Wheaton’s Aiden Byrne blocked a potential game-tying PAT attempt with 22 seconds left to go in their game against Mount Union, allowing the Thunder to hold on for the 24-23 upset victory. It was Wheaton’s first win over the Purple Raiders in eight all-time meetings. The win pushed the Thunder to No. 2 in this week’s AFCA Division III Coaches Poll, presented by GoRout Gridiron, while Mount Union drops to No. 6.
In a matchup of No. 1 vs. No. 2, it was No. 1 North Central who left no doubt. The Cardinal defense forced four turnovers while their offense built a 34-7 lead by the third quarter, allowing North Central to cruise to a 44-21 win over Bethel (Minn.). The loss dropped the Royals to No. 7. The Cardinal have little time to savor the victory as they travel to No. 10 Wartburg for a second straight top 10 matchup.
Johns Hopkins moves up to the third spot after beating Ithaca, 30-21, while UW-Platteville jumped two spots to No. 4 after handing Aurora a 44-7 loss. Defending national champion UW-River Falls dominated Southern Virginia, 73-7, and moves into the fifth spot as they prepare for a tough road test against No. 21 Coe.
| Rank | School (1st votes) | Rec. | Pts. | Prev. | Season Opener | Next Game | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Central (52) | 1-0 | 1324 | 1 | D. No. 2 Bethel (Minn.), 44-21 | Sept. 12 at No. 10 Wartburg | |
| 2 | Wheaton | 1-0 | 1242 | 5 | D. No. 3 Mount Union, 24-23 | Sept. 12 at Albion | |
| 3 | Johns Hopkins | 1-0 | 1191 | 4 | D. Ithaca, 30-21 | Sept. 12 at Randolph-Macon | |
| 4 | UW-Platteville | 1-0 | 1114 | 6 | D. Aurora, 44-7 | Sept. 12 vs. Dubuque | |
| 5 | UW-River Falls (1) | 1-0 | 1081 | 7 | D. Southern Virginia, 73-7 | Sept. 12 at No. 21 Coe | |
| 6 | Mount Union | 0-1 | 982 | 3 | Lost to No. 5 Wheaton, 24-23 | Sept. 12 vs. Grove City | |
| 7 | Bethel (Minn.) | 0-1 | 958 | 2 | Lost to No. 1 North Central, 44-21 | Sept. 19 vs. Gustavus Adolphus | |
| 8 | St. John’s (Minn.) | 1-0 | 953 | 11 | D. No. 10 UW-La Crosse, 24-21 | Sept. 19 vs. Hamline | |
| 9 | John Carroll | 1-0 | 945 | 8 | D. Carnegie Mellon, 17-7 | Sept. 12 at Ohio Wesleyan | |
| 10 | Wartburg | 1-0 | 895 | 9 | D. Monmouth (Ill.), 36-21 | Sept. 12 vs. No. 1 North Central | |
| 11 | UW-Whitewater | 1-0 | 795 | 12 | D. Carleton, 69-7 | Sept. 12 vs. Saint Xavier | |
| 12 | Trinity (Tex.) | 1-0 | 670 | 14 | D. Texas Lutheran, 36-14 | Sept. 12 vs. McMurry | |
| 13 | DePauw | 1-0 | 623 | 13 | D. Rose-Hulman, 31-23 | Sept. 12 at WashU | |
| 14 | UW-La Crosse | 0-1 | 611 | 10 | Lost to No. 11 St. John’s (Minn.), 24-21 | Sept. 12 vs. No. 16 Hardin-Simmons | |
| 15 | Berry | 1-0 | 606 | 15 | D. Huntingdon, 50-20 | Sept. 12 vs. LaGrange | |
| 16 | Hardin-Simmons | 1-0 | 554 | 16 | D. Chapman, 44-24 | Sept. 12 at No. 14 UW-La Crosse | |
| 17 | Salisbury | 0-0 | 444 | 17 | Idle | Sept. 12 vs. McDaniel | |
| 18 | Christopher Newport | 1-0 | 398 | 18 | D. Newport News, 43-14 | Sept. 12 at Western Connecticut | |
| 19 | Mary Hardin-Baylor | 1-0 | 384 | 20 | D. Rowan, 35-14 | Sept. 12 at Pacific Lutheran | |
| 20 | Hope | 1-0 | 363 | 19 | D. Denison, 28-14 | Sept. 12 vs. UW-Stevens Point | |
| 21 | Coe | 1-0 | 227 | 22 | D. Cornell (Iowa), 49-7 | Sept. 12 vs. No. 5 UW-River Falls | |
| 22 | Susquehanna | 1-0 | 222 | 21 | D. Union (N.Y.), 23-17 OT | Sept. 12 at Bridgewater (Va.) | |
| 23 | Linfield | 1-0 | 181 | NR | D. UW-Oshkosh, 41-15 | Sept. 19 at Chapman | |
| 24 | Cortland | 1-0 | 153 | 25 | D. Grove City, 28-18 | Sept. 12 at Union (N.Y.) | |
| 25 | Endicott | 1-0 | 149 | 24 | D. Eastern, 24-14 | Sept. 12 at Muhlenberg | |
