NAIA Football Game of the Week – No. 10
No. 7 Reinhardt (Ga.) (8-0, 3-0 MSCW) at No. 17 Campbellsville (Ky.) (7-2, 4-0 MSCW)
Saturday, Nov. 7 | 12 p.m. EST | Citizens Bank Field at Finley Stadium | Campbellsville, Ky.
Live Audio – Produced by Campbellsville | Live Stats

• For the third-consecutive week, the Mid-South Conference is featured in the NAIA Football Game of the Week, as No. 7 Reinhardt (Ga.) puts its unbeaten record on the line at No. 17 Campbellsville (Ky.) in a key West Division showdown.
• Both clubs enter Saturday with unblemished records in conference play, however the Tigers (4-0) technically own a 0.5-game lead over Reinhardt (3-0) in the league standings. A win on Saturday for Campbellsville would give the Tigers their fourth all-time Mid-South Conference title (1992, 1997, 2014). A victory for the Eagles would allow the club to control their own destiny entering a Nov. 14 regular-season finale against Bethel (Tenn.).
• Campbellsville is hoping to make its fourth all-time appearance in the NAIA Football Championship Series this season with previous trips coming in 1992, 1997 and 2014. Reinhardt, which started varsity intercollegiate football in 2013, has never qualified for the event.
• Last Saturday, Campbellsville became the first road team to win in the NAIA Football Game of the Week this season, as it knocked off then-No. 8 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), 26-21.
• These two programs have met twice previously with both clubs winning on the road.
• Both teams are averaging 40 points per game in the series.
• Reinhardt, which prior to this season had never been ranked in the top 10 of the NAIA Football Coaches’ Top 25 Poll, showcases one of the NAIA’s best rushing attacks, leading the nation in rushing offense per game with a 362.8 average. Additionally, the Eagles are second in total offense per game (571.9), scoring offense per game (52.4) and first downs per game (27.8).
• Much of the Eagles success can be attributed to running backs Niagel Curtis and L.J. Stegall. Curtis is the team leader in rushing yards (697), attempts (119) and rushing touchdowns (17). He has scored at least once in every game this season, including a career-high five touchdowns on Oct. 24 against Lindsey Wilson. Curtis has run for more than 100 yards three times this year.
• Stegall is second in attempts (74) and rushing yards (572) for Reinhardt, and ranks third on the team in rushing touchdowns with four. His best performance came on Oct. 17 when he raced for 111 yards to help guide the Eagles past Cumberland (Tenn.).
• Quarterback Ryan Thompson has balanced the run perfectly this season for Reinhardt. The junior is completing 66.7 percent of his passes for 1,341 yards and nine touchdowns. Arguably more important has been his ability to protect the football, tossing only two interceptions in 129 attempts. Thompson was last picked on Sept. 19 against Georgetown (Ky.).
• Defensively, Reinhardt ranks No. 17 in scoring defense per game, allowing opponents an average of 20 points per contest, while surrendering an average of 390.1 yards of total offense.
• Linebacker Jacob Gross leads the team in tackles with 60 (27 solo) on the year, while defensive end Javier Dyer is the club’s top pass rusher with 10.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks through eight games.
• Campbellsville has won seven-straight entering the contest after losing back-to-back games to open the year.
• The Tigers are led by arguably the best quarterback in the NAIA this season – Jacob Russell. The Lawrenceburg, Ky., native leads the NAIA in passing yards per game (342.3), total passing (3,081), total offense (3,482) and total offense per game (386.9), while also ranking seventh in pass efficiency (162.6). Russell is the only NAIA quarterback to eclipse the 3,000-yard passing mark this season, reaching the plateau with a 339-yard effort last Saturday against Lindsey Wilson. He is completing 65.1 percent of his passes with 31 touchdowns and only six interceptions. In two seasons as the starter for Campbellsville, Russell has amassed 6,096 passing yards and 59 touchdowns, while only being picked 13 times in 761 attempts.
• Wide receiver Jarrod Harrington is Russell’s favorite target this season with 67 catches for 904 yards – both rank in the top five in the NAIA – and five touchdowns. He owns four games of 100-plus receiving yards with a season-high of 159 coming against Lindsey Wilson.
• Wide receiver Tyus Alcorn is also dangerous for Campbellsville. He’s second on the team in catches (42) and receiving yards (706), but is far and away the leader in touchdown receptions with 17 – 12 more than the next closest Tiger.
• Defensively, the Tigers boast a top-10 pass defense that is allowing only 166.4 yards through the air per game. However, similar to Reinhardt, Campbellsville is allowing more than 350 total yards per game on average.
• Defensive back Percy Minor is one of the keys on defense. He leads the team with four interceptions and is third with 64 tackles.
