April 19, 2010

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – For the 15^th straight time, the University of Sioux Falls (S.D.) holds the No. 1 spot, announced by the NAIA on Monday in the 2010 NAIA Football Coaches’ Top 25 Spring Poll. The Cougars notched 14 of the possible 18 first-place votes and 412 total points after wrapping up its second straight National Championship. Sioux Falls capped a perfect 15-0 record after a 25-22 victory over Lindenwood (Mo.) in the 2009 National Championship.

Sioux Falls will be coached by first-year mentor Jed Stugart, a former coach at MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.). Boasting one of the top defenses in the country the last several seasons, Sioux Falls will enter 2010 on a school-record 29-game winning streak, the longest active streak in any level of college football. The Cougars will be gunning for their fifth straight Great Plains Athletic Conference title and fifth overall National Championship.

Lindenwood (Mo.), the national runner-up for the first time in school history, secured the No. 2 spot with three first-place nods and 403 total points. The Lions finished last year at 13-1, which marked the third straight campaign of 10-plus wins. Lindenwood has now been ranked in each of the last 38 straight polls. The top-scoring offense (53.1 ppg) will be engineered by senior quarterback Philip Staback, who returns after throwing for 3,381 yards and 36 touchdowns last year.

No. 3 Carroll (Mont.) tallied 389 total points in the poll after a 14-1 season. The Fighting Saints fell 42-35 to Lindenwood in the semifinal round. Carroll has now been ranked in the top five in each of the last 65 straight polls.

Tied for the highest ranking this year, Saint Xavier (Ill.) owns the No. 4 position. The Cougars, who totaled 372 points and received the remaining first-place vote, went 13-1 last year. St. Xavier qualified for the semifinals before losing to eventual national champion Sioux Falls, 48-6.

No. 5 Morningside (Iowa) earned 349 total points and now has been in the top five in 14 of the last 15 polls. The Mustangs finished last year with a 10-2 record with both of its losses coming against Sioux Falls. Morningside appeared in its sixth straight Football Championship Series before bowing out to Sioux Falls, 49-21 in the Quarterfinals.

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

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NOTES: In the four-year history of the Coaches’ Top 25 Spring Poll, Sioux Falls has been the top-ranked team in three of those rankings with Carroll owning No. 1 in the 2008 Spring Poll… Sioux Falls (S.D.) was ranked No. 1 for the entire season (14 polls), which marks the first time since Carroll (Mont.) did it in 2005… Sioux Falls (S.D.) has now been ranked No. 1 a total of 44 times since the 2000 season including 27 mentions since 2007 (out of 40 polls)… The No. 1 Sioux Falls defense was superb again this year as no opposing player rushed for 100 yards or more since the 2007 National Championship – a span of 29 games… The last time a team other than Carroll (Mont.) or Sioux Falls (S.D.) was ranked at No. 1 was Saint Francis (Ind.) on Nov. 12, 2006 – a streak of 42 polls… Carroll has now been ranked in the top 5 in the last 65 straight polls dating back to Nov. 2004… St. Francis boasts the longest consecutive stretch of being named in the Coaches’ Top 25 Poll – now standing at 129 straight mentions – the last time St. Francis was not mentioned in the Top 25 was Oct. 19, 1999… After St. Francis, Carroll is the next team in line with 116 straight Top 25 rankings while Sioux Falls stands at 115 straight mentions… Since 2000, Carroll has been ranked No. 1 53 times, the highest amount of any program during that time span; Sioux Falls is second with 44 mentions at No. 1 followed by Georgetown (Ky.) with 14, Northwestern Oklahoma State with 11 and St. Francis with three… Since 2000, there are seven teams that have been ranked at least one time each season – Carroll (Mont.), MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.), St. Ambrose (Iowa), St. Francis (Ind.), St. Xavier (Ill.) and Sioux Falls (S.D.)… There are 77 schools that have been ranked at least once in the Top 25 since 2000, of that group of schools, six no longer sponsor NAIA football.

