D3Football.com Top-25 Poll
AFCA Top-25 Poll
READING, Pa. - With the 2009 Division III Football season finally over, D3Football.com and the AFCA have released their final top-25 national polls Monday evening. Earning their highest rankings ever on both polls were the Lions who closed out ’09 ranked 9th on the AFCA poll and 15th on the D3Football.com poll.
Prior to Monday’s announcement the highest the Lions had ever been ranked on either poll was 18th, which was on the AFCA poll back in November of this year.
Albright’s record setting season was highlighted with a trip to the NCAA Division III Tournament Quarterfinal round and an 11-2 record. The Lions went onto to finish second in the Middle Atlantic Conference standings with a 6-1 mark.
Amongst the team’s many accomplishments was the double-overtime win over Lebanon Valley College to earn an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament. The 35-25 win over Alfred, and the 27-3 defeat of Delaware Valley College in the NCAA tournament were also program firsts and earned the Lions a date with the national runner-ups Mount Union College.
Another highlight to this year’s record setting team was the naming of senior quarterback
Tanner Kelly as the MAC Offensive Player of the Year, the ECAC Southeast Player of the Year, and the D3Football.Com East Region Offensive Player of the Year. In total the Lions earned 10 All-MAC selections, three ECAC Southeast All-Stars, three D3Football All-East Region selections, and one D3Football.com All-American in
Nate Romig.
The future looks promising for the Lions as they begin to prepare for the 2010 season, which is scheduled to begin on Saturday, September 4th in a 7 p.m. home game against Ursinus College. The 2010 Football schedule will officially be released in January.