April 21, 2008

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - In the second ever National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Football Top 25 Spring Coaches' Poll, Carroll (Mont.) ends their spring practice session as No. 1, announced today (April 21). The Fighting Saints snapped the 27-game winning streak of then undefeated and No. 1 Sioux Falls (S.D.) in the 2007 National Championship to finish 15-0.  Carroll received all 16 of the possible first-place votes and recorded 400 total points.

The Fighting Saints have won five of the last six NAIA Championships. Carroll has been ranked in the Top 5 in the last 39 straight polls including No. 1 in 23 of those rankings.

Sioux Falls, last year's No. 1 in the Spring Poll, stands No. 2 in the 2008 version. The Cougars look to replace 2007 Rawlings-NAIA Player of the Year Chad Cavender at quarterback.

2007 Semifinal participants Missouri Valley and St. Francis (Ind.) hold at No. 3 and 4, respectively while Bethel (Tenn.) stands at No. 5. The Top 10 did not change from the Top 25 Postseason Poll on Jan. 14.

The poll was voted upon by a 17 member-panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences and independents.

For more information on NAIA football, please click here.

2008 NAIA Football Top 25 Spring Coaches' Poll - April 21

RANK	LAST WEEK*	SCHOOL	1st PLACE VOTES	2007 RECORD	TOTAL POINTS
1	1	Carroll (Mont.)	16	15-0	400
2	2	Sioux Falls (S.D.)		13-1	384
3	3	Missouri Valley		10-3	349
4	4	St. Francis (Ind.)		11-2	348
5	5	Bethel (Tenn.)		11-2	334
6	6	Ohio Dominican		12-1	328
7	7	Morningside (Iowa)		9-3	285
8	8	Saint Xavier (Ill.)		10-3	284
9	9	Lindenwood (Mo.)		10-2	270
10	10	St. Ambrose (Iowa)		8-3	225
11	12	Friends (Kan.)		9-2	217
12	11	Jamestown (N.D.)		9-2	208
13	14	Virginia-Wise		9-2	206
14	13	MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.)		9-3	204
15	15	Northwestern (Iowa)		8-2	195
16	16	Cumberlands (Ky.)		8-3	155
17	18	Northwestern Oklahoma		8-4	151
18	17	Bethel (Kan.)		8-1	136
19	20	Black Hills State (S.D.)		7-4	101
20	21	Azusa Pacific (Calif.)		6-5	81
21	T22	Montana Tech		7-4	78
22	19	Sterling (Kan.)		8-2	67
23	24	Georgetown (Ky.)		6-4	55
24	25	Malone (Ohio)		8-4	50
25	T22	Nebraska Wesleyan		7-3	40

Others receiving votes:
McKendree (Ill.) 10; Minot State (N.D.) 9; Shorter (Ga.) 9; William Jewell (Mo.) 8; Rocky Mountain (Mont.) 4;
Montana State-Northern 3; Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 3; Graceland (Iowa) 1; Southern 1; Southern Nazarene
(Okla.) 1

* 2007 Postseason Poll (Jan. 14, 2008)

Top 25 Team Capsules:
1. Carroll (Mont.): 2007 Record: 15-0... Conference finish: 1^st... Starters Returning/Lost: 11/11... Head coach Mike Van Diest and the Fighting Saints have won five of the last six NAIA National Championships including the 2007 title over the University of Sioux Falls (S.D.)... The perfect 15-0 record last year was the first time for any school in the NAIA since 2003... Begin 2008 on an eight-year streak of Frontier Conference Championships... Expected back are AFCA-NAIA Coaches' All-American Owen Koeppen (Sr., LB) and first team all-conference picks Travis Browne (Sr., WR) and Marshall McEwen (Sr., TE)... CC loses QB John Barnett and DE Phil Lenoue.

2. Sioux Falls (S.D.): 2007 Record: 13-1... Conference finish: 1^st... Starters Returning/Lost: 11/11... After winning the 2006 Championship, USF loses to Carroll in the 2007 title game, which snapped a 27-game winning streak... Held on to the No. 1 spot during 11 of 12 polls in 2007... Have won 63 of their last 64 Great Plains Athletic Conference games... USF has made 12 of the last 14 NAIA Football Championship Series... Head coach Kalen DeBoer welcomes back first team all-conference performers Erik Cimpl (Sr., RB), Trevor Holleman (Jr., DB), and T.J. Wendt (Jr., OG)... Cougars lose Rawlings-NAIA Player of the Year QB Chad Cavender and Joseah Fenceroy (TE) and Letarius Lee (DE).

