Grand Valley State, Ashland Land on Final AFCA D-II Coaches' Poll of 2008

Grand Valley State, Ashland Land on Final AFCA D-II Coaches' Poll of 2008
Posted: Dec 16, 2008

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For Immediate Release: December 16, 2008

WACO, TEX.- Minnesota-Duluth took a 7-0 lead at halftime and never looked back, beating No. 2 Northwest Missouri State, 21-14, in the Division II national championship game, earning the Bulldogs its first-ever national title. Minnesota-Duluth jumps from No. 6 to No. 1 in the final AFCA Division II Coaches' Poll for 2008. North Alabama, Grand Valley State and Abilene Christian round out the Top 5.

American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches' Poll
December 16, 2008

Rank School (1st votes) Rec. Pts. Prev. Postseason Results Head Coach
1. Minnesota-Duluth (26) 15-0 650 6 D. No. 3 Northwest Missouri St., 21-14, in championship Bob Nielson
2. Northwest Missouri St. 13-2 623 3 Lost to No. 6 Minnesota-Duluth, 21-14, in championship Mel Tjeerdsma
3. North Alabama 12-2 567 5 Lost to No. 3 Northwest Missouri St., 41-7, in semifinals Mark Hudspeth
4. Grand Valley St. (Mich.) 11-1 558 1 Lost to No. 6 Minnesota-Duluth, 19-13 2OT, in quarterfinals Chuck Martin
5. Abilene Christian (Texas) 11-1 545 2 Lost to No. 3 Northwest Missouri St., 45-36, in quarterfinals Chris Thomsen
6. California (Pa.) 12-2 505 7 Lost to No. 6 Minnesota-Duluth, 45-7, in semifinals John Luckhardt
7. Delta St. (Miss.) 10-2 496 4 Lost to No. 5 North Alabama, 55-34, in quarterfinals Ron Roberts
8. Pittsburg St. (Kan.) 11-2 437 10 Lost to No. 3 Northwest Missouri St., 38-35, in second round Chuck Broyles
9. Chadron St. (Neb.) 11-2 417 12 Lost to No. 6 Minnesota-Duluth, 20-10, in second round Bill O'Boyle
10. West Texas A&M 11-2 403 9 Lost to No. 2 Abilene Christian (Texas), 93-68, in second round Don Carthel
11. Bloomsburg (Pa.) 11-2 394 14 Lost to No. 7 California (Pa.), 27-24, in quarterfinals Danny Hale
12. Valdosta St. (Ga.) 9-3 368 13 Lost to No. 5 North Alabama, 37-10, in second round David Dean
13. Central Washington 10-2 313 8 Lost to No. 9 West Texas A&M, 49-42, in first round Blaine Bennett
14. Tuskegee (Ala.) 10-1 284 11 Lost to Alabama St., 17-13, Turkey Day Classic Willie Slater
15. Ashland (Ohio) 9-4 263 17 Lost to No. 1 Grand Valley St. (Mich.), 40-7, in second round Lee Owens
16. Tusculum (Tenn.) 9-4 244 23 Lost to No. 4 Delta St. (Miss.), 27-19, in second round Frankie DeBusk
17. West Chester (Pa.) 9-4 230 20 Lost to No. 14 Bloomsburg (Pa.), 28-21, in second round Bill Zwaan
18. Carson-Newman (Tenn.) 7-4 153 21 Lost to No. 13 Valdosta St. (Ga.), 24-20, in first round Ken Sparks
19. Wayne St. (Neb.) 9-3 143 22 Lost to No. 12 Chadron St. (Neb.), 23-17, in first round Dan McLaughlin
20. Edinboro (Pa.) 9-2 136 16 DNQ Playoffs Scott Browning
21. Indiana (Pa.) 8-2 131 15 DNQ Playoffs Lou Tepper
22. Nebraska-Omaha 7-4 109 24 Lost to No. 10 Pittsburg St. (Kan.), 33-21, in first round Pat Behrns
23. Minnesota St.-Mankato 9-3 100 25 Lost to No. 17 Ashland (Ohio), 27-16, in first round Todd Hoffner
24. Seton Hill (Pa.) 10-3 97 NR Lost to No. 7 California (Pa.), 48-7, in second round Joel Dolinski
25. American International (Mass.) 9-2 73 19 Lost to Seton Hill (Pa.), 14-7, in first round Art Wilkins

Dropped Out: Fayetteville St. (N.C.) (25).

Others Receiving Votes: Fayetteville St. (N.C.), 64; North Carolina-Pembroke, 27; Southern Connecticut St., 22; East Stroudsburg (Pa.), 17; Wayne St. (Mich.), 17; Wingate (N.C.), 17; Albany St. (Ga.), 16; Tarleton St. (Texas), 13; Newberry (S.C.), 11; Michigan Tech, 2; Ouachita Baptist (Ark.), 2; Colorado School of Mines, 1; Mars Hill (N.C.), 1; Western Washington, 1.

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