BELTON (October 5, 2009) - The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football held on to its ranking as the nation’s #3 team in this week’s American Football Coaches Association’s Top 25 Poll this week. The Cru has been #3 in the country in every AFCA Top 25 Poll this season and this week’s point total of 917 was one point higher than last week’s total. Defending national champion Mount Union picked up 39 first-place votes and 999 total points to hold down the top spot again. Wisconsin-Whitewater is second with the other first-place vote and 959 total points. The Cru is the only American Southwest Conference team ranked in this week’s poll, but Mississippi College did receive votes worth 11 total points.

The Cru also held on to the #3 spot in the country in this week’s D3football.com Top 25 Poll. UMHB totaled 576 points in that poll and trails only #1 Mount Union and #2 Wisconsin-Whitewater.

“We are pleased that the hard work of our players and coaches is recognized on a national level,” Cru head coach Pete Fredenburg said. “But our goal is to get better each and every week and that is what we will try to do in practice this week. We were pleased to get a big win last Saturday and now we have to get ready to take on Louisiana College and we know that we will get their best shot.”

UMHB is 4-0 overall and 3-0 in ASC play following a 23-7 victory over Hardin-Simmons University last Saturday. The Cru will now welcome Louisiana College to Tiger Field for a 1:00 PM kickoff this Saturday. The Wildcats are 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the ASC following a 54-44 loss to Mississippi College last Saturday.