Golden Tigers ascend to #11 in latest AFCA poll
WACO, Texas (goldentigersports.com) — The fifth American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) poll was released Monday afternoon, and for the fifth consecutive week Tuskegee University moved up in the rankings following a victory.
Tuskegee (4-0) came away with a 38-7 victory over previously unbeaten Lane College on Saturday in the home opener at Cleve L. Abbott Memorial Alumni Stadium. The Golden Tigers used performances by senior quarterback Kevin Lacey and recevier Ladarell Pettway – both earning SIAC weekly honors – to move up a spot to 11th in this week’s rankings.
The Golden Tigers earned 424 votes this week, and are just 34 votes outside of the top 10 as they trail Midwestern State (Texas). Tuskegee is one of five schools from the South Region ranked in this week’s poll – joining West Georgia (third), Florida Tech (16th), North Alabama (18th) and UNC Pembroke (21st).
Tuskegee will face UNC Pembroke on Saturday in a match-up of ranked teams. It will be the first meeting with a ranked team this season for the Golden Tigers, who went 2-1 against ranked teams last season.
The top six stayed the same in this week’s poll with defending national champion Northwest Missouri State earning the unanimous number one selection, followed by Grand Valley State, West Georgia, Ashland, Shepherd and Texas A&M-Commerce. Rounding out the top are Henderson State, Indiana (Pa.) and Slippery Rock – all up one spot this week.
The next 10 consist of Tuskegee, Sioux Falls, Ferris State (down from seventh), Azusa Pacific, Assumption, Florida Tech, Colorado Mesa, North Alabama, Minnesota State and Harding.
A trio of teams unranked last week round out the top 25 in UNC Pembroke, Central Missouri (down from 13th), Emporia State, California (Pa.) and Augustana (down from 16th).
Tuskegee and UNC Pembroke will kick off 1 pm on Saturday, and the game can be seen on the Tuskegee Digital Network.
