Hawks ranked 8th in first NCAA South Region poll

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

Huntingdon (7-1) is No. 8 in the South Region. It is the highest regional ranking for the Hawks since being ranked fifth in 2012.

Leading the South Region at No. 1 is Hardin-Simmons (8-0), followed by Johns Hopkins (8-0) at No. 2, Mary Hardin-Baylor (7-1) at No. 3, Thomas More (9-0) at No. 4, Washington & Lee (8-0) and Moravian (7-1) tied for No. 5 and Guilford (7-1) at No. 7.

Five of the seven teams ranked in front of Huntingdon are ranked nationally by the American Football Coaches Association and D3football.com.

The Hawks are one of two USA South Athletic Conference teams ranked in the regional poll. Maryville (7-1) is ranked 10th. Huntingdon (5-0 in the USA South) and Maryville (4-1 USA South) will meet Saturday in a battle for first in the conference.

Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Samford Stadium. 

To view all of the regional rankings, click here.