Bolivar, Mo. - For the second time in school history, the Southwest Baptist University football program has received votes for the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll, released earlier today. Last week the Bearcats received 2 votes, but have topped that this week, receiving 7 votes, and are currently 34th in polls.

SBU head football coach, Keith Allen, the winningest coach in SBU history, has engineered a significant turnaround in the SBU football program. His teams have recorded winning records in back to back seasons for the first time in 23 years, and with a victory over Central State this Saturday, SBU will have three consecutive winning season for the first time in the history of the program.

The Bearcats are lead by junior quarterback Dan Connors who currently averages 194.6 yards through the air with a 68.6 completion percentage, and 54.4 yards on the ground through the first 5 games of the season. Charles Johnson continues to lead SBU receivers, averaging a team high 68.8 receiving yards per game and four total touchdowns. The SBU defense is lead in tackling by Zach Moore with 51 total tackles, with a team high 4.5 for a loss. The Bearcats are lead in sacks by Deshawn Ross and Casey Smith.

SBU will take on Central State this Saturday at 12:00 to try and seal their third straight winning season. Below is the most current release of the 2011 AFCA Division II Coaches Poll.

1. North Alabama (28)
2. Delta St. (1)
3. Bloomsburg 
4. Nebraska-Kearney
5. Washburn 
6. Wayne St.
7. Pittsburg St. 
8. Northwest Missouri St.
9. Minnesota-Duluth
10. Abilene Christian 
11. Colorado St.-Pueblo
12. Valdosta St. 
13. Winston-Salem St. 
14. California (Pa.)
15. Midwestern St. (Texas)
16. St. Cloud State 
17. West Texas A&M
18. New Haven 
19. Humboldt St.
20. Kutztown 
21. West Virginia Wesleyan
22. West Alabama
23. Bemidji St. 
24. Wayne St. (Neb.)
25. Mars Hill

Dropped out: No. 12 Albany St.; No. 14 Shepherd; No. 19 Central Missouri; No. 22 Hillsdale; No. 25 Edinboro.

Others receiving votes: Albany St., 48; Central Missouri, 33; Morehouse, 24; Shepherd, 16; Ashland, 15; Colorado School of Mines, 15; Saginaw Valley St., 10; Merrimack, 9; Southwest Baptist, 7; Missouri Western St., 3; Slippery Rock, 3; Hillsdale, 1.