Willamette Moves up to #21 Ranking in D3football.com Top 25

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

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University football team jumped up one spot to #21 in this week's D3football.com Top 25 after defeating Lewis & Clark College, 56-30, on Saturday, Oct. 19. With a 5-0 overall record and a 2-0 mark in the Northwest Conference, Willamette is one of 16 undefeated teams in the Top 25.

Retaining its hold on the #1 ranking was the University of Mount Union (Ohio), 6-0, which received 16 first place votes and 609 points.

Linfield College, 5-0, remained at #2 with six first place votes and 597 points. The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas), 6-0, was listed third with three first place votes and 591 points. North Central College (Ill.), 6-0, followed at #4 with 537 points. Bethel University (Minn.), 6-0, was #5 with 516 points.

A total of three NWC teams continued to hold rankings in the Top 25. Joining Willamette and Linfield was Pacific Lutheran University, 5-1, which held onto its #17 ranking after narrowly defeating previously undefeated Pacific University, 17-16, on Oct. 19.

The Top 25 included five teams with one loss and four teams with two losses. Teams with one loss were PLU, Wittenberg University (Ohio), Concordia-Moorhead (Minn.), St. John's University (Minn.) and St. John Fisher College (N.Y.). Teams with two losses were Franklin College (Ind.), University of St. Thomas (Minn.), Wesley College (Del.) and Salisbury University (Md.).

Pacific continued to receive points (21 this week) in the poll, but was not among the Top 25.

Willamette is scheduled to host Pacific Lutheran this Saturday, Oct. 26 at McCulloch Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. (PDT).

The D3football.com Top 25 is voted on by a panel of 25 coaches, sports information directors and media members from throughout the country.