May 3, 2007

Editor's Note: The following is the second in a three-part series of team capsules for the 2007 NAIA Spring Football Preseason Top 25 Coaches' Poll. Today's capsules feature teams ranked No. 11 through No. 19 and on Friday, May 4, the series will close with capsules on No.'s 20-25 along with notes on select teams that are also receiving votes in the poll.

 

Black Hills State (N.D.), Dakota Athletic Conference

2006 Record: 8-3 | DAC Finish: 1^st, 7-0

With a pair of defensive weapons and its starting quarterback returning to the 2007 lineup, Black Hills State looks to make another run at the Dakota Athletic Conference title. First-Team All-DAC performer Erik Osborne threw for 1,502 yards and 14 touchdowns last season, while Rodney Wasche also earned first-team honors at defensive tackle where he had 55 tackles (18 TFL) and six sacks. DAC Player of the Year Tanner Tetrault returns at safety after an AFCA All-America season that saw the senior-to-be record 58 tackles and grab four interceptions. The team returns 16 of its 22 starters from a year ago, losing first-team performers at linebacker and wide receiver while also losing all-conference kicker Rocky Stevens.

 

Montana State-Northern, Frontier Conference

2006 Record: 9-3 | Frontier Finish: 2^nd, 7-2

Runner-up in the Frontier Conference last season, Montana State-Northern returns 16 starters, nine of which come back on the defensive side of the ball. Included in the defensive starters is All-America defensive back Marc Samson, who anchors a defense that not only returns nine starters, but also has four All-Frontier players returning to the lineup. In all, nine returning starters on both sides of the ball return for the Lights after helping the team to its best season in school history in 2006 and its first-ever appearance in the NAIA playoffs. MSU-Northern will have to combat the loss of its quarterback from a year ago, as Kyle Samson earned Frontier MVP and All-America honors last season for the Lights.

 

Walsh (Ohio), Mid-States Football Association (Mideast Division)

2006 Record: 9-3 | MSFA (Mideast) Finish: T-2^nd, 4-2

Coming off of its first-ever appearance in the NAIA playoffs in 2006, Walsh returns eight offensive starters and four on the defensive side of the football. The Cavs' entire secondary was selected first-team all-conference a year ago, but two members of that all-conference secondary departed, as Walsh must replace corners Rayshaun Kizer and Montreal Wade as well as linebacker Bryan Howe. Offensively, wide receiver Rob lash returns for the Cavaliers after hauling in 35 catches a year ago and scoring four touchdowns. He also returned one kick and two punts for touchdowns in 2006. Dan Dale (OLB) and David Hardwick (DE) are two of four returning defensive starters, as the duo combined for 24.5 tackles and 10.5 sacks last season. Mike Galassi returns on the offensive line after being named First-Team All-America by the AFCA last season.

 

Friends (Kan.), Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference

2006 Record: 9-2 | KCAC Finish: T-1^st, 8-1

KCAC spring favorite Friends returns 14 starters in all from a year ago, including nine offensive starters that are led by honorable mention All-KCAC quarterback Chris Randolph, who returns for his senior campaign. Montrell Vann, a First-Team All-KCAC member a year ago, returns after leading the Falcons in rushing last season, while defensive starters Andrew Swisher and J.R. Phillips expect to bring stability to the defense after Second-Team All-KCAC seasons in 2006. KCAC Defensive Player of the Year Dan Kontz must be accounted for at defensive back for the Falcons, and Friends lost another pair of first-teamers in linebacker Noah Morford and defensive tackle Omar Humphrey.

 

Jamestown (N.D.), Dakota Athletic Conference

2006 Record: 8-3 | DAC Finish: 2^nd, 5-2

After losing four First-Team All-DAC starters including Eric Dirk, DAC Most Valuable Senior at the running back position, Jamestown will need to regroup with 10 starters, only three of which are on the offensive side of the ball. Two-year starter under center Tanner Kelting will anchor the offense, also returning as the team's punter, while all-conference honorees Jake Stoltz (DB), Gary Thomas (DB) and Tim Moch (DT) will anchor a defense that returns seven starters from its playoff campaign in 2006. In the running game, the loss of offensive tackle Elliot Sims and tight end Tyler Stowers, both First-Team All-DAC performers from a year ago, could hamper the Jimmies on the ground along with the loss of Dirk, and in the linebacking corps, Jamestown will have to atone for the loss of First-Team All-DAC member Casey Conway in 2007.

