Dec. 22, 2009

BALTIMORE, MD - On the strength of its stunning run to the NCAA Division III Quarterfinals, the Johns Hopkins football team is ranked eighth in the final American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division III Poll of the 2009 season and 11th in the final d3football.com Poll. The Blue Jays posted a 10-3 record, won the Centennial Conference Championship and became the first Centennial Conference team to advance to the quarterfinals since 1985.

This is the highest season-ending ranking in school history in either poll. Previously, the highest Johns Hopkins had been ranked in the final AFCA Poll was 24th in 2003. JHU was also ranked 25th in the final d3football.com Poll in 2003, which is also the high-water mark for the Blue Jays in a season-ending poll by that organization. In addition, Johns Hopkins is ranked higher in both polls than any other team that was not ranked at the end of the regular season. The AFCA Poll debuted in 1999, while the d3football.com poll began in 2003.

The number eight final ranking in the AFCA Poll is the highest ever for a Centennial Conference team. Muhlenberg previously held the record for the highest season-ending ranking by a Centennial team as the Mules closed the 2007 season ranked 10th.

The rankings are also the highest in either poll at any point in school history. The Blue Jays were ranked as high as 13th in the nation in 2003 in the AFCA Poll and were ranked a program-best 20th in the d3football.com poll early in the 2004 season.

Final 2009 AFCA Division III Football Poll
1. Wisconsin-Whitewater
2. Mount Union (OH)
3. Linfield (OR)
4. Wesley (DE)
5. St. Thomas (MN)
6. Mary Hardin-Baylor (TX)
7. Wittenberg (OH)
8. Johns Hopkins (MD)
9. Albright (PA)
10. Thomas More (KY)

Final 2009 d3football.com Poll (Top 15)
1. Wisconsin-Whitewater
2. Mount Union (OH)
3. Linfield (OR)
4. Wesley (DE)
5. St. Thomas (MN)
6. Wittenberg (OH)
7. Mary Hardin-Baylor (TX)
8. Central (IA)
9. Illinois Wesleyan
10. Coe (IA)
11. Johns Hopkins (MD)
12. St. John's (MN)
13. Ohio Northern
14. Thomas More (KY)
15. Albright (PA)

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