Statesmen 30th in Preseason Ranking
William Penn University Athletics
by Wade Steinlage
Oskaloosa–The William Penn football team is looking down the barrel of a challenging year, but the program also expects to do some damage of its own as the NAIA’s preseason top-25 rating was released Monday.
William Penn (7-4 in 2017, 3-2 Heart North) will start the 2018 campaign tied for 30th with 10 points.
The Heart of America Athletic Conference has six representatives in the poll, headlined #9 Baker, #10 Grand View, and #12 Benedictine. Evangel is 27th and Missouri Valley is 32nd.
Two-time defending national champion Saint Francis (Ind.) is #1 with 366 points and all 16 first-place votes. Reinhardt (Ga.), Morningside, Southern Oregon, and Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) round out the top five.
WPU’s 2018 season begins August 26 at #3 Morningside in Sioux City at 1 p.m. A 10-game Heart slate follows, including six contests in Oskaloosa. Homecoming is slated for October 13 versus Culver-Stockton at 2 p.m.
