Huntingdon football ranked fifth in first NCAA South Region poll

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The NCAA released the first Division III football regional rankings of the season on Wednesday.

Huntingdon is tied for fifth with Washington and Lee in the South Region. Mary-Hardin Baylor is first in the region, followed by Wesley at second, Johns Hopkins at third and Waynesburg at fourth.

For Huntingdon, an independent team, the ranking helps keep the Hawks' playoff hopes alive. Three of the teams in front of Huntingdon (Mary-Hardin Baylor, Johns Hopkins and Waynesburg) would receive an automatic bid to the playoffs if they win out. Wesley College, also an independent, would likely get the Pool B bid.

That would leave Huntingdon as the first team from the South Region in contention for one of the seven Pool C bids. Nothing is guaranteed, but the Hawks need to do their part and win out to stay in the hunt.

Huntingdon plays NAIA Point University this week and closes the regular season on Nov. 10 at home against Adrian. Adrian is ranked eighth in the North Region.

To view the rankings, go to http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/football/d3/regional_rankings