2010 NAIA Football Coaches’ Top 25 Spring Poll – (April 19)

Others receiving votes:

Georgetown College (Ky.) 34; Montana Tech 13; Campbellsville University (Ky.) 9; Black Hills State University (S.D.) 7; Peru State College (Neb.) 5; Saint Ambrose University (Iowa) 3; Marian University (Ind.) 3; Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) 1; Sterling College (Kan.) 1; Kansas Wesleyan University 1; Shorter College (Ga.) 1; Dakota Wesleyan University (S.D.) 1; Nebraska Wesleyan University 1; Central Methodist University (Mo.) 1; Benedictine College (Kan.) 1;  William Penn University (Iowa) 1; Southern Nazarene University (Okla.) 1

^ Ranking indicated in postseason Top 25 (Jan. 11, 2010)

* Record as submitted by schools and raters

Top 25 Team Capsules (Some information courtesy of schools):
1. Sioux Falls (S.D.): 2009 Record: 15-0... Conference finish: 1^st... Starters Returning/Lost: 12/14... Sioux Falls comes off its second straight and third National Championship in the last four years with a 25-22 victory over Lindenwood (Mo.)… Enters 2010 season on a school-record 29-game winning streak and four straight Great Plains Athletic Conference Championships… The defense returns four starters that ranked No. 1 in the NAIA last year in scoring (10.5 papg) and total defense (210.5 yapg)… Included in that returning unit is senior linebacker Dominic Studzinski, who was an All-GPAC First-Team selection and the 2009 National Championship Game Defensive MVP – he led the Cougars with 64 total tackles,16 tackles-for-loss and 8.5 sacks on the year… Sioux Falls is led by first-year head coach Jed Stugart, who at one point was the head coach at MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.)… Last year, Sioux Falls set school records for total points scored (775), rushing yards (3,842), total offensive yardage (7,313), rushing touchdowns (50), offensive touchdowns (92) and first downs (201)… Last season, Sioux Falls posted 96 points on defense and special teams, which was more than four NAIA teams scored on offense… The Cougars lose Rawlings-NAIA Player of the Year quarterback Lorenzo Brown.

2. Lindenwood (Mo.): 2009 Record: 13-1... Conference finish: 1^st... Starters Returning/Lost: 12/14... Appeared in first-ever National Championship title game last season, losing 25-22 to Sioux Falls (S.D.)… Ranked first last year in the country in scoring offense per game (53.1 ppg) and was second in total scoring (744), which ranked in the top-10 all-time in all levels of college football… Offense reached the 60-point mark on five occasions last year and won by an average of over 35 points prior to its only loss in the National Championship… Expected back is sophomore running back and Heart of America Athletic Conference Player of the Year Denodus O’Bryant, a preseason national player of the year candidate – he was first in the NAIA last year in total scoring (144), totaled 1,000 rushing yards, 15 touchdowns and averaged 9.6 yards per carry… Senior quarterback Philip Staback returns after throwing for 3,381 yards and 36 touchdowns as a junior… Lions lose two of their top-three receivers and AFCA All-America offensive center Jeff Hynes.

3. Carroll (Mont.): 2009 Record: 13-1... Conference finish: 1^st... Starters Returning/Lost: 15/11... Behind 11-year head coach Mike Van Diest, the Fighting Saints have won 10 straight Frontier Conference Championships... Senior tight end and 2009 AFCA All-American Bubba Bartlett returns after leading all NAIA tight ends last year with 83 receptions... Also back is senior linebacker Thomas Dolan and senior center Andy Fieseth, both All-Frontier Conference First-Team selections… Dolan was the Frontier Co-Defensive Player of the Year with 100 total tackles and 14.5 tackles-for-loss… Team ranked seventh last year in rushing offense (231.2 ypg) and the defense was sixth overall in scoring (16.1 papg)… Program has made 10 straight appearances in the Football Championship Series and has a 32-13 all-time record with five national titles in school history… Saints lose two-time All-Frontier Conference First-Team running back Gabe Le.

