By Staff, Baptist Message
PINEVILLE – Louisiana College appears in the D3football.com top 25 for the first time. The Wildcats are currently ranked No. 19 in the poll released Sept. 26 by the consummate web site for NCAA Division III football.[img_assist|nid=7636|title=Darnell Williams|desc=Louisiana College senior wide receiver Darnell Williams works for extra yards in LC’s 52-17 win over No. 23 Mississippi College.|link=none|align=right|width=640|height=424]
Colleges and universities that compete in DIII athletics participate in the NCAA subdivision, which is defined by being non-scholarship. Players competing at the DIII level do not receive athletic scholarships.
LC broke in the D3football.com poll by virtue of its 3-0 start that includes convincing wins over Millsaps College and conference rival Mississippi College. The Wildcats beat Millsaps in the second game of the season 56-0 and defeated MC 52-17 on Sept. 24.
The Wildcats opened the season with a win over Belhaven University of Jackson, Miss. Belhaven competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and, as such, is able to offer athletic scholarships. LC outscored Belhaven 32-24 in the drenching rain of Tropical Storm Lee.
LC’s number 19 ranking by D3football.com, which bills itself as the “No. 1 source for Division III football information,” is significant when you understand that 239 football teams compete in DIII football.
The Wildcats ranking will be put to test on Saturday, Oct. 1, when LC travels to Belton, Texas, to take on conference foe University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. UMHB is the reigning champion of the American Southwest Conference and has been the dominant force in the conference for the last decade. UMHB is currently ranked No. 4 in the D3football.com poll.
The D3football.com Top 25 is voted on by a panel of 25 coaches, sports information directors and media members from across the nation.
Since re-starting football in 2000, LC has a victory over every team in the nine-member ASC except UMHB. A win in Texas on Saturday would not only be a signature win for the Wildcats, it would draw the attention of the entire DIII world.
LC’s next home game is Oct. 8 against conference rival East Texas Baptist University. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.