Statesmen Projected Second in Midwest League
William Penn University Athletics
Findlay, Ohio–The William Penn football team enters this fall again as a major contender as the Mid-States Football Association’s Preseason Coaches Polls were released today.
The Statesmen, who were 9-2 last season and tied for third in the Midwest League at 5-2, are second in the seven-team division with 40 points and two first-place votes. The navy and gold were picked to win the league last year.
The MWL had two squads reach the postseason last fall, including 2012 favorite St. Francis (Ill.). The Fighting Saints have earned 42 points and four first-place votes. Grand View, the other playoff team, is a close third with 38 points and the final first-place vote.
St. Ambrose tied with William Penn for third in 2011, but is a bit off the list in fourth with 33 points. Darkhorse Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) leads the final trio with 22 points, while Trinity International (Ill.) notched 14 points and Waldorf collected seven.
After battling through a difficult road schedule last year, the Statesmen will welcome the top four teams to Oskaloosa in 2012. The team opens the fall by traveling to Mount Pleasant on August 25 to face Iowa Wesleyan at 6 p.m. Homecoming is set for September 29 against Olivet Nazarene.
In the Mideast League, defending national champion Saint Xavier (Ill.) slipped past defending league champion Marian (Ind.) for the preseason crown, 33-31.