4. Saint Xavier (Ill.): 2009 Record: 13-1... Conference finish: 1^st ... Starters Returning/Lost: 18/8... Cougars made their second all-time appearance in the Semifinals of the Football Championship Series, losing 48-6 to Sioux Falls (S.D.)… Senior quarterback Anthony Kropp is back after engineering the nation’s top offense (516.0 ypg)… Kropp set school records in passing (4,425 yards) to go along with 43 touchdowns and a 62 completion percentage… Offense averaged 45.9 points and reached 50-plus points in nine of 14 games… Junior defensive lineman Patrick Appino returns after posting a team-high 7.0 sacks last year – he was a part of a defense to total 43.0 sacks, good for third nationally… Cougars lose AFCA All-American Mike Lally on defense.

5. Morningside (Iowa): 2009 Record: 10-2... Conference finish: 2^nd... Starters Returning/Lost: 11/15... Mustangs have appeared in six straight Football Championship Series, including five consecutive Quarterfinal trips... On offense, Morningside will have to replace its starting quarterback, running back and top receiver… Defense returns core unit, led by senior defensive lineman and All-Great Plains Athletic Conference First-Team selection Ben Haugen – he had 38 tackles, 11 tackles-for-loss and 4.5 sacks… As a team, the Mustangs ranked fourth in NAIA in scoring offense (45.1 ppg), seventh in total offense (464.1 ypg), seventh in scoring defense (17.0 ppg) and 11^th in rushing offense (209.8 ypg)… Morningside loses AFCA All-America running back Jake Peterson, who led the country in total rushing yards (1,624).

T6. Lambuth (Tenn.): 2009 Record: 12-1… Conference finish: 1^st … Starters Returning/Lost: 16/10… Ranked fifth in the NAIA in pass offense (309.5 ypg) and eighth in scoring offense (38.1 ppg)… Reached the Quarterfinals of the Football Championship Series last year before losing 52-10 to Saint Xavier (Ill.)… Junior wide receiver Jefferson Rodrick returns after leading the team in receptions (74), yards (1,160) and touchdowns (12) – he was 11^th in the nation in receiving yards per game (96.7 ypg)… Second-year head coach Ron Dickerson was the former head coach at Temple University and Alabama State.

T6. MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.): 2009 Record: 10-2... Conference finish: 2^nd... Starters Returning/Lost: 16/10... AFCA All-America senior linebacker Jake Duren returns after a stand-out junior season (96 tackles, 20.0 tackles-for-loss and 5.5 sacks)… In their third consecutive postseason appearance, the Pioneers advanced to the Quarterfinals before falling 34-13 to Carroll (Mont.)… Senior quarterback Tyler Herl, the Heart of America Athletic Conference Offensive MVP, is back after passing for 2,984 yards and 35 touchdowns… Herl loses one of his top targets, Jared Elmore (1,276 receiving yards, 16 touchdowns)… Offense ranked seventh in the NAIA in scoring (41.8 ppg) and eighth in total offense (455.7 ypg).

8. Ottawa (Kan.): 2009 Record: 11-1… Conference finish: 1^st… Starters returning/Lost: 13/13… On offense, Ottawa led the country in pass offense (413.8 ypg), ranked second in total offense (509.7 ypg) and sixth in scoring offense (44.0 ppg)… Returning from the record-setting offense is junior wide receiver Clarence Anderson, who led the country in receiving yards (1,699 yards) – Anderson tallied 94 catches and 22 touchdowns while setting eight offensive and special team school records… Senior defensive end Seth Homolka anchors the defensive line after a 10.5-sack performance last year… Braves lose two key offensive performers, Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year Ethan Haller (broke eight offensive school records) and AFCA All-America wide receiver Corey Schultz (1,583 yards, 85 receptions and eight touchdowns.)

