USF Up to 17th in DII Coaches Poll - KSFY News - Sioux Falls, SD News, Weather, Sports

WACO, TEXAS (October 29, 2012): The University of Sioux Falls (8-1, 8-1 NSIC, 4-1 NSIC South) will spend the final week of October ranked No. 17 in the latest American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) DII poll. Receiving 254 votes Monday, the Cougars enjoy their third straight week in the polls.

The 17th-ranked Cougars moved up four spots after a weekend of NCAA D-II action that saw losses dealt to seven top-25 squads, including previously No. 13-ranked California (Pa.), No. 15 Emporia State and No. 16 Washburn.  

USF held off a late comeback attempt by Upper Iowa to post a 54-41 Homecoming victory against the Peacocks (2-7, 2-7 NSIC) on Saturday. The Cougars have won at least eight games in 16 of the last 20 seasons.

USF is one of three NSIC members currently ranked in the poll. Minnesota State, Mankato (9-0) improved one spot and enters the week ranked No. 6 (591 points) after edging Wayne State 42-35. Minnesota-Duluth (8-1) slipped from No. 8 to No. 9, following a 38-14 victory at Minnesota, Crookston.

The Cougars will travel to Minnesota State, Mankato this weekend for a 1 p.m. matchup on Saturday against the Mavericks.  

2012 American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches' Poll – October 29, 2012

Rank    School (1st votes)      Rec.     Pts.      Prev.   Week Nine     Next Game

            1.         Colorado St.-Pueblo (24)         9-0       744      1          D. Colorado Mesa, 48-10        Nov. 3 vs. New Mexico Highlands

            2.         Winston-Salem St. (N.C.) (6)   9-0       720      2          D. Shaw (N.C.), 62-31  Nov. 3 at Fayetteville St. (N.C.)

            3.         New Haven (Conn.)     8-0       689      3          D. Southern Connecticut St., 48-9       Nov. 3 at American International (Mass.)

            4.         Northwest Missouri St.           8-1       632      5          D. No. 16t Washburn (Kan.), 56-6       Nov. 3 vs. No. 20 Emporia St. (Kan.)

            5.         Ashland (Ohio)            9-0       628      6          D. Findlay (Ohio), 42-21          Nov. 3 at Tiffin (Ohio)

            6.         Minnesota St.-Mankato          9-0       591      7          D. Wayne St. (Neb.), 42-35     Nov. 3 vs. No. 17 Sioux Falls (S.D.)

            7.         Shippensburg (Pa.)      9-0       542      10        D. No. 4 Bloomsburg (Pa.), 49-42       Nov. 3 vs. Cheyney (Pa.)

            8.         Henderson St. (Ark.)    9-0       532      9          D. Southern Arkansas, 44-36  Nov. 10 vs. Ouachita Baptist (Ark.)

            9.         Minnesota-Duluth       8-1       519      8          D. Minnesota-Crookston, 38-14          Nov. 3 vs. Mary (N.D.)

            10.       Midwestern St. (Texas)           7-1       462      11        D. Eastern New Mexico, 51-28           Nov. 3 at No. 12 West Texas A&M

            11.       Missouri Western St.  8-1       454      12        D. No. 15 Emporia St. (Kan.), 57-28    Nov. 3 vs. No. 25 Washburn (Kan.)

            12.       West Texas A&M        8-1       418      14        D. West Georgia, 52-28          Nov. 3 vs. No. 10 Midwestern St. (Texas)

            13.       Bloomsburg (Pa.)        8-1       403      4          Lost to No. 10 Shippensburg (Pa.), 49-42       Nov. 3 vs. West Chester (Pa.)

            14.       Indiana (Pa.)    8-1       377      16t       D. Clarion (Pa.), 45-0  Nov. 3 at Gannon (Pa.)

            15.       Miles (Ala.)     8-1       330      18        D. Stillman (Ala.), 49-13         Nov. 3 vs. No. 23 Tuskegee (Ala.)

            16.       Harding (Ark.) 7-1       302      19        D. Arkansas Tech, 76-23         Nov. 3 at Southeastern Oklahoma St.

            17.       Sioux Falls (S.D.)          8-1       254      21        D. Upper Iowa, 54-41  Nov. 3 at No. 6 Minnesota St.-Mankato

            18.       Pittsburg St. (Kan.)      6-2       176      22        D. Truman St. (Mo.), 20-6       Nov. 3 vs. Lindenwood (Mo.)

            19.       Grand Valley St. (Mich.)         7-2       163      23        D. No. 24 Hillsdale (Mich.), 42-23      Nov. 3 vs. Wayne St. (Mich.)

            20.       Emporia St. (Kan.)       8-1       161      15        Lost to No. 12 Missouri Western St., 57-28   Nov. 3 at No. 4 Northwest Missouri St.

            21.       West Alabama            7-2       133      NR       D. Delta St. (Miss.), 37-7         Nov. 3 at Abilene Christian (Texas)

            22.       California (Pa.)            7-2       115      13        Lost to Slippery Rock (Pa.), 28-26       Nov. 3 at Mercyhurst (Pa.)

            23.       Tuskegee (Ala.)           7-1       74        NR       D. Clark Atlanta (Ga.), 14-0    Nov. 3 at No. 15 Miles (Ala.)

            24.       Valdosta St. (Ga.)        7-2       71        NR       D. Shorter (Ga.), 37-6 Nov. 1 vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville

            25.       Washburn (Kan.)         7-2       60        16t       Lost to No. 5 Northwest Missouri St., 56-6     Nov. 3 at No. 11 Missouri Western St.

Dropped Out: Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) (20), Hillsdale (Mich.) (24), Charleston (W.Va.) (25)

Others Receiving Votes: Indianapolis (Ind.), 37; Missouri S&T, 36; Chadron St. (Neb.), 31; Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.), 27; American International (Mass.), 22; Carson-Newman (Tenn.), 17; Ouachita Baptist (Ark.), 7; Charleston (W.Va.), 5; Humboldt St. (Calif.), 5; New Mexico Highlands, 4; Shepherd (W.Va.), 4; Mars Hill (N.C.), 2; Fort Valley St. (Ga.), 1; Hillsdale (Mich.), 1; Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.), 1.