MINNEAPOLIS - The Capital University football team saw its position in the national rankings increase for the third consecutive week as the Crusaders moved up to No. 21 in the D3Football.com Top 25 Poll, which was released on Sunday evening. CU (4-0, 3-0 OAC) is one of four Ohio Athletic Conference teams to be nationally ranked for the second consecutive week.
Capital will have its first opportunity to face another nationally ranked opponent this Saturday when its play host to #1 Mount Union, which earned 22 of 25 possible first place votes in this week's poll. The 2009 Homecoming game will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday from Bernlohr Stadium and fans can follow the action with FREE Live Stats, Video and Audio at http://www.capitalcrusaders.net/.
The Crusaders first entered the national rankings at No. 25 on Sept. 20 and then last week moved up to the No. 22 spot in the poll, which is voted upon by a panel of 25 coaches, sports information directors and media members from across the country.
CU has 99 votes this week and trails #20 Ithaca (4-1, 120) by 21 points. Also joining the Crusaders in the Top 25 are #13 Otterbein (4-0, 330 pts) and #18 Ohio Northern (2-2, 140 pts).
CU has now received votes in all five polls this season. Capital picked up 56 points in the preseason poll. The Crusaders then earned 38 points following the first week of the regular season and 43 after the second week. CU moved into the Top 25 in week three with 62 points before garnering 102 votes last week.
Capital began its 2009 campaign with a 31-21 road victory over Adrian on Sept. 5. The Crusaders then posted a 46-32 win over Heidelberg and a 37-21 decision over Wilmington to open Ohio Athletic Conference play. CU is coming off a 37-13 win at Marietta this past week.
CU is averaging 469.0 yards per game of total offense and for the first time in its 86-year recorded history posted a pair of 100-yard rushers in the same game, a feat it accomplished in back-to-back wins over Heidelberg and Wilmington. The Crusader defense is holding its opposition to 56.5 yards per game rushing while tallying 17 sacks.