Valdosta Daily Times

Local Sports

August 15, 2012

Blazers ranked 8th in AFCA preseason poll

VALDOSTA — The first Division II football preseason poll was released earlier this week, and the Valdosta State Blazers received a high ranking.

The Blazers were tabbed the 8th-ranked team in the nation, according to the release of the American Football Coaches Association’s preseason poll.

From the Gulf South Conference, Delta State was ranked 14th, followed by West Alabama at 15th. West Georgia and North Alabama did not make the top 25, but received points (North Alabama got 128, West Georgia got 9).

The nation’s top-ranked preseason team is Pittsburg State (Kan.), which received 21 first place votes and racked up 720 points in the poll. Pittsburg State was 13-1 in 2011.

2010 national champion Minnesota-Duluth is ranked second, and received first place votes. Northwest Missouri State, Midwestern State, Wayne State and Winston-Salem State each received a first place vote. N.W. Missouri State ranked third in the preseason poll, followed by Midwestern State and Wayne State. Winston-Salem State ranked ninth.

Of the opponents on the Valdosta State schedule this season, only Delta State and West Alabama broke the top 25, although North Alabama, Saginaw Valley State, Texas A&M-Kingsville and West Georgia all received votes.

The Blazers open regular season play Sept. 1 at Saginaw Valley State.

 in Saginaw Valley, Mich. The Blazers’ home opener is Sept. 8 against Fort Valley State, which did not receive any votes.

American Football Coaches Association Preseason Poll

1  Pittsburg State (21)          720    

2  Minnesota-Duluth (5)        661    

3  Northwest Missouri State (1)    613    

4  Midwestern State (1)        582    

5  Wayne State (Mich.) (1)   502    

6  Colorado State-Pueblo     481    

7  Grand Valley State           473    

8  Valdosta State                  415    

9  Winston-Salem State (1)  386    

10  Abilene Christian            367    

11  California (Pa.)               347    

12  Kutztown                        329    

13  New Haven                    322

14  Delta State                     290    

15  West Alabama               274    

16  St. Cloud State              266    

17  Hillsdale                        228    

18  Missouri Western State  218    

19  Shepherd                      199    

20  Washburn                     187    

21  Humboldt State            183    

22  Albany State                 149    

23  North Greenville           139    

24  West Texas A&M          132    

25  Bloomsburg                  129    

Others receiving votes: Lenoir-Rhyne 128, North Alabama 128, Nebraska-Kearney 122, Saginaw Valley State 100, Ouachita Baptist 96, Central Missouri 72, Indianapolis 70, Mars Hill 57, Indiana (Pa.) 49, UNC-Pembroke 47, Elizabeth City State 44, Minnesota State-Mankato 41, Colorado Mines 40, East Central 33, Texas A&M-Kingsville 32, Slippery Rock 18, Miles 15, Concord 9, Tarleton State 9, West Georgia 9, Morehouse 7, Ashland 6, Michigan Tech 6, Southern Connecticut State 6, Central Washington 4, Henderson State 3, Assumption 2, West Virginia Wesleyan 2, Azusa Pacific 1, Carson-Newman 1, Harding 1.

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