St. Francis (Ind.), St. Ambrose Top Mid-States Preseason Polls
The University of Saint Francis (Ind.), which has claimed eight straight
conference titles, is expected to once again capture the Mid-States Football
Association’s Mideast League as the MSFA conducted its pre-season polls recently
with voting done by all coaches.
On the Midwest League side, St. Ambrose University of Davenport, Iowa is
expected to repeat as champions with five of the eight first-place votes.
Saint Francis of Fort Wayne, Ind. secured seven first-place votes and 63 total
votes from MSFA Mideast coaches. The Cougars have gone 49-1 over the past eight
campaigns, including going an undefeated 6-0 in 2006. Ohio Dominican University
of Columbus, Ohio and Saint Xavier University of Chicago, Ill. tied at the
number two spot with 49 votes, while Ohio Dominican has the other first-place
vote. Walsh University of Canton, Ohio is fourth with 46 votes, while Malone
College of Canton, Ohio has 31 votes, Urbana University of Urbana, Ohio has 26
votes, Taylor University of Upland, Ind. has 15 votes, and Marian College of
Indianapolis, Ind. has nine votes to round out the poll.
Last season, Walsh took runner-up honors behind Saint Francis for the fourth
year in a row at 5-2, while Ohio Dominican and Malone tied for third at 4-2.
Geneva College of Beaver Falls, Pa. and Urbana were knotted in fifth at 2-4 and
Taylor completed the standings with an 0-6 mark.
Saint Francis and Walsh met in the first round of the 2006 NAIA playoffs with
the Cougars winning 42-3. Saint Francis then went all the way to the
championship game for the third consecutive year before falling to Sioux Falls,
S.D., 23-19.
In the Midwest, St. Ambrose was a perfect 8-0 to win the 2006 crown, while Saint
Xavier was right on its heels at 7-1. McKendree College of Lebanon, Ill. and
William Penn University of Oskaloosa, Iowa tied for third at 5-3. Quincy College
of Quincy, Ill. was alone in fifth at 4-4, while Olivet Nazarene University of
Kankakee, Ill. and Trinity International University of Deerfield, Ill. were next
at 3-5. St. Francis University of Joliet, Ill. at 1-7 and Iowa Wesleyan of Mount
Pleasant, Iowa at 0-8 were at the end of the standings.
The Fighting Bees of St. Ambrose are picked to take the title as they received
61 votes, while McKendree is a close second with 59 votes and the remaining
three first-place votes. Quincy is third with 42 votes and William Penn is
fourth with 39 votes. The poll concluded with Olivet Nazarene (34), Trinity
International (27), Iowa Wesleyan (17), and St. Francis (9).
St. Ambrose and Saint Xavier both advanced to the NAIA playoffs. While St.
Ambrose fell in double overtime in the first round, the Cougars of Saint Xavier
made it all the way to the semifinals before falling to Saint Francis (Ind.).
Along the way, the Cougars knocked off four-time defending national champion
Carroll, Mont. in the quarterfinals.
Midwest League
St. Ambrose 61 (5 first-place votes)
McKendree 59 (3 first-place votes)
Quincy 42
William Penn 39
Olivet Nazarene 34
Trinity International 27
Iowa Wesleyan 17
St. Francis (Ill.) 9
Mideast League
Saint Francis (Ind.) 63 (7)
Ohio Dominican 49 (1)
Saint Xavier 49
Walsh 46
Malone 31
Urbana 26
Taylor 15
Marian 9
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