Courtesy: AFCA http://www.afca.com/ No. 2 Northwest Missouri State looks to make it to the national title game for a fifth straight year.
Thanks to then- No. 1 North Alabama’s upset loss to West Alabama, Central Washington takes over the top spot in the AFCA Division II Coaches’ Top 25 Poll. The Wildcats finished the regular season as Division II’s only undefeated team at 11-0 after a 20-6 win over Western Oregon. Northwest Missouri State, Grand Valley State (Mich.), Minnesota-Duluth and North Alabama round out the Top 5.
Twenty teams in the AFCA’s Top 25 Poll earned a spot in the Division II playoffs, with No. 1 Central Washington, No. 2 Northwest Missouri State, No. 3 Grand Valley State (Mich.), No. 4 Minnesota-Duluth, No. 5 North Alabama, No. 9 West Liberty (W.Va.), No. 10 Carson-Newman (Tenn.) and No. 17 Shippensburg (Pa.) all earning first round byes.
Two new teams entered the final regular season poll with Arkansas Tech appearing at No. 21 and Washburn (Kan.) jumping back in at No. 24 after a two-week absence. The Wonder Boys are making their first appearance in the poll since Sept. 19, 2006.
2009 American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches’ Poll November 9, 2009
Rank
School (1st votes)
Rec.
Pts.
Prev.
Last Week
Next Game
1.
Central Washington (23)
11-0
621
2
D. Western Oregon, 20-6
Nov. 21 vs. Opponent TBD
2.
Northwest Missouri St. (1)
10-1
600
3
D. No. 16 Central Missouri, 56-14
Nov. 21 vs. Opponent TBD
3.
Grand Valley St. (Mich.)
10-1
565
5
D. Wayne St. (Mich.), 59-28
Nov. 21 vs. Opponent TBD
4.
Minnesota-Duluth
10-1
542
6
D. Winona St. (Minn.), 41-16
Nov. 21 vs. Opponent TBD
5.
North Alabama (1)
10-1
513
1
Lost to West Alabama, 31-28 4OT
Nov. 21 vs. Opponent TBD
6.
Nebraska-Kearney
10-1
503
8
D. Mesa St. (Colo.), 30-21
Nov. 14 vs. No. 16 Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.)
7.
Midwestern St. (Texas)
9-2
449
9
D. No. 12 Abilene Christian (Tex.), 15-13
Nov. 14 vs. No. 18 Abilene Christian (Tex.)
8.
Minnesota St.-Mankato
10-1
443
4
Lost to St. Cloud State (Minn.), 26-21
Nov. 14 vs. No. 15 Hillsdale (Mich.)
9.
West Liberty (W.Va.)
10-1
405
11
D. Concord (W.Va.), 64-42
Nov. 21 vs. Opponent TBD
10.
Carson-Newman (Tenn.)
9-2
385
14
D. Tusculum (Tenn.), 70-35
Nov. 21 vs. Opponent TBD
11.
North Carolina-Pembroke
9-1
378
10
D. North Greenville (S.C.), 42-14
Nov. 14 at No. 21 Arkansas Tech
12.
Tarleton St. (Texas)
9-2
331
7
Lost to West Texas A&M, 49-35
Nov. 14 at No. 13 Texas A&M-Kingsville
13.
Texas A&M-Kingsville
9-2
300
17
D. Angelo St. (Texas), 35-32
Nov. 14 vs. No. 12 Tarleton St. (Texas)
14.
Tuskegee (Ala.)
8-2
298
15
D. Stillman (Ala.), 41-14
Nov. 26 vs. Alabama St.
15.
Hillsdale (Mich.)
9-2
277
20
D. Tiffin (Ohio), 59-24
Nov. 14 at No. 8 Minnesota St.-Mankato
16.
Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.)
9-2
252
22
D. Ferris St. (Mich.), 41-7
Nov. 14 at No. 6 Nebraska-Kearney
17.
Shippensburg (Pa.)
9-2
246
23
D. No. 18 California (Pa.), 42-35
Nov. 21 vs. Opponent TBD
18.
Abilene Christian (Texas)
8-3
179
12
Lost to No. 9 Midwestern St. (Tex.), 15-13
Nov. 14 at No. 7 Midwestern St. (Tex.)
19.
Charleston (W.Va.)
9-2
147
25
D. West Virginia Wesleyan, 57-25
Season Complete
20.
Albany St. (Ga.)
8-2
145
13
Lost to Fort Valley St. (Ga.), 35-13
Nov. 14 vs. West Alabama
21.
Arkansas Tech
8-2
107
NR
D. Harding (Ark.), 52-31
Nov. 14 vs. No. 11 North Carolina-Pembroke
22.
California (Pa.)
8-3
90
18
Lost to No. 23 Shippensburg (Pa.), 42-35
Nov. 14 vs. Fayetteville St. (N.C.)
23.
Central Missouri
8-3
88
16
Lost to No. 3 Northwest Missouri St., 56-14
Season Complete
24.
Washburn (Kan.)
8-3
75
NR
D. Emporia St. (Kan.), 56-35
Season Complete
25.
Bloomsburg (Pa.)
8-3
44
19
Lost to Gannon (Pa.), 10-7
Season Complete
Dropped Out: Missouri Western St. (21), Bentley (Mass.) (24).
Others Receiving Votes: Missouri Western St., 34; Shaw (N.C.), 28; West Texas A&M, 24; Fayetteville St. (N.C.), 15; Colorado School of Mines, 11; Nebraska-Omaha, 10; Bentley (Mass), 7; Edinboro (Pa.), 5; West Alabama, 5; Wingate (N.C.), 2; Glenville St. (W.Va.), 1.