9. McKendree (Ill.): 2009 Record: 9-2… Conference finish: 1^st… Starters returning/Lost: 19/7… Finished sixth in the NAIA in rushing, marking the 13^th consecutive year that McKendree has placed in the top 10 in rushing… Senior tight end Byron Gettis became the first McKendree player to earn conference player of the year honors since 2002, after he totaled 472 yards on 30 catches… The offense averaged better than 400 yards per game in total offense for the first time in program history… The 7-0 record in MSFA Midwest League play marked the second undefeated conference mark in program history (2004)… McKendree’s nine-game win streak tied a team record… Head coach Carl Poelker won his 100^th game at McKendree last year – overall, he stands with 191 career collegiate wins which is fourth-most on the NAIA active list… Earned its eighth Football Championship Series berth since 1997 and its first since the 2005 campaign.

10. Missouri Valley: 2009 Record: 8-3... Conference finish: 3^rd ... Vikings are coming off their third appearance in the Football Championship Series in the last four years… Ranked first in the NAIA in rushing defense (48.9 yapg) and third in total defense (225.5 yapg)… Defense held seven of 11 opponents to 14 or fewer points last season… Senior quarterback Chris White, who was in the Top 25 nationally in several passing categories, returns this year after going for 2,436 passing yards and 24 touchdowns with a 142.8 passing efficiency… Vikings lose AFCA All-American Merlin Benefield on the defensive line.

11. Cumberlands (Ky.): 2009 Record: 9-2... Conference finish: 1^st... Starters Returning/Lost: 18/8... Won the Mid-South Conference East Division for the third consecutive year – will be moving to the West Division in 2010… Advanced to the Football Championship Series for the third straight year before losing 38-7 to Lambuth (Tenn.)… Ranked second in the NAIA in rushing offense (290.1 ypg), third in total rushing offense (3,191 yards), sixth in rushing defense (76.5 yapg) and seventh in total defense (268.0 yapg)… Junior quarterback Jay Bright and running back Justin Pritchett are back to lead one of the top rushing offenses in the country – Bright averaged 49.9 rushing yards per game and Pritchett went for 34.4 yards… Patriots will have to replace Mid-South Conference East Defensive Player of the Year PJ Hughes.

12. McPherson (Kan.): 2009 Record: 9-2... Conference finish: 2^nd... Starters Returning/Lost: 21/5… Advanced to first-ever Football Championship Series, but lost 40-24 to MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.)… As an offense, ranked fifth in the NAIA in scoring (44.2 ppg) and sixth in passing (307.7 ypg)… Senior running back and All-Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference First-Team selection Aaron Laffite is back after leading the team in rushing yards (1,030) and touchdowns (21) – he was first in the country in scoring per game (12.7 ppg)… Also back is senior quarterback Shane Mascarenas, who tossed for 33 touchdowns and over 3,200 yards… Bulldogs have to replace All-KCAC performer Jeff Paulson at linebacker – he was the team’s leading tackler in each of the last two seasons.

13. Hastings (Neb.): 2009 Record: 9-3... Conference finish: 3^rd... Starters Returning/Lost: 16/10… Made a trip to the Football Championship Series for the first time since 2004, but lost 40-34 to Ottawa (Kan.)… The Broncos ranked 14^th in the nation in rushing defense (99.0 yapg) and held three opponents under 100 yards rushing… In nine wins, Hastings averaged 29.6 points per game but managed only 17.7 points per game in its three losses… Senior quarterback Troy Huebert is back after going 94-for-184 passing for 1,385 yards and 13 touchdowns last year… On defense, senior defensive lineman and All-Great Plains Athletic Conference First-Team selection Pete Botkin returns after registering 9.0 tackles-for-loss and 4.0 sacks last year.

14. Minot State (N.D.): 2009 Record: 8-3... Conference finish: (tie) 1^st... Starters Returning/Lost: 17/9… Beavers won the Dakota Athletic Conference for the second time in three years… Qualified for the Football Championship Series for the first time since 2002, but lost 63-21 to Sioux Falls (S.D.)… As a team, Minot State was +11 in turnover margin… Welcomes back senior wide receiver/kick returner Johnny Lester, who caught 51 passes for 830 yards and nine touchdowns last season and averaged 23 yards on punt returns – he was an All-Dakota Athletic Conference First-Team selection… On the defensive side, senior defensive end and All-DAC First-Team member Gino Maxi leads the defense after 8.5 tackles-for-loss and 3.0 sacks last year.

