Statesmen Tenth Entering Second Last Week of 2012

Recent William Penn Statesmen Football action at the Lacey Complex Stadium

Oskaloosa–Another Midwest League win has assisted the William Penn football team back into the top ten as the NAIA’s eighth top-25 poll was released today.

Courtesy of a loss by former #6 Carroll (Mont.), the Statesmen (8-1, 4-0 MWL) improve one spot to #10 with 214 points.

It is a logjam among the league’s best teams with Grand View at #9, WPU at #10, and St. Ambrose at #11. William Penn and St. Ambrose face off Saturday in Lacey Complex Stadium at 1 p.m., while Grand View comes to Oskaloosa next Saturday for the season finale (1 p.m. start).

Preseason pick St. Francis (Ill.) is now receiving votes, unofficially 28th.

The nation’s top five remains the same with Marian (Ind.) still #1 (314 points, 13 first-place votes). Georgetown (Ky.), who has the last first-place vote, is second, while Missouri Valley is third and Morningside is fourth. Preseason #1 and defending national champion Saint Xavier (Ill.) is fifth.

#4 Morningside and #17 Northwestern also represent the state of Iowa.

NAIA Football Rating #8 – October 29, 2012
(Number in parentheses is first-place votes)
(Iowa Institutions bolded)
1. Marian (Ind.) (13)
2. Georgetown (Ky.) (1)
3. Missouri Valley
4. Morningside
5. Saint Xavier (Ill.)
6. St. Francis (Ind.)
7. Montana Tech
8. Cumberlands (Ky.)
9. Grand View
10. William Penn
11. St. Ambrose
12. MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.)
13. Baker (Kan.)
14. Southern Oregon
15. Evangel (Mo.)
16. Carroll (Mont.)
17. Northwestern
18. Benedictine (Kan.)
19. Ottawa (Kan.)
20. Tabor (Kan.)
21. Bethel (Tenn.)
22. Robert Morris (Ill.)
23. Kansas Wesleyan
24. Doane (Neb.)
25. Hastings (Neb.)

Others receiving votes: Cumberland (Tenn.) 23; Bacone (Okla.) 10; St. Francis (Ill.) 4; Kentucky Christian 3.