Football

Five KCAC Teams Recognized in Latest Netting Professionals NAIA Football Coaches' Poll

KANSAS — Five teams from the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) were recognized in the latest edition of the Netting Professionals NAIA Football Coaches' Poll, the national office announced Monday.

Four KCAC squads were ranked in the Top 25. Friends University remained at No. 4, where they were in the previous edition of the poll. Southwestern College moved down three spots from their previous ranking to No. 18. McPherson College moved up one spot to No. 21, and Evangel University returned to the Top 25 for the first time since September 15, coming in at No. 24.

Kansas Wesleyan University remained in the "Receiving Votes" category of the poll.

The next edition of the Netting Professionals NAIA Football Coaches' Poll will be released Monday, November 3.
 
 

Poll Methodology

  • The national poll is for publicity purposes only and does not influence the selection process for national championship consideration.
  • A panel of head coaches representing each conference and the Continental Athletic Conference (Independents) votes in the poll.
  • The Top 25 teams are selected using a points-based system:
    • 30 points for a 1st-place vote, 29 for 2nd, 28 for 3rd, and so on.
  • The highest and lowest rankings received by each team are discarded before final tallying.
  • Teams receiving only one point are not listed as “receiving votes.”
  • For a complete look at the Netting Professionals NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll throughout the regular season, and for historical rankings, click here

Key: RV - Receiving Votes, NR - Not Ranked
 



TOP 10 CAPSULES
 

1. Grand View (Iowa), 7-0

The Vikings completed a second-half comeback for the second week in a row, this time on the road at (RV) MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.), using a late fourth-quarter interception to set up a three-play, eight-yard go-ahead scoring drive, capped by a one-yard TD run by Ethan Schultz with 8:10 to play. Grand View won the game 32-28, and the Vikings return to the road Saturday to face a surging Graceland (Iowa) team that recorded a win Saturday over (RV) Peru State (Neb.).

2. Keiser (Fla.), 7-0

The Seahawks picked up a first-place vote this week after coasting to a conference win over Webber International (Fla.), beating the Warriors 45-0 to extend their conference winning streak to 28 games, a run that began in the 2021 season. Shea Spencer threw for 307 yards in the win, spreading four touchdowns among three different receivers. Keiser travels to Ave Maria (Fla.), on Saturday.

  

3. Benedictine (Kan.), 7-1

The Ravens had little trouble in a 78-3 homecoming win over William Woods (Mo.), last week, scoring 78 unanswered points after the Owls kicked a field goal on their opening drive. Benedictine limited WWU to 20 yards rushing and scored in all three phases – offense, defense, and special teams – as Luke McCormick ran for 118 yards and a score, while Jackson Dooley threw four touchdown passes. The Ravens host Missouri Valley this week, at 1 p.m. CT.

 

4. Friends (Kan.), 8-0

The Falcons topped Southwestern (Kan.) to solidify their spot atop the KCAC’s Bissell Division, taking a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and turning it into a 42-28 win on the road against a second-consecutive top-20 opponent. In the first quarter of Saturday’s win, the Falcons threw two touchdown passes in the same quarter for the first time this season, and Friends continued a dominant run game, rushing for 359 yards. This week, the Falcons host Kansas Wesleyan in Wichita’s Riverfront Stadium, home to the Minnesota Twins AA franchise, the Wichita Wind Surge.

5. Montana Tech, 8-0

The Orediggers moved to 8-0, continuing a recent offensive uptick with a 51-0 win over Mayville State (N.D.). Montana Tech has outscored its last three opponents 149-28, and while Saturday’s offense was on the move, the Oredigger defense did its job, as well, limiting Mayville State to 188 yards – all rushing – as Montana Tech prevented Mayville State from completing a pass in the game. Montana Tech is on the road, this week, at Rocky Mountain (Mont.).

