Press Release
Dec. 17, 2009
Northwest Number One in Final AFCA Poll
MARYVILLE, Mo.-Northwest Missouri State has received the top ranking from the American Football Coaches Association in the final Division II poll of the season. The Bearcats (14-1) beat Grand Valley State 30-23 last weekend to capture their third national championship and first since 1999.
It's the first number one ranking for the Bearcats since November of 2000. Northwest spent the entire 2000 campaign with the nation's top ranking after beating Carson-Newman in the 1999 title game.
Three of the Bearcats' four playoff opponents finished in the top 10. Grand Valley State and Central Washington were second and third, respectively. California (Pa.) finished seventh.
Washburn at No. 25 was the only other MIAA team to finish in the rankings, the lowest tally by the league since the final poll of 2004.
For more information, please contact:
Phillip Dowden, Media Relations/Sports Information
sid@nwmissouri.edu | 660.562.1118 | Fax: 660.562.1582
Northwest Athletics
Lamkin Activity Center | 800 University Drive | Maryville, MO 64468
