Bearcats Move into AFCA Coaches Poll at #24

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University football team has moved into the NCAA Division III Coaches Poll for the first time this season in voting releases by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) on Monday, Oct. 14. Willamette, 4-0 overall and 1-0 in the Northwest Conference, is one of 18 undefeated teams in this week's poll.

After defeating NWC rival Whitworth University 50-21 on Friday, Oct. 11, the Bearcats are averaging 48.0 points per game, good for eighth in the nation, while gaining 486.2 total yards per contest.

Senior quarterback Josh Dean (Jr., Dana Point, CA/Dana Hills HS) has completed 78 of 122 passes (63.9%) for 1,142 yards and 12 touchdowns with season.

Derek Traeger (Jr., WR, Mount Angel, OR/John F. Kennedy HS) leads Willamette with 28 catches for 417 yards and five touchdowns. De'Zhon Grace (Fr., WR, Castro Valley, CA/Bishop O'Dowd HS) has caught 23 passes for 363 yards and two touchdowns.

The #1 team in this week's Coaches Poll was the University of Mount Union (Ohio), 5-0, with 39 of 42 first place votes and 1,047 points. The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, 5-0, followed at #2 and received the final three first place votes. UMHB attained 1,004 points in the poll.

Willamette archrival Linfield College, 4-0, was listed at #3. The Wildcats received 968 points. North Central College (Ill.), 5-0, was ranked #4 with 905 points, while Hobart College (N.Y.), 5-0, earned the #5 spot in the poll with 807 points. The top 17 teams in the poll remained in the same positions as last week.

The Northwest Conference was represented by three teams in the Coaches Poll, with #3 Linfield, #20 Pacific Lutheran University (4-1) and #24 Willamette receiving the honors. Pacific University, 5-0, received votes but was not listed in the Top 25.