Dropped Out: Randolph-Macon (23)
Others Receiving Votes: WashU, 24; Springfield, 23; Franklin & Marshall, 21; Utica, 18; Wabash, 15; Hanover, 9; UW-Oshkosh, 8; UW-Stout, 8; Augustana (Ill.), 7; LaGrange, 5; Brockport, 4; Calvin, 4; Illinois Wesleyan, 3; Ithaca, 3; Adrian, 2; Baldwin-Wallace, 1; Dickinson, 1; Lake Forest, 1; Muhlenberg, 1; Ohio Northern, 1; Whitworth, 1.
The American Football Coaches Association was founded to ensure that every football coach receives the finest professional development support and resources available. We bring relevant topics and current advancements directly to your desktop. We are committed to football coaching education and helping you reach and exceed your goals for success with our Professional Development Series. Along with industry networking, membership provides a forum for you to find Professional Football Coaching Jobs nationwide. By joining the AFCA you have full access to a group of like-minded, well-respected individuals in the coaching profession.
The American Football Coaches Association was founded to ensure that every football coach receives the finest professional development support and resources available. We bring relevant topics and current advancements directly to your desktop. We are committed to football coaching education and helping you reach and exceed your goals for success with our Professional Development Series. Along with industry networking, membership provides a forum for you to find Professional Football Coaching Jobs nationwide. By joining the AFCA you have full access to a group of like-minded, well-respected individuals in the coaching profession.
The American Football Coaches Association was founded to ensure that every football coach receives the finest professional development support and resources available. We bring relevant topics and current advancements directly to your desktop. We are committed to football coaching education and helping you reach and exceed your goals for success with our Professional Development Series. Along with industry networking, membership provides a forum for you to find Professional Football Coaching Jobs nationwide. By joining the AFCA you have full access to a group of like-minded, well-respected individuals in the coaching profession.
The American Football Coaches Association was founded to ensure that every football coach receives the finest professional development support and resources available. We bring relevant topics and current advancements directly to your desktop. We are committed to football coaching education and helping you reach and exceed your goals for success with our Professional Development Series. Along with industry networking, membership provides a forum for you to find Professional Football Coaching Jobs nationwide. By joining the AFCA you have full access to a group of like-minded, well-respected individuals in the coaching profession.
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The American Football Coaches Association was founded to ensure that every football coach receives the finest professional development support and resources available. We bring relevant topics and current advancements directly to your desktop. We are committed to football coaching education and helping you reach and exceed your goals for success with our Professional Development Series. Along with industry networking, membership provides a forum for you to find Professional Football Coaching Jobs nationwide. By joining the AFCA you have full access to a group of like-minded, well-respected individuals in the coaching profession.
