The West Liberty Hilltoppers (9-1 overall, 7-0 West Virginia Conference), who locked up the conference championship Saturday with a 48-21 rout of Seton Hill, rose to No. 11 on Monday in the American Football Coaches Association’s weekly NCAA Division II poll. For West Liberty, this is the first year in school history that they’ve been ranked in the Top 25, and its their first WVIAC Conference Championship since they shared the title with Glenville in 2000. West Liberty has not had sole ownership of a WVIAC title since they earned it back in 1971.
The Toppers are riding a nine-game winning streak, and hold No. 1 spot in the NCAA Division-II Super Region One (Northeast) rankings. West Liberty has already locked an NCAA playoff birth, and with a win Saturday against Concord the Toppers will host a home playoff game and possibly even earn a first-round bye.
West Liberty received 342 voting points to take the No. 11 spot. West Liberty was only six points away from their first ever Top-10 ranking. North Carolina-Pembroke collected 348 voting points to hold off the Toppers for the No. 10 spot.
NCAA Northeast Regional Rankings
- West Liberty
- California
- Shippensburg
- Bently
- Blooksburg
- East Stroudsburg
- Edinoro
- Charlestion
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