GVSU Ranked Second in the Final 2009 AFCA Division II Top 25 Poll
Release courtesy of Vince Thompson, AFCA Coordinator of Publications
Click here for release on AFCA web site
WACO, TEX. - Northwest Missouri State broke out to a 21-0 lead in the NCAA Division II national title game and held on for a 30-23 win over Grand Valley State (Mich.) to claim the school's third national championship and the top spot in the AFCA Division II Coaches' Poll. It is the first time the Bearcats have claimed the season ending No. 1 spot in the Coaches' Poll after coming in No. 2 for the last four years. The AFCA began the Division II Coaches' Poll in 2000.
Grand Valley State (Mich.), Central Washington, Carson-Newman (Tenn.) and Minnesota-Duluth round out the Top 5. Nebraska-Kearney made the biggest move in the poll this year, finishing the season ranked No. 8 after not appearing in the rankings until October 5. Edinboro (Pa.) jumped back into the rankings after a two-week layoff at No. 24 while West Alabama appears in the final poll at No. 21. This is the program's first-ever appearance in the AFCA Division II Coaches' Poll.
2009 American Football
Coaches Association Division II Coaches' Poll
December 14, 2009
| Rank | School (1st votes) | Rec. | Pts. | Prev. | Postseason Results | Head Coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Northwest Missouri St. (25) | 14-1 | 625 | 2 | D. No. 3 Grand Valley St. (Mich.), 30-23, in championship | Mel Tjeerdsma |
| 2. | Grand Valley St. (Mich.) | 13-2 | 600 | 3 | Lost to No. 2 Northwest Missouri St., 30-23, in championship | Chuck Martin |
| 3. | Central Washington | 12-1 | 558 | 1 | Lost to No. 2 Northwest Missouri St., 21-20, in quarterfinals | Blaine Bennett |
| 4. | Carson-Newman (Tenn.) | 11-3 | 535 | 10 | Lost to No. 3 Grand Valley St. (Mich.), 41-27, in semifinals | Ken Sparks |
| 5. | Minnesota-Duluth | 11-2 | 502 | 4 | Lost to No. 3 Grand Valley St. (Mich.), 24-10, in quarterfinals | Bob Nielson |
| 6. | North Alabama | 11-2 | 492 | 5 | Lost to No. 10 Carson-Newman (Tenn.), 24-21, in quarterfinals | Terry Bowden |
| 7. | California (Pa.) | 11-4 | 426 | 22 | Lost to No. 2 Northwest Missouri St., 56-31, in semifinals | John Luckhardt |
| 8. | Nebraska-Kearney | 11-2 | 413 | 6 | Lost to No. 4 Minnesota-Duluth, 42-7, in second round | Darrell Morris |
| 9. | West Liberty (W.Va.) | 11-2 | 377 | 9 | Lost to No. 22 California (Pa.), 57-35, in quarterfinals | Roger Waialae |
| 10. | Tarleton St. (Texas) | 10-3 | 362 | 12 | Lost to No. 1 Central Washington, 27-6, in second round | Sam McElroy |
| 11. | Hillsdale (Mich.) | 10-3 | 352 | 15 | Lost to No. 3 Grand Valley St. (Mich.), 44-27, in second round | Keith Otterbein |
| 12. | Minnesota St.-Mankato | 10-2 | 310 | 8 | Lost to No. 15 Hillsdale (Mich.), 27-24 OT, in first round | Todd Hoffner |
| 13. | Abilene Christian (Texas) | 9-4 | 307 | 18 | Lost to No. 2 Northwest Missouri St., 35-10, in second round | Chris Thomsen |
| 14. | Midwestern St. (Texas) | 9-3 | 289 | 7 | Lost to No. 18 Abilene Christian (Tex.), 24-21, in first round | Bill Maskill |
| 15. | Shippensburg (Pa.) | 9-3 | 272 | 17 | Lost to No. 22 California (Pa.), 26-21, in second round | Rocky Rees |
| 16. | Texas A&M-Kingsville | 9-3 | 253 | 13 | Lost to No. 12 Tarleton St. (Texas), 57-56 2OT, in first round | Bo Atterberry |
| 17. | Tuskegee (Ala.) | 10-2 | 244 | 14 | D. Elizabeth City St. (N.C.), 21-7, in Pioneer Bowl | Willie Slater |
| 18. | Arkansas Tech | 9-3 | 235 | 21 | Lost to No. 5 North Alabama, 41-28, in second round | Steve Mullins |
| 19. | Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.) | 9-3 | 206 | 16 | Lost to No. 6 Nebraska-Kearney, 35-20, in first round | Jim Collins |
| 20. | North Carolina-Pembroke | 9-2 | 166 | 11 | Lost to No. 21 Arkansas Tech, 41-13, in first round | Pete Shinnick |
| 21. | West Alabama | 8-5 | 113 | NR | Lost to No. 10 Carson-Newman (Tenn.), 59-41, in second round | Bobby Wallace |
| 22. | Albany St. (Ga.) | 8-3 | 106 | 20 | Lost to West Alabama, 24-22, in first round | Mike White |
| 23. | Charleston (W.Va.) | 9-2 | 82 | 19 | DNQ Playoffs | Tony DeMeo |
| 24. | Edinboro (Pa.) | 9-4 | 77 | NR | Lost to No. 9 West Liberty (W.Va.), 84-63, in second round | Scott Browning |
| 25. | Washburn (Kan.) | 8-3 | 43 | 24 | DNQ Playoffs | Craig Schurig |
Dropped Out: Central Missouri (23), Bloomsburg
(Pa.) (25).
Others Receiving Votes: West Texas A&M, 39;
Missouri Western St., 36; Central Missouri, 35; Bloomsburg (Pa.),
14; Colorado School of Mines, 10; Bentley (Mass.), 9; Fayetteville
St. (N.C.), 9; Wayne St. (Neb.), 8; Wingate (N.C.), 8; East
Stroudsburg (Pa.), 5; Winona St. (Minn.), 4; Glenville St. (W.Va.),
1; Nebraska-Omaha, 1; Seton Hill (Pa.), 1.
For more information on the AFCA and its programs, log on to the
AFCA's website at www.afca.com.
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