3. Missouri Valley: 2007 Record: 10-3... Conference finish: 2^nd... Starters Returning/Lost: 10/12... Has appeared in two straight Semifinals... The Vikings won eight straight after starting out 2007 with a 2-2 record... Head coach Paul Troth returns 2006 conference defensive player of the year Larry Wentzel (Sr., DE), Robert Holmes, (Sr., RB) and Merlin Benefield (Jr., DL)... MVC loses 2007 conference defensive player of the year Reggie Singletary (LB), Eric Brown (WR) and Kris Vasquez (OL).

4. St. Francis (Ind.): 2007 Record: 11-2... Conference finish: 2^nd... Starters Returning/Lost: 13/9... Holds the longest active streak of any NAIA football program with nine straight Football Championship Series appearances... Posted six straight 10-plus win seasons... Holds a 45-game home winning streak heading into 2008... In the final season NAIA polls, USF has finished in the Top 10 in seven of the last eight seasons... Head coach Kevin Donley returns Jeff Wedding (Sr., QB), Tim Farrell (Sr., DE) and Paul Carter (Sr., DB)... Cougars lose OL Brian Smiley, OL Josh Ekovich and WR Bo Thompson.

5. Bethel (Tenn.): 2007 Record: 11-2... Conference finish: 1^st... Starters Returning/Lost: 16/6... Has won three straight conference titles... Sports perfect 15-0 mark in the Mid-South Conference (West) in the last three seasons... Made two straight Quarterfinal playoff appearances... Head coach Dino Kaklis welcomes back all-conference performers Beau Weiss (Sr., OL) and Markee Robinson (Jr., LB)... Loses AFCA-NAIA Coaches' All-American Adrain Smith (RB) and all-conference picks Cliff Bama (DL) and Ronnie Jankovich (QB).

6. Ohio Dominican: 2007 Record: 12-1... Conference finish: 1^st... Starters Returning/Lost: 17/5... Won the 2007 Mid-States Football Association Mideast Conference title... Led the NAIA in passing offense and total offense last year... Head coach Dale Carlson welcomes back Cris Reisert (Sr., QB), who set an NAIA record for season passing with over 5,400 passing yards... Also expected back are 1,000-yard receiver Josh Smart (Sr.) and Joe Slabaugh (Sr., S)... ODU loses AFCA-NAIA Coaches' All-American Jared Stace (WR) and Nate Hillerich (LB).

7. Morningside (Iowa): 2007 Record: 9-3... Conference finish: 2^nd... Starters Returning/Lost: 18/6... MC has appeared in four straight Football Championship Series... Holds a 38-10 record over the last four seasons... Ranked fifth last year in rushing defense and sixth in scoring defense... Head coach Steve Ryan returns Ian Gillworth (Sr., QB), Mike Buckley (Jr., DB) and Beau Kildow (Jr., WR), who had over 850 receiving yards and 65 catches... The Mustangs lose AFCA-NAIA Coaches' All-American Chad Hustedt (DB), Rob Mosby (OL) and James Mowrey (DL).

8. Saint Xavier (Ill.): 2007 Record: 10-3... Conference finish: 3^rd... Starters Returning/Lost: 16/6... Qualified for third straight Championship Series last year with 2007 Quarterfinal round appearance... Ranked in the Top 10 in the Postseason Poll for third straight season... Head coach Mike Feminis welcomes back Billy Yeo (Sr., QB), Jason Banning (Sr., RB) and Joe Miller (Sr., LB)... SXU looks to replace key players Shane Longes, who was an AFCA-NAIA Coaches' All-American at punter last year, Jim Doherty (WR) and Sean Kenney (LB).

