Huntingdon tied for No. 1 in USA South preseason football poll

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Huntingdon College football team enters the 2017 season as one of the preseason favorites in the USA South Athletic Conference.

With the release of the USA South coaches' poll on Wednesday afternoon, the Hawks are tied for first in the conference preseason poll. This is the third straight season Huntingdon has been ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll.

"Preseason polls are based on past results more than anything and it's nice to be viewed by our peers as one of the best teams in the league and one of the teams to beat," Huntingdon head coach Mike Turk said. "But, this team hasn't proven anything yet. We have a lot of work to do to get to where we want to be."

Huntingdon, the two-time defending conference champion is tied for first with Maryville College. The Hawks received four first-place votes and totaled 45 points. The Scots picked up three first-place votes and 45 points.

Behind the frontrunners, North Carolina Wesleyan is third with 37 points and Ferrum is fourth with one first-place vote and 32 points. Rounding out the preseason poll are No. 5 Averett University (25 points), No. 6 LaGrange College (17 points), No. 7 Methodist University (16 points) and No. 8 Greensboro College (7 points).

Huntingdon opens the season at home on Sept. 2 against Guilford College.

2017 USA South Preseason Coaches' Poll

T1. Huntingdon (4 first-place votes), 45 points

T1. Maryville (3), 45 points

3. N.C. Wesleyan, 37 points.

4. Ferrum (1), 32 points

5. Averett, 25 points

6. LaGrange, 17 points

7. Methodist, 16 points

8. Greensboro, 7 points