Bowie State Football Ranked #23 in American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches' Poll

WACO, TEX.– After appearing in the AFCA Division II Coaches’ Top 25 Poll for the first time in school history last week, Fort Hays State (Kan.) moved into the Top 20 after a 31-24 win over Central Oklahoma. The Tigers are ranked 18th this week as they prepare for Northeastern State (Okla.) next Saturday. Fort Hays State’s conference rival Northwest Missouri State still sits at No. 1 followed by Ferris State (Mich.), Texas A&M-Commerce, Shepherd (W.Va.) and California (Pa.) rounding out the Top 5.

Four newcomers are ranked this week with Humboldt State (Calif.) at No. 22, Bowie State (Md.) at No. 23, Assumption (Mass.) at No. 24 and Catawba (N.C.) at No. 25. Bowie State was last ranked in the AFCA Top 25 on November 9, 2015. Another newcomer from last week’s poll was Central Washington. The Wildcats, who were last ranked in the preseason poll of 2011, moved up to No. 20 after beating then-No. 22 Azusa Pacific (Calif.) 17-16.

2017 American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches’ Poll – September 18, 2017

Rank   School (1st votes)                        Rec.    Pts.     Prev.       Week 3                                                        Next Game

     1.     Northwest Missouri St. (34)       3-0       850      1                D. Nebraska-Kearney, 13-0                         Sept. 23 vs. Missouri Southern St.

     2.     Ferris St. (Mich.)                            2-0       811      2                D. Northern Michigan, 42-10                                        Sept. 23 at Ashland (Ohio)

     3.     Texas A&M-Commerce               3-0       779      3                D. Eastern New Mexico, 51-22                     Sept. 23 at Texas A&M-Kingsville

     4.     Shepherd (W.Va.)                         2-0       737      4                D. Glenville St. (W.Va.), 42-34                             Sept. 23 vs. West Virginia St.

     5.     California (Pa.)                               3-0       693      5                D. Millersville (Pa.), 29-13                                          Sept. 23 vs. Seton Hill (Pa.)

     6.     Indiana (Pa.)                                   3-0       673      6                D. Cheyney (Pa.), 65-16                                              Sept. 23 vs. Edinboro (Pa.)

     7.     Sioux Falls (S.D.)                          3-0       619      7                D. Mary (N.D.), 38-7                                        Sept. 23 vs. Minnesota-Crookston

     8.     Minnesota St.                                 3-0       607      8                D No. 20 Minnesota-Duluth, 38-23                  Sept. 23 vs. Northern St. (S.D.)

     9.     LIU-Post (N.Y.)                              3-0       572      9                D. Stonehill (Mass.), 51-16                                        Sept. 23 at Bentley (Mass.)

    10.   North Alabama                                1-1       547      10             D. Valdosta St. (Ga.), 30-24                                      Sept. 23 vs. West Alabama

    11.   Colorado Mesa                               3-0       501      11             D. Colorado Mines, 38-36                                      Sept. 23 vs. Fort Lewis (Colo.)

    12.   Grand Valley St. (Mich.)             2-1       456      12             D. Michigan Tech, 42-7                                         Sept. 23 vs. Northwood (Mich.)

    13.   Midwestern St. (Texas)               2-0       443      13             D. Texas A&M-Kingsville, 35-13                  Sept. 23 vs. Western New Mexico

    14.   Indianapolis (Ind.)                         3-0       402      15             D. Southwest Baptist (Mo.), 45-17                       Sept. 23 vs. Hillsdale (Mich.)

    15.   Emporia St. (Kan.)                        2-1       367      14             D. Missouri Southern St., 36-29                            Sept. 23 vs. Central Missouri

    16.   Arkansas Tech                               3-0       300      19             D. Oklahoma Baptist, 58-21                Sept. 23 at Southern Nazarene (Okla.)

    17.   Delta St. (Miss.)                             3-0       268      24             D. No. 17 West Georgia, 17-7                                         Sept. 23 at Shorter (Ga.)

    18.   Fort Hays St. (Kan.)                     3-0       259      21             D. Central Oklahoma, 31-24                   Sept. 23 vs. Northeastern St. (Okla.)

    19.   Colorado St.-Pueblo                     2-1       257      18             D. South Dakota Mines, 34-14                     Sept. 23 at New Mexico Highlands

    20.   Central Washington                      3-0       247      23             D. No. 22 Azusa Pacific (Calif.), 17-16                   Sept. 23 at Dixie St. (Utah)

    21.   Slippery Rock (Pa.)                      3-0       166      25             D. Lock Haven (Pa.), 33-7                                               Sept. 23 at Gannon (Pa.)

    22.   Humboldt St. (Calif.)                     2-0       77         NR            D. Simon Fraser (B.C.), 72-14                                  Sept. 23 at Western Oregon

    23.   Bowie St. (Md.)                               3-0       72         NR            D. St. Augustine’s (N.C.), 66-20                                    Sept. 23 vs. Shaw (N.C.)

    24.   Assumption (Mass.)                     3-0       60         NR            D. Southern Connecticut St., 25-8                  Sept. 23 vs. Merrimack (Mass.)

    25.   Catawba (N.C.)                               3-0       54         NR            D. North Carolina-Pembroke, 41-9                          Sept. 23 vs. Mars Hill (N.C.)

Dropped Out: Albany St. (Ga.) (16), West Georgia (17), Minnesota-Duluth (20), Azusa Pacific (Calif.) (22)

Others Receiving Votes: Ashland (Ohio), 47; Albany St. (Ga.), 41; West Georgia, 35; Winona St. (Minn.), 24; Central Missouri, 18; Azusa Pacific (Calif.), 10; Minnesota-Duluth, 10; Southeastern Oklahoma St., 8; Washburn (Kan.), 8; Wingate (N.C.), 8; Carson-Newman (Tenn.), 7; Florida Tech, 6; North Greenville (S.C.), 3; Tuskegee (Ala.), 3; West Texas A&M, 3; Bloomsburg (Pa.), 1; Eastern New Mexico, 1.