 

Ohio Dominican, Mid-States Football Association (Mideast Division)

2006 Record: 7-3 | MSFA (Mideast) Finish: T-2^nd, 4-2

After setting an NAIA record for completion percentage in 2006, Ohio Dominican quarterback Cris Reisert - an AFCA First-Team All-American - returns to ODU for his senior season, leading 10 returning starters for the Panther offense. Included in that group is Second-Team All-America wide receiver Jared Stace, who ended last season third nationally in receptions per game. The lone lost starter from ODU's offensive unit is offensive lineman Jon Haynes, leaving four returning starters in the mix on the Panther line in 2007. ODU's defense returns nine of its starters from a year ago, including Second-Team All-MSFA linebacker Nathan Hillerich, who led the Panthers in tackles during the 2006 season. Nick Yanko also returns to the defensive line after earning second-team honors a season ago.

McKendree (Ill.), Mid-States Football Association (Midwest Division)

2006 Record: 5-4 | MSFA (Midwest) Finish: 3^rd, 4-2

After leading the NAIA in rushing for the third time in the last 10 seasons, McKendree will look to a crop of new talent to carry the load after the departure of Dominique Jones, the Bearcats leading rusher from 2006 and a First-Team All-MSFA performer last season. The leading candidate to earn the brunt of the Bearcats' carries in 2007 is George Smith, who ran for 615 yards and seven touchdowns last season. McKendree returns a dozen starters from last season's 5-4 squad - six on offense and six on defense. First-Team offensive lineman and returning starter Mike Siverly will anchor an offensive line that helped McKendree finish seventh in NAIA total offense last season. The Bearcats also finished eighth in scoring offense and eleventh in scoring defense statistically last season. On the defensive side, linebacker Derrick Summerlin (Second-Team All-MSFA, 49 tackles, three sacks) and defensive back Lawrence Davis (42 tackles, one interception) will lead a defense that must replace five starters, including all-conference performers at defensive end and in the defensive backfield, including First-Team All-American Mike Harrison, who had 55 tackles and four interceptions last season.

 

MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.), Heart of America Athletic Conference

2006 Record: 7-3 | HAAC Finish: T-2^nd, 7-3

With two offensive stand-outs returning from a season ago, MidAmerica Nazarene will attempt to replace leading rusher DeShaun Goldsmith, who led the Pioneers with 905 yards last season. Returning for MNU is quarterback Matt Schneider, who led the team last season by passing for an average of 236.8 yards per game. Schneider's top target in 2006, James Perry, also returns to the 2007 lineup after hauling in 87 catches in the 2006 season. Defensively, MidAmerica Nazarene will rely on Andre Shaw, who led the team with 74 tackles and added four interceptions for 95 return yards. Shaw also had two forced fumbles and one recovered. MidAmerica Nazarene will play in the first scheduled NAIA football game of the season in 2007, taking on Azusa Pacific (Calif.) at 7 p.m. on Aug. 25 in the Victory Sports Network First Down Classic at Pirate Stadium in Platte City, Mo.

 

Benedictine (Kan.), Heart of America Athletic Conference

2006 Record: 8-3 | HAAC Finish: T-2^nd, 7-3

Benedictine returns 12 starters to a team that went 8-3 in 2006. The Ravens bring back seven offensive starters from last year, including First-Team All-HAAC running back Jesse Thomas, First-Team All-HAAC offensive tackle Ryan Thomas and First-Team All-America center Truman Ashby. Defensively, all-conference performers Dema Preobrazhensky (outside linebacker) and Damien Kennedy (cornerback) return to a defense that brings back five starters from last season's squad. The Ravens lose five all-conference players from last season, including offensive lineman Jon Jiminez and tight end Mike Biancuzzo from the offensive unit and defenders Victory Fields and Eddie Lamb at inside linebacker along with all-conference corner  Ben Ali.