking ever, as they enter their bye week at No. 8. Meanwhile, Carroll dropped to its lowest ranking in almost 10 years, falling to No. 12 in this week's poll after a stunning 38-20 defeat at the hands of Montana Tech last Saturday in Butte. RMC and Tech debuted in this week's poll at No. 19 and No. 20 respectively.

For the second straight week, EOU's Howard McDonald not only earned Frontier Conference Defensive Player of the Week, but NAIA Defensive POW. In EOU's 17-14 win over the Lights last Saturday, McDonald racked up 25 tackles and a sack, that coming just seven days after he recorded 21 tackles in a win over Tech. EOU kicker Marc David was the Special Team's Player of the Week in the Frontier, while RMC quarterback Bruce Baker earned the offensive honor. Northern's Stephen Silva, James Chandless and Trevor Baum were nominated this week.

On the volleyball side, the Skylights gained little ground in the Frontier Conference power rankings, even after beating Carroll last Saturday night. Northern remains in sixth in the Frontier Power Poll, while the NAIA Top 25 has yet to be released. Lewis-Clark State's Treneisha Doyle was named Frontier Volleyball Player of the Week.

NAIA Football Poll

The Associated Press

Rec. Pts Pvs

1. Saint Xavier (Ill.) (14) 2-0 314 1

2. Marian (Ind.) 3-0 3011 3

3. Georgetown (Ky.) 2-0 291 4

4. Morningside (Iowa) 2-0 273 8

5. Missouri Valley 2-0 271 9

6. Benedictine (Kan.) 2-0 244 13

7. William Penn (Iowa) 3-0 241 14

8. Eastern Oregon 2-0 213 16

9. St. Ambrose (Iowa) 2-0 199 20

9. Baker (Kan.) 3-0 199 18

11. Saint Francis (Ind.) 2-1 187 6

12. Carroll (Mont.) 1-2 186 2

13. MidAmerica Naz. 1-1 185 5

14. Cumberlands (Ky.) 2-0 154 19

15. Grand View (Iowa) 2-1 139 15

16. Doane (Neb.) 2-0 128 21

17. St. Francis (Ill.) 1-2 112 7

17. Northwestern (Iowa) 1-1 112 10

19. Rocky Mountain 3-0 106 -

20. Montana Tech 1-1 84 -

21. Valley City State 1-1 54 17

22. Dakota Wesleyan 2-0 52 -

23. Taylor (Ind.) 2-0 22 -

24. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 2-1 21 -

25. Cumberland (Tenn.) 1-1 19 22

Others receiving votes: Kansas Wesleyan 18; Hastings (Neb.) 13; Langston (Okla.) 11; Kentucky Christian 11; Faulkner (Ala.) 11; Menlo (Calif.) 8; McPherson (Kan.) 7; Friends (Kan.) 3; Graceland (Iowa) 3; Midland (Neb.) 3.