15. Friends (Kan.): 2009 Record: 8-2... Conference finish: 3^rd... Starters Returning/Lost: 19/7... Looking to get back to the Football Championship Series after enjoying three straight trips from 2006-08… Seven defensive starters return from a unit that was second in the NAIA in rushing defense (50.8 yapg) and total defense (220.5 yapg)… Blake Gordon, a three-time All-Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference selection, returns after finishing last year with 44 total tackles, 13.0 tackles-for-loss and 5.5 sacks… On offense, the Falcons will look to all-conference picks Mike Hyde (Sr., WR) and Tim Rozzell (Jr., QB)… Missing from the defense will be Jordan Highley (2008 KCAC Defensive Player of the Year) and Quinn Cunningham (led country with eight interceptions).

16. Walsh (Ohio): 2009 Record: 8-3... Conference finish: 2^nd ... Starters Returning/Lost: 23/3… Walsh recorded one of football’s biggest turnaround seasons, going from 3-8 to 8-3 last season… Despite a No. 16 ranking in the final poll, the Cavs just missed the postseason… Fifteen-year head coach Jim Dennison holds the fifth-most wins among active coaches (184)… Expected back is senior running back and all-conference first-team selection Clinton Blossomgame – despite missing the final two games, he posted 1,315 yards (5.1 ypc) and 15 touchdowns leading the NAIA in rushing yards per game (146.1)… Leading a defense that recorded 37.5 sacks, senior linebacker Mike Welce finished last season with 9.0 sacks, 50 tackles and 16.5 tackles-for-loss.

17. Saint Francis (Ind.): 2009 Record: 7-3... Conference finish: (tie) 2^nd... Starters Returning/Lost: 8/18... Head coach Kevin Donley, who ranks second among active coaches with 236 career wins, will coach his 350^th career game to open up the 2010 campaign… Senior quarterback Shaine Tierney is expected back after throwing for over 2,100 yards at a .667 percentage clip – he also rushed for 347 yards and eight touchdowns… Rushing offense ranked fifth in the NAIA last year (240.4 ypg), which marked the fifth time in the last six seasons that the Cougars have finished in the top five… St. Francis has finished first or second in the Mid-States Football Association standings for 11 consecutive seasons… St. Francis boasts the longest consecutive stretch of being named in the Coaches’ Top 25 Poll – now standing at 129 straight mentions… USF has had 11 consecutive winning seasons since its first season in 1998 and is 119-18 (.937) from 1999 through 2009… Cougars lose all-purpose player Daniel Carter – he set a conference record in all-purpose yardage (7,171) and was eighth all-time in the NAIA record books with 396 total points scored.

18. Dickinson State (N.D.): 2009 Record: 7-4... Conference finish: (tie) 1^st... Starters Returning/Lost: 14/8... Bluehawks appeared in the Football Championship Series for the second straight year and sixth time since 2000, but lost 59-7 to Carroll (Mont.)…  Head coach Hank Biesiot, who will enter his 35^th season, is the active leader in NAIA football in wins with 242… The defensive unit ranked 20^th in the NAIA in scoring (19.5 papg) and allowed just 9.4 points per game in the seven wins as opposed to 37.0 points in the four losses… Expected back are seniors quarterback Cody Holland, tight end Derek Pauley, defensive back Derion Williams and linebacker Jason Kraft.

19. Langston (Okla.): 2009 Record: 8-4... Conference finish: 1^st... Starters Returning/Lost: 16/6… The defense ranked fifth in the NAIA in total defense (259.5 yapg) and 10^th in rushing (89.4 yapg)… Senior linebacker Mark Brown anchors the defensive unit coming off a year when he finished with 61 tackles and 12.5 tackles-for-loss… Junior running back Carlos Ross, a two-time All-Central States Football League First-Team selection, led the league in rushing (1,079 rushing yards) and added 462 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns despite missing one game due to injury… His brother, Derrick Butler, was an All-CSFL First-Team member at defensive back… The Lions have to replace linebacker Rodrick Jenkins, a two-time All-CSFL First-Team selection, who ended his career with a school-record 246 tackles. 

