Tech moves up in NAIA Poll

The Frontier Conference is shaping up to be a roller coaster ride this season, and it's also looking like it might be the strongest league in all of NAIA football.

Once again, there are four Frontier teams rated in the NAIA Coaches Poll, which was released on Monday afternoon.

Eastern Oregon remained at No. 8 in this week's poll. The Mountaineers had a bye week after starting the season 2-0. Carroll College moved up to No. 11 this week after outlasting then No. 19 Rocky Mountain College Saturday in Helena. The Saints are now 2-1 in league play heading into their bye week. The Battlin' Bears dropped to 22 after suffering their first loss of the season. And Montana Tech made a big jump in this week's poll, as the Orediggers climbed to No. 17 after beating UM-Western in double-overtime last Saturday.

Tech quarterback Nick Baker was named the Frontier Offensive Player of the Week. Against Western, Baker was 33-of-38 passing for 274 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for 26 yards on 17 carries against the Bulldogs. Carroll linebacker Casey Norbeck was named the Defensive Player of the Week. Norbeck had three solo tackles, three assisted tackles, 3 tackles for losses of 17 yards, three quarterback sacks, one fumble recovery,one pass break up and he intercepted a lateral and returned it 46 yards for a touchdown. Tech punter Travis Farwell earned Special Team's Player of the Week honors.

Montana State University-Northern nominees this week were Stephen Silva on offense, James Chandless on defense and Trevor Baum on special teams.

NAIA Football Poll

The Associated Press

Rec. Pts Pvs

1. Saint Xavier (Ill.) (14) 3-0 314 1

2. Marian (Ind.) 3-0 301 2

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

4. Morningside (Iowa) 3-0 273 4

5. Missouri Valley 3-0 271 5

6. Benedictine (Kan.) 3-0 245 6

7. William Penn (Iowa) 4-0 242 7

8. Eastern Oregon 2-0 215 8

9. Baker (Kan.) 4-0 210 t9

10. St. Ambrose (Iowa) 3-0 199 t9

11. Carroll (Mont.) 2-2 192 12

12. Saint Francis (Ind.) 2-1 186 11

13. MidAmerica Nazarene 1-1 180 13

14. Cumberlands (Ky.) 3-0 165 14

15. Grand View (Iowa) 3-1 143 15

16. Northwestern (Iowa) 2-1 138 17

17. Montana Tech 2-1 104 20

18. St. Francis (Ill.) 2-2 103 17

19. Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 3-0 87 22

20. Valley City State (N.D.) 2-1 70 21

21. Cumberland (Tenn.) 2-1 67 25

22. Rocky Mountain 3-1 66 19

23. Doane (Neb.) 2-1 62 16

24. Kansas Wesleyan 2-1 33 NR

25. Menlo (Calif.) 3-1 17 NR