Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Warriors top MAC preseason football poll

WOLnews File Photo
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Three Preseason All-Americans and seven returning all-conference players have helped the Lycoming College football team top the 2013 Middle Atlantic Conference Preseason Football Coaches’ Poll with 76 points.

The Warriors are picked ahead of two MAC teams that are listed in the D3football.com 2013 preseason poll. Widener is ranked 20th while Delaware Valley and Lycoming are receiving votes with 37 and 18, respectively.

 Widener is predicted to finish second according to the coaches’ poll with 68 points, edging out Delaware Valley, which is third with 67. Albright follows with 65 points and Lebanon Valley rounds out the top half of the poll at 48. Wilkes is sixth with 38 points, edging out Stevenson, which has 36 points. FDU-Florham and King’s are tied for eighth while Misericordia rounds out the poll.

The Warriors are coming off an 8-2 campaign in 2012, finishing 8-1 and in second place in the MAC. The team includes three players who have earned mention on Preseason All-American lists in senior linebacker Kabongo Bukasa (Sharon Hill, Pa./Academy Park), who was the 2012 MAC Defensive Player of the Year, senior defensive lineman Dwight Hentz (Halifax, Pa./Halifax Area) and junior defensive back Tanner Troutman (Hegins, Pa./Tri-Valley). Three-time all-conference selection Zack Czap (Philipsburg, Pa./Philipsburg-Osceola) was a 2011 Preseason All-American as a kicker.

This is the first time the Warriors topped the preseason poll since 2004, when the team was coming off a 9-2 record and an appearance in the NCAA quarterfinals in 2003. The Warriors posted 96 points in that poll and were placed first or second on all 11 ballots.

The Warriors begin their 2013 campaign at Brockport on Saturday, Sept. 7, at1 p.m.

2013 MAC Preseason Football Coaches’ Poll
1. Lycoming - 76
2. Widener - 68
3. Delaware Valley - 67
4. Albright - 65
5. Lebanon Valley - 48
6. Wilkes - 38
7. Stevenson - 36
8. Fairleigh Dickinson-Florham - 20
9. King's - 20
10. Misericordia - 12