Lions Fourth in Super Region Rankings

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.-- The Mars Hill football team is ranked fourth in the second NCAA Super Region II rankings, which were released Monday.

The Lions were ranked second in last week's poll. Mars Hill owns a 6-3 overall record and are 5-1 in South Atlantic Conference play, which places them in a tie for first in the league. The Lions defeated conference-foe Tusculum in overtime, 23-20 this past Saturday. The regional rankings are voted on by the NCAA Division II Football Committee. The polls serve as the official rankings used in the Division II Football Championship selection process.

The top six teams in each region earn bids to the NCAA Division II Championship playoffs. The top two teams in each region earn first-round byes. MHC earned a playoff bid last season, losing to 58-32 to North Greenville.

Miles, Valdosta State and West Alabama are all ranked ahead of Mars Hill in this week's rankings. The Lions trailed only Miles in the first poll, which was released last week. Rounding out the top six are SAC foes Carson-Newman (fifth) and Lenoir-Rhyne (sixth).

Click Here for NCAA Super Region Rankings

The Lions lead the South Atlantic Conference in total offense. Running back Shaikel Davis leads the league in rushing yards per game. MHC also leads the conference in sacks, with Mam Nyang, Troy Harris and Khalid Smith all tied for league lead. Wide receiver Deunta Jennings is the reigning SAC Offensive Player of the Week.

Mars Hill will enjoy a bye this week before traveling to Carson-Newman for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff on Nov. 10. Depending on results from this weekend, Mars Hill could have a chance to clinch the outright SAC regular-season title in that game as well as solidify a postseason berth.