Florida Tech Panthers Move Up One Spot, No. 19 In D2 AFCA Coaches Poll
By Space Coast Daily // October 19, 2016
FIT TRAVELS TO PLAY GSC FOE WEST ALABAMA
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Following a dominating but undisciplined 48-14 homecoming win over Fort Valley Sate on Saturday, the Florida Tech Panthers moved up one spot in the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll to No.19 this week.
Other than at the bottom, there wasn’t much movement in the rest of the poll week. Slippery Rock (Pa.), Colorado Mesa and West Georgia fell out, allowing Fairmont State (W.Va.), Minnesota-Duluth and Ferris State (Mich.) to enter in the bottom three spots.
The No. 23 ranking for Fairmont State is the program’s first since September 4, 2001, when they were also ranked No. 23. The Falcons are off to their first 7-0 start since 1967.
The top 10 is practically the same, other than Harding (Ark.) and California (Pa.) flip-flopping spots.
Northwest Missouri State still sits No. 1 with all 30 first-place votes.
They are followed by No. 2 Grand Valley State (Mich.), No. 3 Shepherd (W.Va.), No. 4 Midwestern State (Texas) and No. 5 Tuskegee (Ala.).
There is only one top 25 matchup this coming weekend as No. 21 Bemidji State (Minn.) travels to No. 24 Minnesota-Duluth, with the winner having a big edge in who decides the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division.
INSIDE THE GSC:
Including the Panthers, three Gulf South Conference teams are ranked in this weeks poll.
North Alabama is the only team that is undefeated in Gulf South play and will face a tough opponent and future GSC foe in North Greenville University.
The Crusaders joined the GSC this past offseason but do not begin actual conference play until 2017.West Alabama will look to continue their winning ways and in doing so climb into the Top 25 next week.
At 4-1 in the GSC, the Tigers need to snap a two game losing streak to the Florida Tech Panthers. Last week UWA won easily over then 24th ranked West Georgia.
RANK | SCHOOL | RECORD | POINTS | PREVIOUS | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Northwest Missouri State (30) | 7-0 | 750 | 1 | |
2 | Grand Valley State | 7-0 | 717 | 2 | |
3 | Shepherd | 6-0 | 689 | 3 | |
4 | Midwestern State | 6-0 | 660 | 4 | |
5 | Tuskegee | 6-0 | 619 | 5 | |
6 | Sioux Falls | 7-0 | 596 | 6 | |
7 | Harding | 7-0 | 537 | 8 | |
8 | California (Pa.) | 6-0 | 536 | 7 | |
9 | Texas A&M-Commerce | 5-1 | 496 | 9 | |
10 | North Alabama | 4-1 | 494 | 10 | |
11 | Ashland | 6-1 | 458 | 11 | |
12 | Emporia State | 6-1 | 390 | 12 | |
13 | Indiana (Pa.) | 5-1 | 387 | 13 | |
14 | LIU-Post | 7-0 | 343 | 14 | |
15 | Henderson State | 6-1 | 333 | 15 | |
16 | Valdosta State | 5-1 | 294 | 17 | |
17 | Azusa Pacific | 6-1 | 239 | 19 | |
18 | Assumption | 6-1 | 230 | 18 | |
19 | Florida Tech | 5-1 | 203 | 20 | |
20 | North Carolina-Pembroke | 6-1 | 181 | 21 | |
21 | Bemidji State | 6-1 | 148 | 22 | |
22 | Wayne State | 6-1 | 141 | 25 | |
23 | Fairmont State | 7-0 | 87 | NR | |
24 | Minnesota Duluth | 6-1 | 56 | NR | |
25 | Ferris State | 5-2 | 53 | NR |
Others Receiving Votes: Newberry, 48; Slippery Rock, 25; Colorado School of Mines, 11; Central Missouri, 9; Wingate, 7; Southwest Baptist, 6; Central Washington, 4; West Alabama, 2; Notre Dame (Ohio)
2016 GSC Football Standings
School | Conf | CPct. | Overall | Pct. | Streak |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
North Alabama | 4-0 | 1.000 | 4-1 | 0.800 | W4 |
West Alabama | 4-1 | 0.800 | 4-3 | 0.571 | W3 |
Valdosta State | 3-1 | 0.750 | 5-1 | 0.833 | W4 |
Florida Tech | 2-1 | 0.667 | 5-1 | 0.833 | W1 |
Delta State | 3-2 | 0.600 | 4-3 | 0.571 | W1 |
West Florida | 2-2 | 0.500 | 4-3 | 0.571 | L1 |
West Georgia | 1-3 | 0.250 | 4-3 | 0.571 | L3 |
Mississippi College | 0-5 | 0.000 | 2-5 | 0.286 | L3 |
Shorter | 0-4 | 0.000 | 0-7 | 0.000 | L7 |
CLICK HERE FOR BREVARD COUNTY SPORTS