Ashland Moves Into the Top 5 in the Latest AFCA Division II Coaches' Top 25 Poll

Ashland Moves Into the Top 5 in the Latest AFCA Division II Coaches' Top 25 Poll

Release courtesy of Vince Thompson, AFCA Director of Media Relations

WACO, TEX. – For the second time in three weeks, seven Top 25 teams lost causing a reshuffling of the rankings in the AFCA Division II Coaches’ Top 25 Poll. The top three spots remained the same, with Colorado State-Pueblo staying No. 1 with 24 first-place votes. Winston-Salem State (N.C.) still sits No. 2, with six first-place votes, followed by No. 3 New Haven (Conn.). Then-No. 4 Bloomsburg (Pa.) was upset by new No. 7 Shippensburg (Pa.), 49-42, causing both Northwest Missouri State and Ashland (Ohio) to move up one spot apiece, to No. 4 and No. 5, respectively. 

This week, there are five Top 25 matchups that will have a say in who wins conference titles. The first game is No. 4 Northwest Missouri State hosting No. 20 Emporia State (Kan.), with the winner having a leg up in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) title chase. The second matchup has No. 6 Minnesota State-Mankato hosting No. 17 Sioux Falls (S.D.) with first place in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference South Division on the line. First place in the Lone Star Conference is at stake when No. 12 West Texas A&M plays host to No. 10 Midwestern State (Texas), while No. 11 Missouri Western State and No. 25 Washburn (Kan.) play in another key MIAA matchup. The final Top 25 matchup has No. 15 Miles (Ala.) facing No. 23 Tuskegee (Ala.), with first place in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference West Division at stake. 

 


2012 American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches’ Poll – October 29, 2012

Rank School (1st votes) Rec. Pts. Prev. Week Eight Next Game
1. Colorado St.-Pueblo (24) 9-0 744 1 D. Colorado Mesa, 48-10 Nov. 3 vs. New Mexico Highlands
2. Winston-Salem St. (N.C.) (6) 9-0 720 2 D. Shaw (N.C.), 62-31 Nov. 3 at Fayetteville St. (N.C.)
3. New Haven (Conn.) 8-0 689 3 D. Southern Connecticut St., 48-9 Nov. 3 at American International (Mass.)
4. Northwest Missouri St. 8-1 632 5 D. No. 16t Washburn (Kan.), 56-6 Nov. 3 vs. No. 20 Emporia St. (Kan.)
5. Ashland (Ohio) 9-0 628 6 D. Findlay (Ohio), 42-21 Nov. 3 at Tiffin (Ohio)
6. Minnesota St.-Mankato 9-0 591 7 D. Wayne St. (Neb.), 42-35 Nov. 3 vs. No. 17 Sioux Falls (S.D.)
7. Shippensburg (Pa.) 9-0 542 10 D. No. 4 Bloomsburg (Pa.), 49-42 Nov. 3 vs. Cheyney (Pa.)
8. Henderson St. (Ark.) 9-0 532 9 D. Southern Arkansas, 44-36 Nov. 10 vs. Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)
9. Minnesota-Duluth 8-1 519 8 D. Minnesota-Crookston, 38-14 Nov. 3 vs. Mary (N.D.)
10. Midwestern St. (Texas) 7-1 462 11 D. Eastern New Mexico, 51-28 Nov. 3 at No. 12 West Texas A&M
11. Missouri Western St. 8-1 454 12 D. No. 15 Emporia St. (Kan.), 57-28 Nov. 3 vs. No. 25 Washburn (Kan.)
12. West Texas A&M 8-1 418 14 D. West Georgia, 52-28 Nov. 3 vs. No. 10 Midwestern St. (Texas)
13. Bloomsburg (Pa.) 8-1 403 4 Lost to No. 10 Shippensburg (Pa.), 49-42 Nov. 3 vs. West Chester (Pa.)
14. Indiana (Pa.) 8-1 377 16t D. Clarion (Pa.), 45-0 Nov. 3 at Gannon (Pa.)
15. Miles (Ala.) 8-1 330 18 D. Stillman (Ala.), 49-13 Nov. 3 vs. No. 23 Tuskegee (Ala.)
16. Harding (Ark.) 7-1 302 19 D. Arkansas Tech, 76-23 Nov. 3 at Southeastern Oklahoma St.
17. Sioux Falls (S.D.) 8-1 254 21 D. Upper Iowa, 54-41 Nov. 3 at No. 6 Minnesota St.-Mankato
18. Pittsburg St. (Kan.) 6-2 176 22 D. Truman St. (Mo.), 20-6 Nov. 3 vs. Lindenwood (Mo.)
19. Grand Valley St. (Mich.) 7-2 163 23 D. No. 24 Hillsdale (Mich.), 42-23 Nov. 3 vs. Wayne St. (Mich.)
20. Emporia St. (Kan.) 8-1 161 15 Lost to No. 12 Missouri Western St., 57-28 Nov. 3 at No. 4 Northwest Missouri St.
21. West Alabama 7-2 133 NR D. Delta St. (Miss.), 37-7 Nov. 3 at Abilene Christian (Texas)
22. California (Pa.) 7-2 115 13 Lost to Slippery Rock (Pa.), 28-26 Nov. 3 at Mercyhurst (Pa.)
23. Tuskegee (Ala.) 7-1 74 NR D. Clark Atlanta (Ga.), 14-0 Nov. 3 at No. 15 Miles (Ala.)
24. Valdosta St. (Ga.) 7-2 71 NR D. Shorter (Ga.), 37-6 Nov. 1 vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville
25. Washburn (Kan.) 7-2 60 16t Lost to No. 5 Northwest Missouri St., 56-6 Nov. 3 at No. 11 Missouri Western St.

Dropped Out: Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) (20), Hillsdale (Mich.) (24), Charleston (W.Va.) (25)

Others Receiving Votes: Indianapolis (Ind.), 37; Missouri S&T, 36; Chadron St. (Neb.), 31; Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.), 27; American International (Mass.), 22; Carson-Newman (Tenn.), 17; Ouachita Baptist (Ark.), 7; Charleston (W.Va.), 5; Humboldt St. (Calif.), 5; New Mexico Highlands, 4; Shepherd (W.Va.), 4; Mars Hill (N.C.), 2; Fort Valley St. (Ga.), 1; Hillsdale (Mich.), 1; Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.), 1.