Bearcats move up again in AFCA Poll

After winning its second straight game, Northwest Missouri State made another one spot jump in the AFCA Division II Poll Monday and is now ranked No. 11 in the country.

The Bearcats (3-1, 2-1), who beat Nebraska-Kearney 37-13 Saturday, remained the highest ranked team with one loss. They also supplanted former No. 9 Washburn as the third highest ranked team in the MIAA.

The Ichabods lost to Central Oklahoma 35-20 Saturday, dropping them 11 spots to No. 20.

As the only top 10 to lose, they dropped the furthest of anyone in the poll.

The MIAA still has four ranked teams, but now only No. 1 Pittsburg State and No. 7 Missouri Western are among the top 10.

The league could have as many as six teams in the poll next week with Central Missouri (3-1, 3-1) leading the others receiving votes category and Emporia State (4-0, 4-0) in third.

Central Missouri plays at Pittsburg State Saturday.

All of the top eight teams in the poll won last week, keeping those spots unchanged.

Pitt State (4-0) still collected 29 of 30 first-place votes, with the other going No. 5 Winston-Salem St. (N.C.). No. 6 California Pa. won the only battle of ranked teams last week over Indiana-Pa. which is now ranked No. 22.

Humboldt St. (Calif.) moved into Washburn's spot at No. 9. Bloomsburg (Pa.) stayed directly ahead of Northwest at No. 10.

No. 15 Minnesota St.-Mankato and No. 17 Henderson St. (Ark.) tied for the biggest jump in the poll, with each team going up seven spots.

There are three new entrants into the poll this week with Shippenburg (Pa.) at No. 21, Newberry (S.C.) at No. 24 and Sioux Falls (S.D.) at No. 25.

All three schools are off to 4-0 starts.