WALTHAM, Mass. -- Bentley University will enter Saturday's regular season finale at Stonehill College ranked fourth in the NCAA Division II Super Region One and 24th in the American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches' Poll.
The 8-1 Falcons, despite a bye week, climbed one notch in each after being listed number five in the region and number 25 in Division II last Monday.
The regional rankings are used to determine the seedings for the upcoming NCAA Division II playoffs, with the top two teams in each region receiving a first round bye and the next two hosting first-round games. The NCAA tournament field will be announced Sunday afternoon between 3:00-3:30 pm on ESPNEWS.
West Liberty (9-1) remained number one in the region and 8-2 California (Pa.) climbed from fourth to second after a 28-7 victory over Mercyhurst. Shippensburg (8-2) slipped one to third after a 31-10 victory over winless Cheyney. Following number four Bentley, and completing the top six, are Bloomsburg (8-2) and East Stroudsburg (7-3).
One of the two teams directly in front of the Falcons will pick up their third loss on Saturday as California and Shippensburg play each other.
In the AFCA national poll, Bentley saw its point total climb from 49 to 73 points this week, and is just three points back of number 23 Shippensburg.
Bentley also climbed one notch in the ECAC Lambert Meadowland Division II poll presented by FieldTurf, moving from fourth to third behind California and Shippensburg.
Coach Thom Boerman's team clinched a tie for the Northeast-10 Championship Friday night when Southern Connecticut fell to Merrimack, and can wrap up the title outright with a win at Stonehill.
2009 NCAA DIV. II SUPER REGION ONE RANKINGS
| Overall | Div. II |
1. West Liberty | 9-1 | 8-1 |
2. California, Pa. | 8-2 | 8-2 |
3. Shippensburg | 8-2 | 8-2 |
4. Bentley | 8-1 | 7-1 |
5. Bloomsburg | 8-2 | 8-2 |
6. East Stroudsburg | 8-2 | 8-2 |
7. Edinboro | 7-3 | 7-3 |
8. Charleston, W.V. | 8-2 | 8-2 |
9. Clarion | 7-3 | 7-3 |
10. Fayetteville State | 7-3 | 7-3 |
AFCA DIVISION II COACHES POLL
Team (1st place votes) | Record | Points | Last Week |
1. North Alabama (25) | 10-0 | 625 | 1 |
2. Central Washington | 10-0 | 596 | 2 |
3. Northwest Missouri St. | 9-1 | 569 | 3 |
4. Minnesota State-Mankato | 10-0 | 546 | 4 |
5. Grand Valley State (Mich.) | 9-1 | 526 | 5 |
6. Minnesota-Duluth | 9-1 | 511 | 6 |
7. Tarleton State (Texas) | 9-1 | 475 | 7 |
8. Nebraska-Kearney | 9-1 | 449 | 8 |
9. Midwestern State (Texas) | 8-2 | 364 | 13 |
10. North Carolina-Pembroke | 8-1 | 348 | 11 |
11. West Liberty (W.V.) | 9-1 | 342 | 12 |
12. Abilene Christian (Texas) | 8-2 | 335 | 15 |
13. Albany State (Ga.) | 8-1 | 329 | 14 |
14. Carson-Newman (Tenn.) | 8-2 | 280 | 18 |
15. Tuskegee (Ala.) | 7-2 | 253 | 16 |
16. Central Missouri | 8-2 | 240 | 19 |
17. Texas A&M - Kingsville | 8-2 | 226 | 9 |
18. California (Pa.) | 8-2 | 201 | 20 |
19. Bloomsburg (Pa.) | 8-2 | 190 | 10 |
20. Hillsdale (Mich.) | 8-2 | 171 | 22 |
21. Missouri Western State | 8-2 | 154 | 23 |
22. Saginaw Valley State (Mich.) | 8-2 | 125 | 24 |
23. Shippensburg (Pa.) | 8-2 | 76 | NR |
24. Bentley | 8-1 | 73 | 25 |
25. Charlestown (W.V.) | 8-2 | 35 | 17 |
ECAC LAMBERT MEADOWLANDS DIV. II FOOTBALL POLL
| Record | Points |
1. California, Pa. | 8-2 | 136 |
2. Shippensburg | 8-2 | 124 |
3. Bentley | 8-1 | 110 |
4. Clarion | 7-3 | 92 |
5. Bloomsburg | 8-2 | 90 |
6. East Stroudsburg | 7-3 | 54 |
6. West Chester | 6-4 | 54 |
8. Edinboro | 7-3 | 52 |
9. Southern Connecticut | 5-4 | 32 |
10. Merrimack | 6-3 | 18 |