20. Grand View (Iowa): 2009 Record: 8-3... Conference finish: 2^nd... Starters Returning/Lost: 22/4… Led the NAIA in turnover margin last year (+1.9) with 24 pass interceptions and 14 fumble recoveries… In just the second year of existence, Grand View played for the conference championship in the regular season finale losing to McKendree (Ill.), 35-17… All-conference first-team performer, Daryl Ford, is back after ranking in the top-20 nationally in rushing and scoring – the senior running back finished with 1,034 yards and 13 touchdowns… Vikings lose AFCA All-American Titus Bland, who had six interceptions last year.

21. Eastern Oregon: 2009 Record: 7-4... Conference finish: (tie) 2^nd... Starters Returning/Lost: 12/14… Enjoyed one of its most successful seasons in 30 years… Broke 30 school records… Posted seven wins, which marks only the third time in 80 years… Scored 43 points against No. 2 Carroll (Mont.) in the final regular season game, the most scored on the five-time national champions in a decade… Held a ranking for eight straight weeks in the Coaches’ Top 25 poll… Mountaineers were ranked in the top 20 in 12 different statistical categories… Nine out of 11 starters on offense return, including four of five on the offensive line… Sophomore quarterback Christopher Ware broke eight school records in 2009, including three career marks in only his second season with EOU – he threw for 37 touchdowns and 3,396 yards and was named the Frontier Conference co-offensive player of the year.

22. Taylor (Ind.): 2009 Record: 7-3... Conference finish: (tie) 2^nd... Starters Returning/Lost: 15/11… Posted its best record since 1999… Beat a ranked opponent (St. Francis (Ind.)) in the final regular season game, which was the first over a Top-25 team since 1999... Junior quarterback Shaun Addison returns to lead an offense ranked 16^th last year nationally in passing (263.9 ypg) – he was an all-conference second-team selection, who racked up 2,950 yards of total offense, threw for 22 touchdowns and broke nine school records… Junior wide receiver Ryan Magnuson is also expected back after an all-conference caliber season (683 yards, 43 catches, 9 touchdowns)… Trojans will have to replace defensive back, Pagel Williams, an AFCA All-America selection.

23. Northwestern (Iowa): 2009 Record: 7-3... Conference finish: 4^th... Starters Returning/Lost: 20/6… Offensive line allowed just seven sacks in 10 games, which was the least amount in the nation… Red Raiders ranked among the nation’s best in rushing, averaging over 210 yards per game… Senior Tyler Malm is back as the team’s leading rusher (851 yards, 14 touchdowns, 5.4 ypc)… Leading tackler Austin Rozeboom, an All-Great Plains Athletic Conference Second-Team selection, finished with 78 tackles, 8.0 tackles-for-loss and 2.5 sacks.

24. Baker (Kan.): 2009 Record: 7-3... Conference finish: 4^th... Starters Returning/Lost: 12/14… Senior defensive back Colton Miller is projected to be a four-year starter and was a 2009 All-Heart of America Athletic Conference First-Team selection – he finished with five pass break-ups and three interceptions… On defense, Baker was sixth in the NAIA in total defense (262.9 yapg) and 19^th in scoring (18.9 papg)… Wildcats lose two of their top offensive performers, running back Richie Bryant (two-time all-conference first-team selection) and quarterback Mack Brown (all-time passing leader in school history).

25. Northwestern Oklahoma State: 2009 Record: 7-3... Conference finish: N/A... Starters Returning/Lost: 20/6… Won final four games of the season by an average margin of 40.5 points… Northwestern Oklahoma State averaged 39.7 points per game and reached 40-plus points in five of its 10 games… Senior running back Nate Guillory is expected back after an impressive 2009 season – he led the Central States Football League with 1,679 rushing yards and was the league’s offensive player of the year… On the defensive side, senior linebacker Rocky Lee returns after posting 41 tackles, 10.5 tackles-for-loss and 1.5 sacks… The Rangers lose all-conference first-team pick Lantz Mathers at defensive end.