Martin Luther tops 2019 UMAC Football Preseason Coaches' Poll

8/20/2019 9:37:37 AM

ST. PAUL, Minn.---In a matter of just one season, Martin Luther College jumped from a sixth-place (4-5) finish in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) football standings to running the table for a 8-0 record in 2018 to win the program's first title since 2009. This season, the conference coaches project the Knights to defend their crown as they tallied 61 points to top the 2019 UMAC Football Preseason Coaches’ Poll announced Tuesday.

The Knights grabbed 61 points and six first-place votes, but they weren't a unanimous favorite to take the UMAC title this fall. The University of Northwestern finished second with 54 points and two first-place nods, while MacMurray College was third with 49 points and the College of St. Scholastica was fourth with 47 points and appeared in first-place on one ballot.

| Poll | Team Previews | 2019 Schedule |

Under the direction of UMAC Coach of the Year Mark Stein, Martin Luther will look to repeat the success of its unprecedented season in 2018. The Knights averaged 39.6 points per game (ppg) against conference foes and finished with just one game of a single-digit margin of victory. They also scored 40 or more points in five games and tallied at least 20 in each conference contest.

After making their first-ever NCAA postseason appearance, Martin Luther returns a plethora of talent on both sides of the ball that should make it the team to beat in 2019. Reigning UMAC Most Valuable Offensive Player Austin DeNoyer returns to carry the ball for the Knights following his breakout sophomore season in which he tallied 16 touchdowns and over 1,000 yards rushing. The line returns All-UMAC First Team Carrington Cunningham, while All-UMAC tight end Mike Radue will be the top target in the air. Defensively, All-UMAC First Team defensive backs Ben Arndt and Tristan Pankow will look to lead a defense that allowed just 17.5 ppg a year ago.

Northwestern topped the UMAC in defense a year ago allowing a conference-best 13.6 ppg. The Eagles hope their stout defense can lead them back to a conference title after missing out the last two years. Their chances increase greatly with the return of All-American defensive back Nick Swore who returns after missing 2018 due to injury. Seth Johnson and George Obitz are also back after All-UMAC First Team campaigns last fall.

MacMurray College has been a strong contender in the UMAC in recent years collecting seven wins in each of the last three seasons to finish second in the standings. The Highlanders will look toward continued success without two-time UMAC Most Valuable Defensive Player Javon Muhammad, but should be solid defensively with the return of Second Team players Corben Edwards and Jordan Wilkins.

St. Scholastica's dominance in UMAC football has declined in recent years, but a strong group of returning veterans could position the squad for its first title since 2015. The Saints' top weapon will be All-UMAC First Team quarterback Zach Edwards who set a program record for passing yards (3,149) as a junior. First Teamer Eddie Lee will be Edwards' top target and Will Halloran will anchor the Saints on the defensive side of the ball.

Westminster College finished fifth with 35 points while Greenville College was just six points behind in sixth with 29. Second Team All-UMAC running back Kayln Davis was among the top rushers in the league last fall and should anchor the offense for Westminster. Greenville returns Second Team selections Brock Bullar and Gavin Jordan to bring senior leadership to the defense.

The University of Minnesota Morris took seventh with 22 points and hopes Second Team linebacker Drew Shipley can spark the team toward continued improvement. Iowa Wesleyan University and Crown College round out the standings with 17 and 10 points, respectively. The Tigers bring back First Team running back Stafford Lewis for his sophomore campaign, while defensive and special teams standout Sebastian Alvarado will look to lead the Storm in his final season.

The 2019 season kicks off with non-conference play on Saturday, Sept. 7 with UMAC games slated to begin Saturday, Sept. 21. Regular season play wraps up in week 11 on Saturday, Nov. 16.

2019 UMAC Football Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. Martin Luther – 61 points (6 First Place Votes)
2. Northwestern – 54 points (2 First Place Votes)
3. MacMurray – 49 points
4. St. Scholastica – 47 points (1 First Place Votes)
5. Westminster – 35 points
6. Greenville – 29 points
7. Minnesota Morris – 22 points
8. Iowa Wesleyan – 17 points
9. Crown – 10 points

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

College of St. Scholastica
Mike Heffernan | 1st Season |

2018 Season
6-2 UMAC, 6-4 | 3rd |

Top Returners Offense

Zach Edwards, Sr., QB | 2017 & 2018 First Team All-UMAC | 3,149 passing yards (program record), 263 completions (program record), 334.8 yards of total offense per game (4^th in NCAA DIII) |
Eddie Lee, Sr., WR | 2018 First Team All-UMAC | 73 receptions (program record), 917 receiving yards (UMAC-best), 7 TDs|
Mitchell Adrian, So., WR | 31 receptions, 310 yards, 2 TDs