BELTON (September 29, 2009)--The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football team held on to its #3 ranking in both major national Division III polls this week.

UMHB totaled 916 points in this week’s American Football Coaches Association Top 25 Coaches’ Poll as the Cru to remain at #3 in the country.

UMHB is 3-0 overall and 2-0 in American Southwest Conference play following a 41-8 victory over McMurry University last Saturday in Belton.

Defending national champion Mount Union is #1 again after picking up 39 first-place votes and 999 total points. Wisconsin-Whitewater is second with the other first place vote and 958 total points.

UMHB is the only American Southwest Conference program ranked in this week’s poll, but Mississippi College is receiving votes.

“The polls are always nice recognition for our kids, but we have very high expectations for our program every year,” Cru head coach Pete Fredenburg said. “And it doesn’t matter where we are ranked if we don’t take care of business on the field. We face a tremendous challenge this weekend against a very good Hardin-Simmons team and that is what our players need to be focused on.”

UMHB also held on to its #3 national ranking in the D3football.com Top 25 Poll again this week. The Cru totaled 576 total points in that poll.

UMHB will return to action with a trip to Abilene this weekend. The Cru will play face Hardin-Simmons (1-3, 0-2 ASC) in a 2:00 PM kickoff at Shelton Stadium in a crucial match-up of perennial ASC powers.