• Linebacker Bryson Bell is the team’s tackle leader with 72 (39 solo).

Note – portions of this information was provided by the Reinhardt (Ga.) and Campbellsville (Ky.) Sports Information Departments

Around NAIA Football
• The 2015 NAIA Football National Championship will be streamed on ESPN3 across WatchESPN platforms in high definition for the third-consecutive year. ESPN3 is ESPN’s live multi-screen sports network, a destination that delivers thousands of exclusive sports events annually. For the complete release, click here.
• Waste Pro – the fastest growing, privately owned solid waste company in the southeastern United States – was officially announced on Oct. 31 as the title sponsor for the NAIA Football National Championship. For the complete release, click here.
• Defending national champion Southern Oregon locked down the No. 1 ranking for a second-straight edition in this week’s NAIA Football Coaches’ Top 25 Poll. The Raiders now own five all-time No. 1 rankings. For the complete release, click here.
• Jacob Russell of Campbellsville (Ky.), Eric Sadowski of Lindenwood-Belleville (Ill.) and Will Ward of Campbellsville were named NAIA Football National Player of the Week this week. For the complete release, click here.
• Three programs enter the week unbeaten – Reinhardt (Ga.) (8-0), Saint Francis (Ind.) (8-0) and Doane (Neb.) (8-0). Grand View (Iowa) was the last team to go unblemished the entire season, accomplishing the feat in 2013 en route to the program’s first-ever national title.
• Six teams are searching for their first win.
• With the addition of Grand View and William Penn (Iowa), the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) broke into two divisions for the first time in its history. The winner of each division will earn an automatic berth into the 2015 FCS.
   o North Division – Benedictine (Kan.), Culver-Stockton (Mo.), Graceland (Iowa), Grand View, Peru State (Neb.) and William Penn
   o South Division – Avila (Mo.), Baker (Kan.), Central Methodist (Mo.), Evangel (Mo.), MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) and Missouri Valley
• Earlier this summer, the Heart announced a broadcast agreement with Niles Media Group to televise football games for the 2015 season. Games will be available on ESPN3, as well as in the Kansas City area on KSMO-TV. For the complete release and television schedule, click here.
• Then-No. 1 Morningside (Iowa) hosted NCAA Division III top-ranked Wisconsin-Whitewater on Sept. 24 in a battle of the two association’s top teams. The Mustangs came up short in the contest, falling to Wisconsin-Whitewater, 33-30. The game was broadcast live on ESPN3. To access the archived broadcast visit WatchESPN.com.
• Conference title races (note – records show are conference play only)
   o Central States Football League – Arizona Christian (5-0) owns a 1.5-game lead over second-place Langston (Okla.) (3-1). The Firestorm, who own the tiebreaker between the two clubs with a 55-52 win on Oct. 10, close the year Saturday at Bacone (Okla.)
   o Frontier Conference – Montana Tech and Southern Oregon tied at 7-1 in the league. The two sides play Saturday in Ashland, Ore.
   o Great Plains Athletic Conference – Doane and Morningside tied at 7-0 in the league. The two teams close out the regular season in Sioux City, Iowa, on Nov. 14. Prior to that game, Doane travels to Briar Cliff (Iowa) and Morningside goes to Midland (Neb.) Saturday.
   o Heart of America Athletic Conference North – Benedictine and Grand View are tied at 3-0 in the league. The Ravens and Vikings face off Saturday in Atchison, Kan.
   o Heart of America Athletic Conference South – Baker and Missouri Valley, which play Saturday in Marshall, Mo., are tied at 3-0 in the league. MidAmerica Nazarene is one-game back at 2-1.
   o Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference – Tabor (7-0) owns a 1-game lead over Kansas Wesleyan (6-1). The Bluejays won the head-to-head between the two schools 14-7 on Oct. 17.
   o Mid-South Conference East – The race comes down to Cumberlands (Ky.) (4-0) and Georgetown (Ky.) (3-0). Both teams are unbeaten in league-play, however the Patriots technically own a 0.5-game lead. The two clubs play Saturday.
   o Mid-South Conference West – Campbellsville (Ky.) (4-0) owns a 0.5-game lead over second-place Reinhardt (Ga.) (3-0). The two teams play Saturday in the NAIA Game of the Week.
   o Mid-States Football Association Mideast – Saint Francis (Ind.) (5-0) boasts a 1-game advantage over Marian (Ind.) (4-1).
   o Mid-States Football Association Midwest – Saint Xavier (Ill.) (4-0) owns a one-game lead over St. Francis (Ill.) (3-1).
   o North Start Athletic Association – Dickinson State (N.D.) (5-1) owns a 1-game lead over Valley City State (N.D.) (4-2) and Dakota State (N.D.) (4-2).
   o The Sun Conference – Point (Ga.) (4-0) is the only unbeaten team remaining in The Sun Conference. Southeastern (Fla.) (4-1) is currently in second-place.
