Hawks ranked No. 1 in USA South preseason football poll

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Huntingdon College football team will enter the 2016 season as the conference favorite for a second straight season.

Huntingdon, the defending USA South Athletic Conference champion, was named the preseason favorite with the release of the coaches' poll on Monday during the USA South Media Day at Huntingdon College.

Huntingdon received seven first-place votes and a total of 49 points. Maryville College was ranked second with one first-place vote and 43 points. North Carolina Wesleyan was third with 36 points.

"The preseason ranking is exciting, but what really matters is how we handle that responsibility and how we work and prepare to prove we are deserving of it," Huntingdon football coach Mike Turk said. "This ranking says a lot about what we did last year, but every team has a different identity. This year's team will have to form its own identity. It will be up to these players to decide where that goes.

"Every year we have two goals, to win the conference championship and win the sportsmanship award. Last year we were able to accomplish both of those and that will be the goal going forward this year."

Huntingdon put together an impressive season in 2015. In addition to winning their first conference title with a 7-0 conference record, the Hawks recorded their first 10-win season with a 10-2 record, advanced to the NCAA playoffs for the second time and won their first playoff game.

Rounding out the preseason poll are No. 4 LaGrange College (26 points), No. 5 Methodist (24 points), No. 6 Averett University (22 points), No. 7 Ferrum College (15 points) and No. 8 Greensboro College (9 points).

Huntingdon, which is ranked 24th in the D3football.com national preseason poll, opens the season on Sept. 3 at Louisiana College.

2016 USA South Preseason Coaches' Poll

1. Huntingdon (7 first-place votes), 49 points

2. Maryville (1), 43 points

3. N.C. Wesleyan, 36 points.

4. LaGrange, 26 points

5. Methodist, 24 points

6. Averett, 22 points

7. Ferrum, 15 points

8. Greensboro, 9 points