Kansas City, Mo.
-- The Missouri Southern football
team has been picked to finish eighth in both the coaches and media
MIAA Preseason Polls as announced by the league office today at the
MIAA's annual Media Day at the Downtown Marriott in Kansas
City.
Defending national champion Northwest Missouri was the
overwhelming favorite in both polls to retain their MIAA title. The
coaches favored the league to finish with Nebraska-Omaha second,
followed by Washburn, Missouri Western, Central Missouri, Pittsburg
State, Fort Hays, Missouri Southern, Emporia State and
Truman.
The media had the Northwest and the bottom six the same as the
coaches, but differed in-between. Washburn was picked to finish
second, followed by Missouri Western, Nebraska-Omaha, Central
Missouri, Pittsburg State, Fort Hays, Southern, Emporia State and
Truman.
The Lions finished 3-7 last season and were 3-6 in the MIAA with
wins over Emporia State and Truman before a thrilling 35-34 upset
win at then 12th ranked Missouri Western on October 24.
Southern returns three All-MIAA defenders from last season in
senior's Dusty Bratzler and Justin Cowper, as well as sophomore
Antwoine Brown. The trio were the top three tacklers on the Lions
in 2009. Also returning on the defense are 2008 All-MIAA selections
in senior Skyler Vandiver and junior Corderial Collier. Both sat
out 2009 with injuries.
Collin Howard returns for his junior season at quarterback for
the Lions and will have three members of his starting offensive
lineman (Sidney Spear, Abdul Dione and Ian Saxton) as well as his
starting fullback (Anthon Aiono) and his starting tight end (Scott Clipp) from a year ago. The Lions' leading receiver, Landon Zerkel,
returns for his sophomore season and looks poised for an All-MIAA
season. The Webb City native led the Lions with 641 yards last year
on 44 receptions for 14.6 per catch.
Southern will open the season at home on Thursday, August 26
with a 6 pm kickoff against Minnesota-Moorhead. The Lions then host
future MIAA member Lincoln on September 4 for the Hall of Fame game
before opening MIAA play with three-straight games on the
road.
Below is the full MIAA Coaches and Media Polls with
points:
|
2010 MIAA Coaches Poll
|
2010 MIAA Media Poll
|
|
1. Northwest Missouri (9-1st place) - 81 pts.
|
1. Northwest Missouri (33 1st place) - 330 pts
|
|
2. Nebraska-Omaha - 65 pts
|
2. Washburn - 259 pts
|
|
3. Washburn (1-1st place) - 62 pts
|
3. Missouri Western - 258 pts
|
|
4. Missouri Western - 61 pts
|
4. Nebraska-Omaha - 236 pts
|
|
5. Central Missouri - 49 pts
|
5. Central Missouri - 210 pts
|
|
6. Pittsburg State - 48 pts
|
6. Pittsburg State - 159 pts
|
|
7. Fort Hays State - 29 pts
|
7. Fort Hays State - 148 pts
|
|
8. Missouri Southern - 26 pts
|
8. Missouri Southern - 94 pts
|
|
9. Emporia State - 16 pts
|
9. Emporia State - 72 pts
|
|
10. Truman - 13 pts
|
10. Truman - 49 pts
|
