RICHARDSON, Texas - The American Southwest Conference (ASC) announced the 2018 ASC Football Preseason Poll/Awards with Southwestern University picked to finish 5th after a vote of the league's head coaches, sports information directors and media members.
The Pirates received a total of 200 votes, just four votes shy of Texas Lutheran University for the 4th place spot. After an undefeated season and winning the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) championship title in 2016 and tied for third place in the first year in the ASC in 2017, the Pirates look forward to making a name in the conference for the 2018 season.
There were three players listed under the 2018 Players to Watch: Luke Fierst, Frederick Hover and Josiah Minnifield.
Luke Fierst, special teams, was named honorable mention All-ASC in 2017 as well as being named Newcomer of the Year in 2016 in the SCAC. He was also tied with 2018 Player to Watch Frederick Hover for the league lead in Player of the Week awards (three). Hover, who will be the offense starting quarterback, made 1st team All-ASC quarterback in 2017 and led the NCAA for rushing yards (1,100) and rushed touchdowns (14). Lastly, for the defense, Josiah Minnifield had 41 tackles, three interceptions and 14 passes defended in the 2017 season. He will be another key player in the 2018 season.
Picked first in the 2018 ASC Football Preseason Poll/awards, Mary Hardin-Baylor (14-1 / 9-0 ASC) received 293 points in the preseason poll and recorded 23 out of a possible 30 first-place votes.
Hardin-Simmons (9-2 / 8-1 ASC) received 276 points, including seven first-place votes, to come in second in the preseason poll and East Texas Baptist (7-3 / 6-3 ASC) was selected third with 222 points.
The Pirates will open the season at Bernard Birkelbach Field against Denison University on Saturday, September 1st, with a 7 p.m. kickoff.
2018 ASC Preseason Football Poll
|
Team (First) |
Votes |
2017 Record |
|
1. Mary Hardin-Baylor (23) |
293 |
14-1 (9-0 ASC) |
|
2. Hardin-Simmons (7) |
276 |
9-2 (8-1 ASC) |
|
3. East Texas Baptist |
222 |
7-3 (6-3 ASC) |
|
4. Texas Lutheran |
204 |
6-4 (6-3 ASC) |
|
5. Southwestern |
200 |
6-4 (6-3 ASC) |
|
6. Sul Ross State |
141 |
5-5 (4-5 ASC) |
|
7. Louisiana College |
113 |
3-7 (2-7 ASC) |
|
8. McMurry |
84 |
2-8 (2-7 ASC) |
|
9. Howard Payne |
62 |
1-9 (1-8 ASC) |
|
10. Belhaven# |
61 |
2-8 (1-8 ASC) |
# Not eligible for 2018 NCAA Championship (NCAA Div. III Provisional Member)
2018 ASC Preseason Players of the Year
Offense: Jaquan Hemphill, RB, Sr., Hardin-Simmons
Defense: Tevin Jones, LB, Sr., Mary Hardin-Baylor
Special Teams: Reese Childress, KR/P, Sr., Hardin-Simmons
2018 Players to Watch
|
Name |
Pos. |
Cl. |
Team |
Hometown |
|
Reese Childress |
KR/P |
Sr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Abilene, Texas |
|
Emory Cuzze |
LB |
Sr. |
Texas Lutheran |
Buda, Texas |
|
Luke Fierst |
K/P |
Jr. |
Southwestern |
Kerrville, Texas |
|
Kyle Grona |
QB |
Sr. |
Texas Lutheran |
Fredericksburg, Texas |
|
Jaquan Hemphill |
RB |
Sr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Coleman, Texas |
|
Frederick Hover |
QB |
Jr. |
Southwestern |
McAllen, Texas |
|
Richard Johnson |
WR |
Sr. |
East Texas Baptist |
Cleveland, Texas |
|
Tevin Jones |
LB |
Sr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Belton, Texas |
|
T.J. Josey |
WR |
Sr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Angleton, Texas |
|
Josiah Minnifield |
DB |
Jr. |
Southwestern |
Chandler, Ariz. |
|
Aaron Sims |
KR |
Fr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Cameron, Texas |