The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football team is ranked third in the country in the two major NCAA Division III Top 25 Polls this week. The Cru (3-0) is coming off a 66-27 victory over then 3rd-ranked Linfield College last Saturday. It was the first win over the Wildcats in five tries for UMHB.
The Cru is ranked third in the country in the inaugural American Football Coaches Association Top 25 Poll of the 2016 season. The Cru received two first-place votes and 967 total points from the AFCA. Defending national champion Mount Union is #1 in the poll with 37 first-place votes and 1,045 total points. Wisconsin-Whitewater is second with three first-place votes and 986 points. Hardin-Simmons is ranked 12th in the nation with 595 total points and East Texas Baptist is ranked 22nd nationally with 161 points. The Cowboys and Tigers are both on the UMHB schedule for later this season.
“Last Saturday was just a great day,” Cru head coach Pete Fredenburg said. “We were able to get a win over a very good football team and did it in front of a great crowd in a great atmosphere. Now we need to just keep building on this momentum and continue to improve as a football team.”
UMHB climbed two spots to #3 in the country in the D3football.com Top 25 Poll. The Cru totaled 578 points and grabbed three first-place votes in that poll. Mount Union is #1 with 19 first-place votes and 614 total points. Wisconsin-Whitewater is ranked second with two first-place votes and 587 total points. Hardin-Simmons is ranked 12th in the country and ETBU is ranked 19th in the D3football.com poll.
UMHB will have an open week this Saturday. The Cru will return to action with a 1:00 PM home game against McMurry University on October 1st at Crusader Stadium. That game will be the American Southwest Conference opener for both teams.
