Central Football Ranked Eighth in First Regional Poll

Wildcats Must Climb Two Spots in Two Weeks to Earn Playoff Berth

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Nov. 1) -- The Central Washington University football team is ranked eighth in the first official Division II regional poll of the 2010 season released Monday afternoon by the NCAA national office.

Central stands with a 6-3 overall record, a 5-1 mark in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, and a 5-2 record against NCAA Division II schools.

Abilene Christian is the top-ranked team in the region with an overall record of 9-0. Also among the top six this week are Central Missouri (9-1), Texas A&M-Kingsville (8-1), Northwest Missouri State (7-1), West Texas A&M (7-2), and Midwestern State (7-2). Missouri Western State (6-3) is just ahead of CWU in seventh despite three D-II losses, while fellow GNAC participant Humboldt State (7-2) and Washburn (5-4) round out the top ten. The top six teams from the region will be granted a spot in the 24-team NCAA Division II Football Championship.

The Wildcats will need a little help to extend their streak to four straight playoff appearances. Luckily, the two teams immediately ahead of Central in the regional poll have tough road games this weekend, as Midwestern State travels to fourth-ranked Texas A&M-Kingsville, while Missouri Western State goes on the road to play Nebraska-Omaha.

Since starting the season 1-2, with losses to NCAA Division II top-ranked Minnesota Duluth and Eastern Washington University, who is ranked sixth in the NCAA Division I-Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) national poll, the Wildcats have won five of six games. In their last three games, CWU has held opponents to an average of 143.3 yards of total offense and has posted two shutouts. 

In addition to a possible playoff berth, Central can at least clinch a share of the GNAC championship with wins in each of the final two games of the season. With identical 5-1 conference records, CWU and Humboldt State are currently tied atop the GNAC standings, with the two teams having split their season series at one win apiece. If both teams end regular season tied, then they will share the GNAC championship. 

The Wildcats play their final two games of the season in Ellensburg at Tomlinson Stadium. They first play Simon Fraser University this Saturday (Nov. 6) at 12:05 p.m., and then host Western Oregon University on Nov. 13 at noon. 

NCAA DIVISION II SUPER REGION FOUR POLL (November 1, 2010)

1. Abilene Christian 9-0 (9-0)

2. Central Missouri 9-1 (9-0)

3. Texas A&M-Kingsville 8-1 (8-1) 

4. Northwest Missouri State 7-1(7-1) 

5. West Texas A&M 7-2 (7-2) 

6. Midwestern State 7-2 (7-2)

7. Missouri Western State 6-3 (6-3) 

8. CENTRAL WASHINGTON 6-3 (5-2)

9. Humboldt State 7-2 (5-1)

10. Washburn 5-4 (5-4)