KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Evangel University football team was picked to finish fourth in the South Division Heart Preseason Coaches’ Poll released by the conference office Monday.
The Crusaders tied with 35 points as they were selected to finish tied for fourth with Central Methodist. Defending league champion Baker was tabbed to repeat as South Division Champion with five first place votes.
MidAmerica Nazarene received one first place vote and was picked second followed by Missouri Valley who received 43 points. Avila rounds out the South Division in sixth after receiving 32 points.
In its first season in the conference, Grand View went unbeaten in North Division play, and received five of six first place votes before starting its quest to defend its title. The Vikings earned the maximum of 50 points (teams do not vote for themselves), while William Penn claimed the remaining first place tally. The Statesmen tied with Benedictine for second place with 43 points, while Peru State, Graceland and Culver-Stockton completed the North Division predictions.
The 2016 season kicks off on Saturday, August 27 as the Crusaders host Benedictine in Ozark, Missouri at Tiger Stadium. It marks the first season Evangel football will be at Tiger Stadium with six homes in 2016 including a nationally televised game on November 5 against Avila on ESPN3. The game is part of a 12-game schedule of contests to be broadcast on ESPN3 and distributed via Mediacom throughout Iowa, Illinois, Kansas and Missouri.
Northern Division Southern Division
Team (1st Place Votes) Points Team (1st Place Votes) Points
1. Grand View (5) 50 1. Baker (5) 50
T2. Benedictine 43 2. MidAmerica Nazarene (1) 45
T2. William Penn (1) 43 3. Missouri Valley 43
4. Peru State 39 T4. Evangel 35
5. Graceland 35 T4. Central Methodist 35
6. Culver-Stockton 30 6. Avila 32
