SIOUX FALLS, S.D. –The University of Sioux Falls Football Team (2-0), which rolled up 604 total yards in a 42-21 win over Minnesota State Moorhead on Sept. 10, has moved up three spots to #15 in the 2016 D2Football.com Poll, which was released today.
USF, directed by seventh-year head coach
Jed Stugart (55-16), has been ranked for 25 consecutive weeks in the D2Football.com Poll. Sioux Falls has won 22 of its last 26 game and reached the NCAA DII playoffs for the first time a year ago. On Monday, USF was also ranked #15 in the AFCA Coaches Poll.
USF, with nine or more wins in three of its four years at NCAA DII, has been ranked in every D2Football.com poll since September 2014. The Cougars, which have won 175 games since the turn of the Century (16 years), will visit Minot State (1-1) on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 3 p.m.
Defending national champion Northwest Missouri State (1-0) was #1 and followed by West Georgia. The NSIC had four teams ranked, with USF the highest at #15 followed by Augustana at #17, Minnesota State at #19 and UMD at #23.
In the win over MSUM Saturday, USF improved to 55-5 at Bob Young Field as Harlon Hill candidate
Luke Papilion, who ranks third nationally in points responsible for with 60, had six combined TDs and 306 yards in total offense. He was one of two USF players rushing for over 100 yards in the same game.
USF, which ranks second in NCAA DII in total offense (594.6 ypg) and fourth in rushing (393.4 ypg), has had two 100-yard rushers in the same game for the second straight week. Junior
Max Mickey, who leads NCAA DII in rushing yards per carry at 12.96 and ranks second nationally in yards per game at 181.5 yards per game, had 15 carries for 185 yards against MSUM as he recorded his sixth career 100-yard rushing game.
Papilion, who moved up to third all-time at USF in passing yards (7, 115) and passing TDs (66), had 160 yards passing and two TDs, had 16 carries for 149 yards and four TDs, including a 55-yard gallop. Senior wide out
Josh Angulo added four catches for 71 yards and two TDs.
D2Football.com Poll – Regular Season #2
1. Northwest Missouri State, 2-0
2. West Georgia, 2-0
3. Grand Valley State (Mich.), 2-0
4. Ashland (Ohio), 2-0
5. Shepherd (W. Va.), 2-0
6. Central Missouri, 2-0
7. Ferris State (Mich.), 2-0
8. Colorado Mines, 2-0
9. North Alabama, 0-1
10. Midwestern State (Texas), 1-0
11. Texas A&M Commerce, 1-0
12. Henderson State (Ark.), 2-0
13. IUP, 1-0
14. Slippery Rock (Pa.), 2-0
15. Sioux Falls, 2-0
16. Tuskegee (Ala.), 2-0
17. Augustana (S.D.), 2-0
18. Valdosta State, 1-0
19. Minnesota State, 1-1
20. Emporia State, 1-1
21. Azusa Pacific, 2-0
22. Humboldt State (Calif.), 1-1
23. Minnesota-Duluth, 1-1
24. Assumption (Mass.), 2-0
25. Florida Tech, 2-0
