DATE: November 14, 2006
Beavers climb to No. 23 in both AFCA, d2football.com national rankings

BEMIDJI, Minn. - Bemidji State’s Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference-securing victory over Upper Iowa in the NSIC Metrodome Classic, Nov. 10, helped the Beavers climb to a school-record No. 23 in both major national polls this week. BSU climbed one spot in the American Football Coaches Association top 25 and jumped two spots in the d2football.com poll.

The Beavers received 110 points in the Nov. 14 AFCA poll, checking in at No. 23, 12 points ahead of No. 24 Indiana (Pa.) and just 10 points shy of No. 22 Abilene (Texas) Christian.

The No. 23 ranking is BSU’s highest-ever in the AFCA poll, surpassing the previous high of No. 24, set last week in BSU’s AFCA poll debut. The Nov. 13 ranking is the 14th AFCA poll all-time to feature BSU, with last week’s national ranking and 12 appearances in the “others receiving votes” category. BSU has appeared in the AFCA poll six times this season, including each of the last four polls.

The AFCA Coaches Poll is determined weekly by a board of 28 head coaches at Division II football programs across the nation. The 2006 Division II Board of Coaches includes NSIC field generals Chris Boden of Northern State and Tom Sawyer of Winona State.

The Beavers also checked in at No. 23 on the d2football.com Top 25 poll, making their second consecutive appearance in that publication’s rankings. The 2006 D2Football.com Top 25 National Rankings are chosen by members of the D2Football.com Media Voting Panel. D2Football.com releases its national poll every Tuesday during the season.

BSU was ranked No. 25 by d2football.com last week.

Bemidji State also retained its No. 8 position in the final NCAA Division II Northwest Regional Rankings of the regular season.

BSU has been the No. 8-ranked team in the Northwest Region each of the last three weeks after cracking the list for the first time at No. 10 on Oct. 21. BSU’s No. 8 regional ranking is its highest ever. BSU has been ranked in each of the last three regional polls after appearing in the poll just twice previously - in 2004 and in the final 2000 poll - since elevating its program to NCAA Division II in 1995.

Bemidji State (9-2 / 8-0 NSIC) clinched its first-ever outright NSIC championship and the fifth conference title in school history with the win over Upper Iowa, earning the program its first-ever post-season appearance in football. The Beavers will tackle Pittsburg (Kan.) State, which also finished 9-2 overall and posted a 7-2 record to tie for second in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, in the Mineral Water Bowl. The only NCAA-sanctioned bowl game for Division II football, the Mineral Water Bowl will kick off at 1 p.m. Central time on Saturday, Dec. 2 from Tiger Stadium in Excelsior Springs, Mo.

--beavers--