William Penn into Top Five

William Penn University Head Coach Todd Hafner leads his team to the field at Homecoming 2012.

Kansas City, Mo.–Courtesy of losses by two programs in the top six, the Statesmen football team is back in the top five for the first time in nearly a year as the NAIA’s fourth regular season top 25 poll was released today.

William Penn (5-0, 2-0 MWL) jumps two spots to #5 with 256 points. It is the first time the Statesmen have been in the top five since being a program-best fourth on October 3, 2011.

The navy and gold are again the highest-ranked representatives from the Midwest League, while Grand View, St. Francis (Ill.), and St. Ambrose are #14, #15, #16, respectively.

The big change comes after previous #1 Saint Xavier (Ill.) and #6 Benedictine (Kan.) both lost for the first time this fall. Marian (Ind.) is the new #1 with 11 first-place votes (312 points), while Georgetown (Ky.) is second with three first-place votes. Missouri Valley and Morningside are also just ahead of William Penn.

Within the state of Iowa, the Statesmen rank second behind only #4 Morningside. #11 Northwestern also represents the Hawkeye State.

William Penn is home Saturday, hosting St. Francis (Ill.) in MWL foe at 1 p.m.

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

Others receiving votes: Evangel (Mo.) 12, Robert Morris (Ill.) 9, Friends (Kan.) 3; McPherson (Kan.) 3.