KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Rocky Mountain College climbed one spot to No. 12 in the latest NAIA football coaches poll. The eighth version of the poll was released on Monday.
The Battlin’ Bears scored 43 unanswered points in a 43-14 drubbing of Montana Western on Saturday, denying the Bulldogs’ attempt to capture at least a share of the Frontier Conference title. Rocky improved to 7-2 overall and 6-2 in Frontier Conference play, while avenging a prior loss to the Bulldogs in Dillon, a 24-21 setback on Sept. 15.
Western fell four spots from No. 16 to 20th after the blowout loss. The Bulldogs (6-2, 6-2) managed only 187 yards of offense in the defeat.
Rocky faces Eastern Oregon, the No. 24 team in this week’s poll, in La Grande on Saturday. Western hosts College of Idaho, winner of four straight games, in Dillon. The Yotes, along with Montana Tech, received votes in this week’s poll.
Southern Oregon, the conference’s preseason favorite, fell from the top 25 after suffering its fourth consecutive loss.
The NAIA football coaches poll can be found below.
2018 NAIA Football Coaches’ Top 25 Poll – Poll Eight (Oct. 29)
| RANK | LAST WEEK | SCHOOL [1st Place Votes] | RECORD | FINAL POINTS |
| 1 | 1 | Morningside (Iowa) [15] | 9-0 | 366 |
| 2 | 2 | Marian (Ind.) [1] | 8-0 | 352 |
| 3 | 5 | Bethel (Tenn.) | 9-0 | 330 |
| 4 | 3 | Reinhardt (Ga.) | 7-1 | 327 |
| 5 | 4 | Grand View (Iowa) | 7-1 | 308 |
| 6 | 6 | Northwestern (Iowa) | 7-1 | 291 |
| 7 | 7 | Kansas Wesleyan | 9-0 | 277 |
| 8 | 8 | Benedictine (Kan.) | 8-1 | 262 |
| 9 | 9 | Saint Francis (Ind.) | 7-2 | 247 |
| 10 | 11 | Evangel (Mo.) | 9-1 | 240 |
| 11 | 12 | Langston (Okla.) | 7-1 | 220 |
| 12 | 13 | Rocky Mountain (Mont.) | 7-2 | 216 |
| 13 | 14 | Cumberlands (Ky.) | 9-1 | 199 |
| 14 | 15 | Baker (Kan.) | 6-2 | 188 |
| 15 | 17 | Concordia (Mich.) | 7-2 | 174 |
| 16 | 19 | Dickinson State (N.D.) | 7-2 | 144 |
| 17 | 10 | Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) | 5-3 | 131 |
| 18 | 22 | Saint Xavier (Ill.) | 7-3 | 123 |
| 19 | 20 | Georgetown (Ky.) | 6-3 | 120 |
| 20 | 16 | Montana Western | 6-2 | 103 |
| 21 | 24 | Avila (Mo.) | 7-1 | 89 |
| 22 | NR | Midland (Neb.) | 7-2 | 64 |
| 23 | 21 | Siena Heights (Mich.) | 6-2 | 51 |
| 24 | 18 | Eastern Oregon | 5-3 | 44 |
| 25 | NR | Ottawa (Kan.) | 7-2 | 39 |
Dropped from the Top 25: Southern Oregon, Keiser (Fla.)
Others Receiving Votes: Ave Maria (Fla.) 18, Montana Tech 5, Dordt (Iowa) 4, College of Idaho 3
