Crusaders Crack the National Polls

SELINSGROVE, Pa. - The Susquehanna University football team will take the field on Saturday against Wilkes University ranked 21st in the latest Columbus Multimedia Division III football rankings and 24th in the nation according to Don Hansen's Football Gazette while continuing its ascent in the American Football Coaches Association poll.

The Crusaders (3-0 overall) climbed from 27th to 24th in the Football Gazette rankings and moved from 41st to 32nd place in the AFCA coaches' survey. Susquehanna was unranked in last week's Columbus Multimedia rankings.

"It's always an honor to be recognized among the top teams in the nation," said 11th-year head coach Steve Briggs. "It reflects positively upon the players, the program and the university. However, as a coaching staff it is important to take the schedule one game at a time and concern ourselves with winning football games."

Susquehanna defeated Dickinson 24-13 last Saturday in the first game at Nicholas A. Lopardo Stadium behind a pair of 5-yard touchdown runs by senior Rashonn Drayton in the second half and a career-high 306 yards passing from sophomore Mike Bowman. Wilkes is also 3-0 after downing Juniata 17-10 on Saturday thanks to 222 yards through the air from Colonel sophomore Jeff Marshman.

Kickoff at Lopardo Stadium is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.