3-0 Start, Losses by Top-Ten Teams Help Statesmen to #7 in First Ranking
Kansas City, Mo.–The William Penn football team has won its first three games easily, but losses by half of the nation’s preseason top ten has moved the navy and gold upward as the NAIA released its first regular season top 25 poll today.
The Statesmen (3-0) jumped seven spots from #14 in the preseason rating to #7 with 241 points. They are the highest-ranked representatives from the Midwest League, while St. Ambrose is also in the top ten (9th), jumping a ranking-best 11 positions from 20th in the preseason. Grand View, holding at #15, and St. Francis (Ill.), falling from #7 to #17, are in the rating as well.
Defending national champion Saint Xavier (Ill.) is still #1 with 314 points and all 14 first-place votes, while Marian (Ind.) completes the Mideast League’s 1-2 sweep. Georgetown (Ky.), Morningside, and Missouri Valley round out the top five. Carroll (Mont.) matches St. Francis (Ill.) with the biggest drop since the last top 25, falling from #2 to #12.
William Penn is the second-highest program from the state of Iowa behind #4 Morningside. Northwestern, at #17, and Graceland, unofficially tied for 33rd, are also from the Hawkeye State.
William Penn travels to Forest City Saturday, opening MWL play against Waldorf at 6:30 p.m.
NAIA Football Rating #1 – September 10, 2012
(Number in parentheses is first-place votes)
(Iowa Institutions bolded)
1. Saint Xavier (Ill.) (14)
2. Marian (Ind.)
3. Georgetown (Ky.)
4. Morningside
5. Missouri Valley
6. Benedictine (Kan.)
7. William Penn
8. Eastern Oregon
9. St. Ambrose
9. Baker (Kan.)
11. St. Francis (Ind.)
12. Carroll (Mont.)
13. MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.)
14. Cumberlands (Ky.)
15. Grand View
16. Doane (Neb.)
17. Northwestern
17. St. Francis (Ill.)
19. Rocky Mountain (Mont.)
20. Montana Tech
21. Valley City State (N.D.)
22. Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.)
23. Taylor (Ind.)
24. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
25. Cumberland (Tenn.)
Others receiving votes: Kansas Wesleyan 18; Hastings (Neb.) 13; Langston (Okla.) 11; Kentucky Christian 11; Faulkner (Ala.) 11; Menlo (Calif.) 8; McPherson (Kan.) 7; Friends (Kan.) 3; Graceland 3; Midland (Neb.) 3.
