VIKING FOOTBALL TEAM RANKED NO. 2 IN PRESEASON NAIA COACHES' POLL

 

 

VIKING FOOTBALL TEAM RANKED NO. 2 IN PRESEASON NAIA COACHES' POLL

 

Marshall, Mo. (August 13, 2013)- The Missouri Valley College football team will enter the 2013 as the No. 2 ranked team in the NAIA Football Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll that was released Monday.  The Vikings finished the 2012 season as the No. 3 ranked team in NAIA football with a 12-1 record and an appearance in the NAIA Football Championship Series Semifinals.  The No. 2 ranking is the highest the Vikings have ever been in the NAIA Football Coaches' Top 25 Poll, a ranking the team also achieved during the 2012 season.

 

MVC received one first place vote in the poll and is tied for the No. 2 spot with Marian (Ind.) University.  Marian defeated Missouri Valley in the FCS Semifinal game, and despite receiving the most first place votes in Monday's poll with eight, they remained tied with MVC for No. 2 overall in the poll.  Ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll is last year's National runner-up, Morningside (Iowa) College, which received the four remaining first place votes.

 

Four other Heart of America Athletic Conference teams join the Vikings in the preseason poll including MidAmerica Nazarene University at No. 10, Baker University at No. 14, Evangel University at No. 22 and Benedictine College at No. 24.  The Vikings will play all four of the currently ranked HAAC opponents at home this season.  The HAAC is tied with the Mid-State Football Association-Midwest for the most teams ranked from one conference.  Additionally, the season opening opponent for the Vikings, Ottawa (Kan.) University, is ranked No. 18 in the preseason poll.

 

MVC will open its 2013 season on the road against No. 18 Ottawa University on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 6 p.m.  The first home game for the Vikings will be Saturday, Sept. 21 when they host No. 10 MidAmerica Nazarene at 6 p.m.

 

For a complete list of the NAIA Football Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll, visit www.naia.org.