Teams in the initial rankings — the first of three weekly rankings — were listed in alphabetical order. The region Top 10 included Angelo State, Central Washington, Colorado Mesa, Colorado Mines, Colorado State-Pueblo, Western Colorado and Western Oregon.
The format for the DII playoff field is 28 teams in four, seven-team regions. The top seed in each region receives a first-round bye.
St. John’s, ranked No. 3 in the D3football.com poll, leads Division III in sacks (4.57 sacks per game) and is ranked No. 6 in rushing defense (48.4 yards per game).
Johnnies linebacker Hayden Sanders, a senior from Brooklyn Park, leads the Johnnies in solo tackles (25) and tackles for loss (9.5) and is second on the team in total tackles (44) and third in sacks (4.5). Sanders was named the MIAC defensive player of the week and was named to the D3football.com team of the week after recording seven tackles — 3.5 for loss — in the Johnnies’ 34-0 victory over Gustavus Adolphus last week. Sanders had one of the Johnnies’ six sacks on the day.
The Johnnies are sixth in the nation in run defense, but just second in the MIAC. Bethel leads D-III allowing just 37 rushing yards (5.3 per game).
St. Thomas will be looking for its fifth consecutive victory when it travels to Morehead (Ky.) State on Saturday.
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