PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Plymouth State University retained top-ten ranking as the final Grinold Chapter New England Division III Football Coaches Poll was released Wednesday.
Plymouth State finishes the year No. 9 in the poll. League rivals Framingham State (No. 7) and Anna Maria (No. 10) – who shared the regular season title with the Panthers – also finished among the top ten.
The Panthers earned 34 points in the last ranking. Endicott secured nine first-place vote and 117 points to hold onto the No. 1 spot, while Springfield took home the final three first-place votes to sit second with 111 points. Wesleyan (92), Curry (73), and the University of New England (71) rounded out the top five.
Trinity (61), Framingham State (38), Coast Guard (37), Plymouth State (34), and Anna Maria (13) rounded out the top ten, while Colby and MIT also received votes.
Plymouth State finished the season with an 8-2 record, going 7-2 in MASCAC play to earn a share of the regular season title – PSU's second since joining the lead in 2013.
The Panthers have already taken home significant postseason recognition. Senior
Sean Quinn (Norwood, Mass.) was named MASCAC Offensive Lineman of the Year and was one of five players to earn All-MASCAC First Team honors. He was also named a New England Football Writers Association Division II/III All-New England Team selection.
Junior
Jack Claeys (Melrose, Mass.) at center, junior
Jacob Morris (Kennebunk, Maine) at tight end, graduate student
Gregory Walker (Boxford, Mass.) at running back, and graduate student
Braden Lynn (Littleton, Mass.) at punter also received First Team All-MASCAC honors. Lynn was a double-honoree, also claiming Second Team recognition at quarterback. Head coach
Paul Castonia was selected as the MASCAC Coach of the Year for the third time.
The New England Division III Football Poll is presented by the Jack Grinold/Eastern Massachusetts Chapter of the National Football Foundation, which also serves as the title sponsor of the weekly Gold Helmet Awards presented by the New England Football Writers Association throughout the season.
A panel representing four New England Division III playing conferences serves as the voters in this year's poll. For more information on the Grinold Chapter of the National Football Foundation, visit
www.grinoldchapter.com.
GRINOLD CHAPTER NEW ENGLAND DIVISION III FOOTBALL POLL – Final
| Rank |
School (FPV) |
Record |
Points |
Previous Rank |
| 1. |
Endicott (9) |
9-1 |
117 |
1 |
| 2. |
Springfield (3) |
9-2 |
111 |
2 |
| 3. |
Wesleyan |
7-2 |
92 |
3 |
| 4. |
Curry |
8-3 |
73 |
4 |
| 5. |
Univ. of New England |
8-2 |
71 |
5 |
| 6. |
Trinity |
7-2 |
61 |
6 |
| 7. |
Framingham State |
7-4 |
38 |
9 |
| 8. |
Coast Guard |
7-3 |
37 |
6 |
| 9. |
Plymouth State |
8-2 |
34 |
8 |
| 10. |
Anna Maria |
7-3 |
13 |
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Receiving votes: Colby (12), MIT (1) |
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