MacMurray edges out competition for top spot in 2018 UMAC Football Preseason Coaches' Poll

8/21/2018 10:07:23 AM

ST. PAUL, Minn.---Following a close finish for the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) football championship last season, 2018 shows similar promise with three teams separated by just five points for the top spot in the UMAC Football Preseason Coaches’ Poll announced Tuesday.

MacMurray earned four first place votes for a total of 57 points to top the poll and edge out the College of St. Scholastica but just a margin of two points. The Saints tallied 55 points with two first-place nods, while the University of Northwestern was only three points back from the Saints with 52 points and two first place votes.

| Poll | Team Previews | 2018 Schedule |

Last season, MacMurray finished second after defeating St. Scholastica 34-26 on the road in the final weekend of UMAC play. This year, the Highlanders are a slight favorite but should be tested again in the final weekend as they will host the Saints to wrap up the year with potential for the conference title to be on the line. Both teams finished 7-2 after suffering losses to eventual champion Eureka College.

MacMurray should reload with returning talent to help lead solid offensive and defensive efforts for the favorite Highlanders that ranked third in points per game (32.3) and second in passing offense 242.2 last year. All-UMAC Second Team selections quarterback Nate Randle and receiver Devonta Preston should be an explosive combination to lead to Highlander success. On the defensive side of the ball, UMAC Defensive Player of the Year Javon Muhammad returns to anchor the line following his outstanding season that helped MacMurray finish first in conference games for sacks (25).

St. Scholastica should be a tough challenge for the Highlanders in the final game of the year. The Saints lost two games by just 14 points in 2017 in back-to-back weekends to end a seven-game winning streak at the end of the season. They return an offensive All-UMAC First Team duo in quarterback Zach Edwards and receiver Aaron Olson who led the Saints to a UMAC-best 289.3 passing yards per conference game a year ago. Two-time All-UMAC First Team linebacker Jonathan Senger will lead the Saints defense after recording four interceptions last year.

Northwestern will also be in the mix after finishing tied for fourth last year at 6-3 with Westminster College. The Eagles started off strong with a season-opening win over Eureka before struggling in the following weeks. The Eagles were limited in scoring in 2017 but boasted an impressive UMAC-best defense that allowed just 13.2 ppg in conference play a year ago. They will look to stay in the mix again with defense as the calling card led by senior All-American defensive back and special teamer Nick Swore.

Greenville University and Westminster tied for fourth in the coaches' voting with 41 points. The Panthers, though, nabbed one first place vote despite finishing 4-5 in sixth behind the Bluejays and Eagles. Greenville will need to continue using its high-producing offense – it led with 446.2 yards of offense per UMAC game in 2017 – in order to find success. The Panthers hope a majority of that yardage will come from All-American tight end Gregorire Franchomme who returns for his second season in orange and black. Westminster will heavily rely on All-UMAC First Team quarterback Trent White to anchor the offense as a rushing and passing threat after he ended his junior campaign third in the UMAC for total yards last year.

Martin Luther College was one of the most improved teams in the UMAC last season winning four games to place sixth. The Knights took sixth in the poll with 28 points and return Second Team receiver Josh Arndt who had a breakout junior season with eight receiving touchdowns. Iowa Wesleyan University was just behind in seventh with 22 points and will look to its defense again this season led by junior Second Team back Joe Mosley.

The University of Minnesota Morris took eighth in the poll with 16 points and will need solid efforts from All-UMAC defense and special teams honoree Drew Shipley, while Crown College rounded out the poll with 12 points and have First Team pick Isaiah Zepeda returning offensively.

The 2018 season marks the first year with nine conference teams which means conference play will not begin until the third week of the season on Saturday, Sept. 15. Games will span until Week 11 concluding one weekend later than in years past on Saturday, Nov. 10.

2018 UMAC Football Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. MacMurray – 57 points ( 4 First Place Votes)
2. St. Scholastica – 55 points ( 2 First Place Votes)
3. Northwestern – 52 points ( 2 First Place Votes)
T-4. Greenville – 41 points (1 First Place Votes)
T-4. Westminster – 41 points
6. Martin Luther – 28 points
7. Iowa Wesleyan– 22 points
8. Minnesota Morris – 16 points
9. Crown – 12 points

Team Previews
| CC | CSS | GU | IW | MC | MLC | UMM | UNW | WC |

College of St. Scholastica
George Penree (Interim) | 1st Season |

2017 Season
7-2 UMAC, 7-3 | T-2nd |

Top Returners Offense

Aaron Olson, Sr., WR | 2016, 2017 First Team All-UMAC | 2016 D3football.com Third Team All-Region | 34 Rec., 770 Yards, 10 TD |
Zach Edwards, Jr., QB | 2017 First Team All-UMAC | 2,608 passing yards (tied program record), 27 TD, 18.2 passing yards per completion (program record) |
Ben Buthe, Sr., RB | 2017 CoSIDA Academic All-District | 282 Rush Yards, 313 Receiving Yards, 6 Rush TD |