Florida Tech Panthers Climb Into Top 20 Coaches Poll, Battle Fort Valley State Saturday
By Space Coast Daily // October 10, 2016
Next Game: Florida Tech Panther Stadium In Melbourne at 1 p.m. Saturday
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Despite Florida Tech not playing last week due to Hurricane Matthew, the Panthers climbed up three spots in the AFCA Div. II Coaches Top 25 Poll.
Florida Tech moved from No. 23 to No. 20 with a 4-1 overall record on the 2016 season.
Panthers are slated to take on Fort Valley St. (GA) in Melbourne Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.
The AFCA Division II Coaches’ Top 25 poll was jumbled up for a second straight week after eight teams in last week’s top 25 were beaten, including three of the top 10 again.
The top three were unchanged as Northwest Missouri State, Grand Valley State (Mich.) and Shepherd (W.Va.) are joined by Midwestern State (Texas) and Tuskegee (Ala.), to round out the top five. The Mustangs used a last minute drive to beat then-No. 4 Texas A&M-Commerce, 26-25, while Tuskegee dispatched rival Morehouse (Ga.), 28-19. This is the Golden Tigers highest ranking in the AFCA poll, having been as high as No. 7 in 2001 and 2002.
California (Pa.) and Harding (Ark.) made the biggest jumps in the poll this week, with each moving up eights spots. The No. 7 Vulcans handed then-No. 6 Indiana (Pa.) a 31-28 loss, while the No. 8 Bisons forced six turnovers in a 35-3 victory over then-No. 5 Henderson State (Ark.). New No. 25 Wayne State (Mich.) jumps into the poll for the first time since October 8, 2012. The Warriors are 5-1 on the season after a 37-21 win over Findlay (Ohio).
There is only one top 25 matchup this coming weekend as No. 13 Indiana (Pa.) plays host to No. 16 Slippery Rock (Pa.).
American Football Coaches Association contributed to this report.