6. Dordt (Iowa), 7-0

Dordt survived an upset bid from Midland (Neb.), last week, scoring 10 third-quarter points and recovering a late fourth-quarter onside kick to secure a 17-14 win. The Defenders will get another GPAC opponent with an upset on its mind Saturday, traveling to Hastings (Neb.), after the Broncos pulled even at 4-4 with a three-point win last week over Mount Marty (S.D.).

7. Marian (Ind.), 7-1

Keegan La Belle extended his program record scoring streak to 14 consecutive games, finding the end zone three times, as Marian outscored Olivet Nazarene 27-19 in the second half on the way to a 44-36 win in the MSFA Midwest. The Knights return home to open the month of November, hosting Saint Francis (Ill.).

8. Carroll (Mont.), 6-1

Carroll was off last week, and the Fighting Saints are back in action Saturday at Southern Oregon for a 2 p.m. PT kickoff. Prior to the break, Carroll topped Simpson (Calif.), 44-0, adding to the team's total in the touchdown passes category, where Carroll’s 23 passing TDs rank eighth in the NAIA.

9. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), 7-1

The Blue Raiders rebounded in a big way after a loss the week prior, beating Faulkner (Ala.) 44-10 on 164 yards and a pair of scores from Davontaye Saunders, who remains the NAIA’s second-leading rusher, with the fifth-most rushing touchdowns in the association. Tate Rice added three touchdown passes for Lindsey, as the Blue Raiders are back at home Saturday, hosting a Cumberland (Tenn.) team with momentum after beating Campbellsville (Ky.) last week.

 

10. Morningside (Iowa), 6-2

The Mustangs got back in the win column in a big way Saturday, beating nationally ranked GPAC rival Concordia (Neb.), 59-21. Blake Bellamy recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass for a touchdown on defense, and Zach Chevalier threw for 355 yards and five touchdowns on offense, finding three different receivers for scores. Morningside is on the road, this week, at Doane (Neb.).

 

FULL TOP 25 RANKINGS
 
Rank Last Poll Institution [First-Place Votes] Record Points
1 1 Grand View (Iowa) [15] 7-0 436 
2 2 Keiser (Fla.) [1] 7-0 422 
3 3 Benedictine (Kan.) 7-1 406 
4 T-4 Friends (Kan.) 8-0 388 
5 T-4  Montana Tech 8-0 387 
6 7 Dordt (Iowa) 7-0 359 
7 8 Marian (Ind.) 7-1 351 
8 9 Carroll (Mont.) 6-1 334 
9 10 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 7-1 319 
10 11 Morningside (Iowa) 6-2 303 
11 6 Campbellsville (Ky.) 6-1 287 
12 12 OUAZ (Ariz.) 6-0 278 
13 14 Indiana Wesleyan 6-2 275 
14 17 Southeastern (Fla.) 6-1 251 
15 16 College of Idaho 6-1 249 
16 18 Georgetown (Ky.) 5-2 217 
17 13 St. Thomas (Fla.) 4-3 192 
18 15 Southwestern (Kan.) 6-2 187 
19 21 William Penn (Iowa) 7-1 182 
20 20 Montana Western 5-3 178 
21 22 McPherson (Kan.) 7-1 144 
22 19 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 5-2 137 
23 24 Northwestern (Iowa) 4-3 119 
24 RV Evangel (Mo.) 6-2 102 
25 T-25 Texas Wesleyan 5-3 89 


Receiving Votes: Saint Francis (Ind.) 87, Cumberland (Tenn.) 78, Kansas Wesleyan 69, Concordia (Neb.) 55, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) 30, Taylor (Ind.) 28, Dakota State (S.D.) 10, Saint Xavier (Ill.) 8, Reinhardt (Ga.) 5, Florida Memorial 4, Bethel (Tenn.) 3, Baker (Kan.) 2, Faulkner (Ala.) 2.
 

Dropped out of Top 25: Concordia (Neb.), Bethel (Tenn.).
 


—KCAC—