Ahhh…..the bye week. The first time I have had one since I started blogging in 2012. With the exception of the weeks The Lions had to prepare for the Bowls in 2013 and 2014. So, I am going to go off the radar the rest of the week but leave some bits here and start prepping for next week on Sunday.
Congrats are in order to former Lion QB Deric Davis who was named Rookie of the Year in the Alberta Football League in Canada. He led the league in passing offense and led the Monarchs to the title game where they fell to The Calgary Gators in the Championship game. Davis had a fine season and I expect to see him playing in the CFL soon. TLW is extremely proud of Deric and how he has persevered. Props to him and congrats on a fine season!
Lion’s Legacy-
Preston Compton, the son of Lion great Gary Compton, is currently leading the NAIA Division I in Passing. Compton, a Junior who plays for Graceland University in Iowa, is putting up some major numbers as he led the Hawks to a win over Central Methodist University on this past Saturday. Congrats and good luck the rest of the way to the Comptons.
The Lions are now the highest they have ever been ranked in a regular season, as 4 games in, they are number 2 in the country, the only other team that has ever been ranked this high during the season was the 1988 team that was ranked as high as 2nd after an 8-1 start. Full list below_
2017 American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches’ Poll – September 25, 2017
| Rank | School (1st votes) | Rec. | Pts. | Prev. |
| 1. | Northwest Missouri St. (34) | 4-0 | 850 | 1 |
| 2. | A&M-COMMERCE | 4-0 | 808 | 3 |
| 3. | Shepherd (W.Va.) | 3-0 | 763 | 4 |
| 4. | Indiana (Pa.) | 4-0 | 717 | 6 |
| 5. | California (Pa.) | 4-0 | 691 | 5 |
| 6. | Minnesota St. | 4-0 | 665 | 8 |
| 7. | Sioux Falls (S.D.) | 4-0 | 663 | 7 |
| 8. | Colorado Mesa | 4-0 | 599 | 11 |
| 9. | Grand Valley St. (Mich.) | 3-1 | 515 | 12 |
| 10. | Indianapolis (Ind.) | 4-0 | 487 | 14 |
| 11. | Arkansas Tech | 4-0 | 454 | 16 |
| 12. | Midwestern St. (Texas) | 2-0 | 451 | 13 |
| 13. | Delta St. (Miss.) | 4-0 | 428 | 17 |
| 14. | Fort Hays St. (Kan.) | 4-0 | 394 | 18 |
| 15. | Ferris St. (Mich.) | 2-1 | 329 | 2 |
| 16. | Central Washington | 4-0 | 325 | 20 |
| 17. | Colorado St.-Pueblo | 3-1 | 294 | 19 |
| 18. | Slippery Rock (Pa.) | 4-0 | 253 | 21 |
| 19. | Humboldt St. (Calif.) | 3-0 | 215 | 22 |
| 20. | Ashland (Ohio) | 3-1 | 210 | NR |
| 21. | Bowie St. (Md.) | 4-0 | 209 | 23 |
| 22. | Assumption (Mass.) | 4-0 | 176 | 24 |
| 23. | Catawba (N.C.) | 4-0 | 170 | 25 |
| 24. | LIU Post (N.Y.) | 3-1 | 125 | 9 |
| 25. | Winona St. (Minn.) | 4-0 | 59 | NR |
Finally, I would like to express my sympathies and condolences on the passing of former Lion Kicker Saul Martinez. Martinez passed away this past Saturday unexpectedly, and we grieve for his family. Having kicked for the first two teams of the Carthel era and having had a decorated high school career, he decided to come kick for The Lions and be a Lion. There is a Go Fund Me page set up for his funeral expenses, and please pray for his family as they are grieving and pray for God’s comfort and peace to encompass his family and friends.
RIP # 48.