9. Lindenwood (Mo.): 2007 Record: 10-2... Conference finish: 1^st... Starters Returning: 16... Starting QB and four offensive lineman return from 2007 Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship team... On defense, top six linebackers return as well... Head coach Patrick Ross returns Ben Kisner (Sr., QB) who threw for over 2,500 yards and 19 TDs, Dan Carlisle (So., LB), the team's leading tackler, and Jeff Hynes (Jr., OL)... The Lions lose the team's top pass catcher, Dominic Peterson, and first team all-conference picks Brian Schaefering (DL) and Hakeem Abdullah (RB).

10. St. Ambrose (Iowa): 2007 Record: 8-3... Conference finish: 1^st... Starters Returning/Lost: 8/14... Lost in the first round of the Championship Series to St. Xavier (Ill.)... Head coach Mike Magistrelli returns all-conference performer Vince Fillipp (Sr., DT) and wide receivers Kyle Korth (Sr.) and Michael Hayward (So.)... The Bees lose conference player of the year Jim DuPage (QB) and the team's top rusher, Vernon Reed.

11. Friends (Kan.): 2007 Record: 9-2... Conference finish: 1^st... Starters Returning/Lost: 18/4... Lost to Missouri Valley in the first round of the Championship Series last year... Head coach Monty Lewis welcomes back the KCAC's leading rusher Trey Hightower (Sr.) along with all-conference picks Michael Hecht (Sr., DE) and Jacob Bruster (Sr., OT)... FU loses QB Chris Randolph, and linebackers Tanis Ready and Sam Tossie.

12. Jamestown (N.D.): 2007 Record: 9-2... Conference finish: T1st... Starters Returning/Lost: 12/10... Made its second straight Championship Series appearance last year losing in the first round... Head coach Bud Etzold welcomes back the conference MVP, Josh Kittell (Sr., QB), along with Cody Sailer (Sr., LB) and Clint McGovern (Jr., OT)... The Jimmies lose the service of AFCA-NAIA Coaches' All-American Gary Thomas (DB) and Jake Stoltz (DB).

13. Virginia-Wise: 2007 Record: 9-2... Conference finish: T1st... Starters Returning/Lost: 15/8... In 2007, won its first conference title in the last six years... Ranked first in the country in scoring offense and pass efficiency... Head coach Bruce Wasem welcomes back Randy Hippeard (Sr., QB) who was tops in NAIA passing in efficiency and second in total offense; also returning is Matt Barbour (Jr., WR) and James Haley (Jr., SS)... UVA loses two-time AFCA-NAIA Coaches' All-American Ra'Shad Morgan (RB) along with all-conference selections Ben Robertson (LB) and Henry Potter (OT).

14. MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.): 2007 Record: 9-3... Conference finish: T2nd... Starters Returning/Lost: N/A... Was ranked in all 13 polls in 2007... Notched a season-high of No. 10 in the polls... Lost in the first round of the Championship Series to Bethel (Tenn.).

15. Northwestern (Iowa): 2007 Record: 8-2... Conference finish: T2nd... Starters Returning/Lost: 17/7... Finished the season in the Top 20 - marks the fifth straight season of accomplishing feat... Ranked second in the NAIA in total sacks... Head coach Orv Otten returns AFCA-NAIA Coaches' All-American Cody Van Sloten (Sr., DE) along with Seth Moen (Sr., WR) and Nathan Jansen (Sr., LB)... NC loses Kadrian Hardersen (DB), Craig Hector (QB) and Tyler Reichle (WR).

16. Cumberlands (Ky.): 2007 Record: 8-3... Conference finish: 1^st... Starters Returning/Lost: 6/6... Won the conference title for the first time since 1988... Qualified for Championship Series for first time since 1988... Ranked fourth in the country in rushing offense at over 275 yards/game... Head coach John Bland returns first team all-conference players Ricky Walker (Sr., FB), P.J. Hughes (Jr., LB) and Travis Thurmond (Sr., LB)... U of C loses Moses Cochran (RB), Thomas Leinenbach (OL) and Derrick Hightower (DL).

17. Northwestern Oklahoma State: 2007 Record: 8-4... Conference finish: 1^st... Starters Returning/Lost: 15/7... Won the conference title for the sixth time in the last eight seasons... Ranked sixth in the nation in turnover margin... Head coach Keith Barefield returns all-conference performer Billy Barefield (Sr., QB) who rushed for over 500 yards and threw for over 1,500 yards... Also returns Cotton Green (Sr., TE) and Lantz Mathers (Jr., DE) who posted 10 sacks and over 80 tackles... Loses Thez Robinson (RB), the conference offensive player of the year, and B.J. Hodshire (LB).

