WACO, TEXAS (Oct. 12, 2015). –The University of Sioux Falls Football Team (6-0), which rolled up 661 yards in total offense in a 51-30 win over Winona State Saturday, remained #5 in the AFCA Division II Coaches Top-25 Poll which was released Monday.
USF, directed by sixth-year USF head coach Jed Stugart (50-13), is among two NSIC teams ranked among the top five teams in the country in the AFCA's week six regular season poll. After a sixth straight win this season and ninth consecutive victory overall, the Cougars increased their vote total from 667 to 673, a jump of six points. It is the second straight week that USF has been ranked in the top-5 nationally.
The AFCA's top five stayed the same this week with Minnesota State, Mankato (6-0) holding the #1 spot as they gathered 28-of-32 first place votes and 795 points while West Georgia (6-0) was second with 763 points and four first place votes. At #3 was Northwest Missouri State (6-0) with 737 points, Ferris State (Mich., 5-0) ranked #4 with 703 points and Sioux Falls at #5.
Previously #6 North Alabama lost to Western Oregon (24-22) and fell to #17. Six other teams ranked in the top-25 lost with Quachita Baptist (Ark.), Valdosta State (Ga.), Harding (Ark.) and Wingate (N.C.) all falling out of the top-25.
Harlon Hill candidate Luke Papilion, who was named the NSIC Offensive Player of the Week on Monday, set a USF single game total offense mark with 506 yards in a 51-30 win over Winona State on Saturday night on homecoming at Bob Young FIeld. Papilion completed 26-of-41 passes for a career-best 413 yards and had six combined TDs. He tied a career-best with five passing TDs and added 93 yards rushing and a TD. As a result, USF has won 18-of-19 games, including 17 by double digit margins. .
USF, which will travel to Southwest Minnesota State (5-1) for a 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17,, has been ranked in every AFCA poll for 17 consecutive weeks dating to Sept. 22 last year (#24). The Cougars were ranked #17 in the AFCA's preseason poll but has catapulted 12 spots to #5, its highest ranking ever in the NCAA DII era (since 2011).
AFCA DII Coaches Poll – Week 6
1. Minnesota State-Mankato (28), 6-0, 795
2. West Georgia (4), 6-0, 763
3. Northwest Missouri State, 6-0, 737
4. Ferris State (Mich.), 5-0, 703
5. Sioux Falls, 6-0, 673
6. Colorado State, Pueblo, 5-1, 599
7. Colorado School of Mines, 6-0, 596
8. Ashland (Ohio), 6-0, 574
9. Shepherd (W. Va.), 5-0, 518
10. Humboldt State (Calif.) 5-0, 496
11. Midwestern State (Texas), 6-0, 464
12. Michigan Tech, 5-0, 457
13. Emporia State (Kan.), 6-0, 407
14. Texas A&M Commerce, 5-1, 367
15. Delta State (Miss.), 5-1, 363
16. Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.), 5-1, 323
17. North Alabama, 4-1, 306
18. Grand Valley State (Mich.), 5-1, 256
19. Henderson State (Ark.), 5-1, 134
20. Slippery Rock (Pa.), 5-1, 131
21. Minnesota-Duluth, 4-2, 123
22. Pittsburg State (Kan.), 4-2, 100
23. Tuskegee (Ala.), 5-1, 92
24. Arkansas Tech, 5-1, 73
25. Angelo State (Texas), 4-2, 63
Dropped Out: Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) (20), Valdosta St. (Ga.) (21), Harding (Ark.) (22), Wingate (N.C.) (23)
Others Receiving Votes: Colorado Mesa, 59; Valdosta St. (Ga.), 40; Wingate (N.C.), 40; North Carolina-Pembroke, 37; Charleston (W.Va.), 30; Indianapolis (Ind.), 21; Virginia Union, 16; Central Missouri, 13; Bowie St. (Md.), 10; Clarion (Pa.), 6; Concord (W.Va.), 4; Harding (Ark.), 4; Indiana (Pa.), 2; Southwest Minnesota St., 2; Assumption (Mass.), 1; East Central (Okla.), 1; Missouri Western St., 1.
