WPU Picked Third in Deep Midwest League
William Penn University Head Coach Todd Hafner leads his team to the field during 2012.
Findlay, Ohio–With a perennial power moving to the Midwest League, the Statesmen football team is expected to be fighting for runner-up scraps as the Mid-States Football Association’s preseason coaches’ polls were released recently.
William Penn, which ended a 37-year playoff drought last fall (9-3 overall, 5-1 MWL), is two spots behind the team that knocked it out of the postseason. The navy and gold have been picked to finish third with 36 points.
Saint Xavier, the 2011 national champion and 2012 first-round victor over WPU, has replaced St. Francis (Ill.) in the MWL and has immediately claimed the role as favorite. The Cougars earned 49 points and all seven first-place votes.
St. Ambrose is second with 37 points, while Grand View is also in the mix with 32 points. Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) headlines the final trio with 18 points, while Trinity International (Ill.) has 16 points and Waldorf collects eight.
William Penn’s road back to the Football Championship Series is laden with difficult matchups, including three top-20 foes from the MWL, two more from the Mideast League, and another from outside the MSFA. The Statesmen open the fall by traveling to McKenzie, Tenn. on August 31 to face #9 Bethel (Tenn.) at 6 p.m. Homecoming is set for October 5 against#10 St. Ambrose.
In the Mideast League, defending national champion Marian (Ind.) has been edged by one point by St. Francis (Ind.), 46-45.
2013 MSFA Midwest League Preseason Coaches’ Poll
School Points (First Place Votes)
1. Saint Xavier 49 (7)
2. St. Ambrose 37
3. William Penn 36
4. Grand View 32
5. Olivet Nazarene 18
6. Trinity International 16
7. Waldorf 8