18. Bethel (Kan.): 2007 Record: 8-1... Conference finish: T1st... Starters Returning/Lost: 15/7... Squad returns seven defensive starters that ranked either No. 1 or 2 in the country in seven different statistical categories... Head coach Mike Moore returns Beau Cox (Sr., RB), the 2006 conference offensive player of the year, as well as Brett Clow (Sr., QB) and Scott Yerges (Sr., DB)... Looks to replace AFCA-NAIA Coaches' All-American Brandon Kaufman (DB) in addition to Chase Hansen (OL) and Adam Gabriel (LB).

19. Black Hills State (S.D.): 2007 Record: 7-4... Conference finish: T1st... Starters Returning/Lost: 15/7... Qualified for Championship Series in each of the past two seasons... Ranked first in the conference in scoring defense and total defense as well as total offense... Head coach John Scott welcomes back first team all-conference picks Josh Breske (Jr., OT), Wacey Coleman (Jr., DE) and Tanner Ehrlich (So., RB)... Key players lost are Tanner Tetrault (S), Rodney Wasche (DT) and Ryan Fagerstrom (WR)

20. Azusa Pacific (Calif.): 2007 Record: 6-5... Conference finish: Independent Champions... Starters Returning/Lost: N/A... Head coach Victor Santa Cruz returns all-conference pick Jon Davis (WR), who caught a school-record 21 TDs... Also returning are the top rusher Alex Peltier (Sr., RB) and leading tackler Travis Bengard (Sr., LB)... The Cougars lose Cameron Tucker (DB), Rudy Carlton (QB) and Casey Roel (DL).

21. Montana Tech: 2007 Record: 7-4... Conference finish: 2^nd... Starters Returning/Lost: 12/10... Head coach Bob Green returns Matt Komac (So., QB), Tom Probert (Sr., OL) and Billy Glennon (Sr., LB)... Loses two-time AFCA-NAIA Coaches' All-American J.J. Perino (DL), along with first team all-conference picks Corey Warner (RB) and Casey Kelly (WR).

22. Sterling (Kan.): 2007 Record: 8-2... Conference finish: 3^rd... Starters Returning: 7... Head coach Andy Lambert returns first team all-conference performers Tyler Degenhardt (Sr., RB) and Craig Mans (Sr., DB) in addition to Austin Kingsbury (Jr., LB)... SC loses conference player of the year Jake Buchanon (QB) and 2007 AFCA-NAIA Coaches' All-American Joey Gildorf (OL).

23. Georgetown (Ky.): 2007 Record: 6-4... Conference finish: 2^nd... Starters Returning/Lost: 10/17... By not making the Championship Series last year, Georgetown (Ky.) had its streak of nine straight appearances snapped... Head coach Bill Cronin welcomes back Joe Berron (Sr., NG) and John Keene (Sr., RB)... The Tigers lose Clay Hamblen, a 2007 AFCA-NAIA Coaches' All-American, at CB and Brian Piper at WR.

24. Malone (Ohio): 2007 Record: 8-4... Conference finish: 4^th... Starters Returning/Lost: 15/9... Head coach Mike Gardner returns Billy Bob Orsagh (Sr., QB), who threw for over 3,00 yards and 24 TDs... Also returning are Derek Deardorff (Sr., WR), who had over 1,100 receiving yards, and Doug Alford (Sr., DB)... Looks to fill the void of Bernard Payton (RB), who went over 1,600 yards on the ground, and leading tackler Dan Hromada (LB).

25. Nebraska Wesleyan: 2007 Record: 7-3... Conference finish: 4^th... Starters Returning/Lost: 15/11... Club posted back-to-back seven win seasons for the first time since 1991... Blanked three consecutive opponents for the first time in 40 years... Ranked ninth (tie) in the NAIA in scoring defense... Head coach Brian Keller returns first team all-conference selections Jordan Stutzman (Sr., RB), Phil Schroer (Sr., DB) and Dan Peterson (Jr., OL)... Loses Zac Rabe (QB), Kyle Elsasser (LB) and Brandon Minch (DL).