• This week’s Top 25 schedule (all games on Saturday unless otherwise noted)
   o No. 9 Montana Tech at No. 1 Southern Oregon
   o No. 2 Morningside (Iowa) at Midland (Neb.)
   o No. 3 Baker (Kan.) at Missouri Valley
   o No. 4 Grand View (Iowa) at No. 12 Benedictine (Kan.)
   o No. 5 Doane (Neb.) at Briar Cliff (Iowa)
   o No. 16 St. Francis (Ill.) at No. 8 Marian (Ind.)
   o Bethany (Kan.) at No. 10 Tabor (Kan.)
   o No. 11 Saint Xavier (Ill.) at No. 23 Robert Morris (Ill.)
   o Montana State-Northern at No. 13 Montana Western
   o No. 14 Kansas Wesleyan at Ottawa (Kan.)
   o No. 15 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) at Bethel (Tenn.)
   o Concordia (Neb.) at No. 18 Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.)
   o No. 19 William Penn (Iowa) at Graceland (Iowa)
   o Georgetown (Ky.) at No. 20 Cumberlands (Ky.)
   o Ava Maria (Fla.) at No. 21 Point (Ga.)
   o No. 22 Northwestern (Iowa) at Nebraska Wesleyan
   o No. 25 St. Ambrose (Iowa) at Olivet Nazarene (Ill.)
• NAIA Football Game of the Week Results:
   o Week 1 (Sept. 5) – No. 4 Carroll (Mont.) (H) def. No. 1 Southern Oregon (V), 20-26
   o Week 2 (Sept. 12) – No. 15 Baker (Kan.) (H) def. No. 19 William Penn (Iowa) (V), 48-13
   o Week 3 (Sept. 19) – No. 8 Saint Xavier (Ill.) (H) def. No. 20 Webber International (Fla.) (V), 37-34
   o Week 4 (Sept. 26) – No. 13 Doane (Neb.) (H) def. No. 10 Northwestern (Iowa) (V), 28-21
   o Week 5 (Oct. 3) – No. 8 Baker (Kan.) (H) def. No. 20 Peru State (Neb.) (V), 35-10
   o Week 6 (Oct. 10) – No. 8 Doane (Neb.) (H) def. No. 12 Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) (V), 42-17
   o Week 7 (Oct. 17) – No. 12 Tabor (Kan.) (H) def. No. 15 Kansas Wesleyan (V), 14-7
   o Week 8 (Oct. 24) – No. 8 Reinhardt (Ga.) (H) def. No. 1 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) (V), 42-24
   o Week 9 (Oct. 31) – No. 20 Campbellsville (V) def. No. 8 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) (H), 26-21
• Home teams are 8-1 this season in the NAIA Football Game of the Week.
• Sterling (Kan.) head coach Andy Lambert won his 100th career game on Saturday, Oct. 31 when the Warriors downed Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference rival Saint Mary (Kan.), 44-25.
• Head coach Paul Troth of Missouri Valley reached the 150-win plateau on Oct. 24, as the Vikings (6-3) downed Avila, 48-30. He enters the week with a 151-61 career record in 18 seasons.
• Saint Xavier head coach Mike Feminis also won his 150th game on Oct. 24. The Cougars beat Trinity International, 27-18, to give the 16-year veteran a 151-52 career mark.
• Friends (Kan.) head coach Monty Lewis rests three wins away from 150 career victories. The Falcons (2-7) travel to Bethel (Kan.) on Saturday.
• The inaugural game of 2015 featured Montana State-Northern and Dickinson State (N.D.) on August 22. The Blue Hawks, aided by a pair of Montana State-Northern turnovers, won the contest 17-7. Dickinson State quarterback Robert Sterling accounted for 170 of the Blue Hawks 222 total yards and was responsible for both of the team’s touchdowns – one rushing and one passing.
• Lyon (Ark.) played its first varsity intercollegiate game in 64 years on August 29 when it hosted No. 22 Tabor (Kan.). The Scots, who are members of the Central States Football League, lost the game 45-21. Despite the loss, running back Michael Bowles had a strong performance with a game-high 189 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 28 attempts. Lyon (0-6) is still searching for its first victory. The Scots travel to Arizona Christian on Saturday.
• For a complete list of NAIA statistical leaders, click here.
• For the second consecutive year, the NAIA Football National Championship will take place at Municipal Stadium in Daytona Beach, Fla. Prior to last year’s title game, the game had been held in Rome, Ga., the previous six years. Municipal Stadium, which was built in 1988, is the home field of NCAA Division I Bethune-Cookman (Fla.). For more information on the 2015 national championship, click here.
• For more information on NAIA football click here.

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