WACO, Texas - West Chester University's football team moved up to No. 19 in the most recent American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) poll released Monday afternoon.
West Chester (1-0) began the year at No. 22, but a season-opening win over visiting Bentley was enough to slide the Golden Rams up three spots.
Valdosta State (Ga.) keeps its hold on the No. 1 spot in the AFCA Division II Coaches' Top 25 Poll. The Blazers handed Albany State (Ga.) a decisive 38-3 loss to open the 2019 season and received all but one first-place vote in the first regular season Top 25 poll. The top five remained unchanged other than Tarleton State (Texas), which moves up two places to No. 5 after its 37-26 win over Stephen F. Austin (Texas).
Three new teams entered the poll this week, starting with No. 21 Central Missouri. The Mules upset then-No. 11 Fort Hays State (Kan.) 34-30 to earn their first ranking since Sept. 17, 2018. Next is No. 23 Pittsburg State (Kan.), which handed Central Oklahoma a 37-35 loss. The Gorillas were ranked for five weeks in 2018, with their last ranking coming on Oct. 8. The final newcomer is No. 24 Indiana (Pa.). The Crimson Hawks beat New Haven (Conn.) 24-13 to earn their first ranking since Nov. 5, 2018.
Slippery Rock (11), West Chester and IUP are the three teams from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) ranked in the Top 25. Additionally, California (Pa.), Kutztown and newcomer Shepherd are all listed among others receiving votes.
West Chester travels to Gannon on Saturday for a noon kickoff. You can hear all the action on WCHE 1520 AM with Joe Vasile and James Jackson bringing you the action.
2019 American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches' Poll – September 9, 2019
Rank School (1st votes) Rec. Pts. Prev. Season Opener Next Game
1. Valdosta St. (Ga.) (31) 1-0 799 1 D. Albany St. (Ga.), 38-3 Sept. 14 vs. Ohio Dominican
2. Ferris St. (Mich.) 1-0 732 2 D. Findlay (Ohio), 24-23 Sept. 14 at Central Washington
3. Minnesota St. 1-0 718 3 D. Southwest Minnesota St., 38-23 Sept. 14 vs. Augustana (S.D.)
4. Notre Dame (Ohio) 1-0 646 4 D. Concord (W.Va.), 33-10 Sept. 12 at West Liberty (W.Va.)
5. Tarleton St. (Texas) 1-0 644 7 D. Stephen F. Austin (Texas), 37-26 Sept. 14 vs. Doane (Neb.)
6. Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) 1-0 643 5 D. No. 18 Harding (Ark.), 16-14 Sept. 14 at Arkansas Tech
7. Northwest Missouri St. (1) 1-0 624 6 D. Missouri Western St., 45-35 Sept. 14 vs. Washburn (Kan.)
8. Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) 1-0 578 8 D. St. Augustine's (N.C.), 68-7 Sept. 14 at Virginia Union
9. Colorado St.-Pueblo 1-0 545 9 D. Dixie St. (Utah), 36-7 Sept. 14 at Chadron St. (Neb.)
10. Grand Valley St. (Mich.) 1-0 488 12 D. Edinboro (Pa.), 35-10 Sept. 14 vs. Delta St. (Miss.)
11. Slippery Rock (Pa.) 1-0 441 10 D. Wayne St. (Mich.), 62-37 Sept. 14 vs. Shippensburg (Pa.)
12. Texas A&M-Commerce 1-0 400 13 D. Seleccion Nuevo Leon (Mexico), 83-0 Sept. 14 at Western Oregon
13. Minnesota-Duluth 1-0 397 14 D. Minot St. (N.D.), 52-7 Sept. 14 at Minnesota St.-Moorhead
14. West Georgia 1-0 396 15 D. Catawba (N.C.), 37-9 Sept. 14 at Limestone (S.C.)
15. Indianapolis (Ind.) 1-0 355 16 D. No. 23 Ashland (Ohio), 24-9 Sept. 14 vs. Hillsdale (Mich.)
16. Midwestern St. (Texas) 1-0 331 20 D. Northwestern St. (La.), 33-7 Sept. 14 at Lindenwood (Mo.)
17. Colorado School of Mines 1-0 313 17 D. Adams St. (Colo.), 41-10 Sept. 14 vs. Black Hills St. (S.D.)
18. Wingate (N.C.) 1-0 208 21 D. Johnson C. Smith (N.C.), 42-6 Sept. 14 at Fayetteville St. (N.C.)
19. West Chester (Pa.) 1-0 189 22 D. Bentley (Mass.), 14-7 Sept. 14 at Gannon (Pa.)
20. West Alabama 1-0 173 24 D. Limestone (S.C.), 35-18 Sept. 14 at Tusculum (Tenn.)
21. Central Missouri 1-0 105 NR D. No. 11 Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 34-30 Sept. 12 at Northeastern St. (Okla.)
22. Harding (Ark.) 0-1 95 18 Lost to No. 5 Ouachita Baptist (Ark.), 16-14 Sept. 14 vs. Arkansas-Monticello
23. Pittsburg St. (Kan.) 1-0 84 NR D. Central Oklahoma, 37-35 Sept. 14 vs. Emporia St. (Kan.)
24. Indiana (Pa.) 1-0 83 NR D. New Haven (Conn.), 24-13 Sept. 14 at Millersville (Pa.)
25. Fort Hays St. (Kan.) 0-1 67 11 Lost to Central Missouri, 34-30 Sept. 12 vs. Missouri Western
Dropped Out: Hillsdale (Mich.) (19), Ashland (Ohio) (23), Fairmont St. (W.Va.) (25)
Others Receiving Votes: Bowie St. (Md.), 56; Virginia Union, 40; Ashland (Ohio), 38; Augustana (S.D.), 30; Carson-Newman (Tenn.), 24; California (Pa.), 23; Southern Arkansas, 15; Ohio Dominican, 13; West Texas A&M, 13; Colorado Mesa, 12; Angelo St. (Texas), 10; Florida Tech, 10; Emporia St. (Kan.), 9; Kutztown (Pa.), 9; Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.), 9; Albany St. (Ga.), 5; Chadron St. (Neb.), 5; Winona St. (Minn.), 5; Central Washington, 4; Findlay (Ohio), 4; Michigan Tech, 4; Shepherd (W.Va.), 3; St. Cloud State (Minn.), 2; Eastern New Mexico, 1; Fairmont St. (W.Va.), 1; Kentucky St., 1.
