NAIA Football Weekly Notebook, Sept. 29-Oct. 4
Oct 01, 2025
NAIA Football Weekly Notebook
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A pair of games between Top 25 programs and four more involving ranked teams or those receiving votes are part of a six-game lineup on Urban Edge Network, this week, as the NAIA Football season enters its sixth full week of competition. Included in this week's notebook, linked above - Players of the Week, a breakdown of this week's Featured Games, scores from last week, a breakdown of the new poll, stats, schedules, standings and for the first time, the NAIA Football Performance Index.
NAIA-UEN Featured Series Football Games (Oct. 4)
Saint Francis travels to Taylor in an MSFA crossover, featuring a pair of 3-1 teams that bring three-game winning streaks into Saturday’s game. USF won its only road game so far in the 2025 season 35-0, at Lawrence Tech (Mich.).
A top-25 battle ensues as both Lindsey Wilson and Georgetown had a bye, last week. Lindsey looks to continue one of the NAIA’s hottest starts, 4-0 with three wins over Top 25s, while Georgetown is 3-1, regrouping after a loss at St. Thomas (Fla.). The Tigers are terrific at home, 2-0, outscoring opponents 79-31.
Both teams enter Saturday’s game off of a bye, as OUAZ seeks to remain unbeaten, overall and in the Sooner, while Langston looks for momentum after a win Sept. 20 over Texas College.
An early divisional battle for the top spot in the Heart North sees rivals meet, as William Penn entertains top-ranked Grand View (Iowa). Both teams picked up double-digit North wins last week, and for the Statesmen, Destynd Loring continued his tear through 2025, tying the WPU single-game rushing touchdowns record, finding the end zone five times against Culver-Stockton (Mo.).
The Rams are 2-2, looking to get above .500 for the first time this season, while Arkansas Baptist looks to continue its best NAIA start, entering 2-2. Note: This game was originally scheduled to be played at Crowley ISD Multipurpose Stadium, but has been moved to North Crowley High School Panther Stadium.
FMU got the first win in its Michael Jones era, 24-19 over (RV) Cumberland (Tenn.), and they’ll get unbeaten Southeastern off a bye week. SEU has outscored opponents 107-46.
Netting Professionals NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll
Southeastern (Fla.) moved into the top 10 and Grand View (Iowa) retained the top spot in the third regular-season edition of the Netting Professionals NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll, Sept. 29. One team - No. 24 McPherson (Kan.) - entered the Top 25 for the first time this season, while Marian (Ind.) moved up five spots to No. 14, and William Penn (Iowa) climbed four to No. 20.
Players of the Week (Sept. 29)
Click on the image to read about this week's NAIA Offensive, Defensive, and Special Teams Players of the Week, and click here to view players of the week for the entire 2025 season.
September 27 Rewind
NAIA Offensive Player of the Week Jamie Odom had an explosive offensive performance for Southwestern (Kan.) as he tossed six touchdowns and threw for 416 yards, adding 74 rushing yards, including an 11-yard rushing touchdown.
NAIA Defensive Player of the Week Spencer Lehnerz delivered two pick-sixes in the third quarter, returning interceptions 15 and 25 yards to break a 7-7 deadlock and give Montana State-Northern a 20-7 advantage. He also registered a sack and a season-high nine tackles, helping the defense limit Eastern Oregon to just seven points.
NAIA Special Teams Player of the Week Truitt Bosher connected on all three of his field-goal attempts and went 6-of-6 on extra-point attempts in a 53-0 victory for Friends (Kan.) over (RV) Evangel (Mo.). His three field goals included a career-long 42-yarder.
Dakota State (S.D.) place kicker Adrian Villanueva sent the Trojans past (RV) Southern Oregon 11-10 kicking a 35-yard field goal with 11 seconds left in the fourth quarter. A safety three minutes earlier cut Southern Oregon’s lead to 10-8, setting up the game-winning kick.
Dordt (Iowa) also drew the clock down on the fourth quarter to walk off with a win, as Noah Strickfaden capped a nine-play, 93-yard game-ending drive, finding Connor Dodd for four yards and a TD to slip past, 21-20. Strickfaden was 17-for-29 for 245 yards and two touchdowns.
Tristan Polk accounted for four touchdowns and 324 yards of total offense, as the quarterback led a game-winning Marian (Ind.) drive against No. 5 IWU. Polk threw three touchdowns including a 74-yarder in the fourth quarter, and scored the game-winning TD on a 29-yard QB draw.
McPherson (Kan.) defensive back Jonovan Asuncion scored on a 100-yard pick-six while racking up six total tackles and a strip sack, accompanied by a pass-breakup.
Adrian Guerrero had a big day kicking the football for St. Francis (Ill.), accounting for 16 points on three field goals and 7-for-7 on point-after attempts. His field-goal count included a career-long 42-yarder, and he also punted twice for 76 yards. Guerrero’s day also included kicking and recovering an onside kick.
Peyton Atwood tallied 11 points in No. 21 Concordia (Neb.)’s 54-0 win at Waldorf. Atwood broke the school record for longest field goal by booting a 50-yarder in the third quarter and also converted a 26-yard field goal. He was a perfect 5-for-5 on extra points. On the season, Atwood is 4-for-5 on field goals and 13-for-13 on PATs.
Christian Klobe was perfect on PATs, making all 10 to set a single-game Benedictine (Kan.) record. He also averaged 63.9 yards per kickoff, with eight touchbacks.
Selatian Straughter totaled 108 yards on four punt returns and had five kickoff returns for 104 yards, as the Union Commonwealth (Ky.) junior receiver and return man broke three conference records for longest punt return (79 yards), most punt returns (four) and highest return average per punt (27).
