FINAL 2021 AFCA DIVISION II COACHES' TOP 25

WACO, Texas -- The Kutztown University football team claimed its highest postseason ranking in program history, when it appeared eighth in the final American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Poll, released this week.

It was a season to remember for the Golden Bears, who ended the regular season on a nine-game winning streak that culminated in the program's second Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championship.

Kutztown used its success against one of the nation's toughest schedules to earn the top seed in the Super Region 1 section of the NCAA Division II Championship tournament and a first round bye. The Maroon and Gold defeated New Haven, 10-7, in the second round, before falling to PSAC East rival Shepherd on a last second Hail Mary, 30-28, in the national quarterfinals.

The Golden Bears opened the 2021 season ranked 20th in the AFCA Division II Preseason Poll, rising to No. 18 following a season-opening win over Assumption. Following their only regular season loss on the road at IUP, Kutztown received votes over the next four polls before breaking back into the Top 25 (25th) on Oct. 11 after defeating Bloomsburg 34-7.

Jim Clements' team was a mainstay in the poll from there. The Bears remained 25th on Oct. 18, but rose in each of the next four polls, bumping up to 21st Oct. 25, 19th Nov. 1, 16th Nov. 8 and concluding the regular season at a high point of 12th following a 38-32 victory over then-No. 10 Slippery Rock in the PSAC championship game.

The Golden Bears featured one of the top defenses in the nation, allowing just 78.3 rushing yards allowed per game and intercepting 15 passes, both PSAC bests. KU ranked second in the conference in scoring defense, allowing 14.6 points per game, and total defense, yielding 266.3 yards per game. Nationally, Kutztown was seventh in rushing defense, 10th in scoring defense, 14th in total defense, 17th in third down conversion defense (29.8%) and 19th in interceptions among DII schools. Offensively, the Bears boasted the second-best run game in the PSAC (31st in DII), gaining 189.8 yards per game.

Clements was the PSAC East and AFCA Region One Coach of the Year for the second time in as many seasons after the Bears' 2020 season was canceled due to the pandemic.

Kutztown's eighth-place ranking is its highest-ever at season's end, surpassing 13th-place finishes in both 2010 and 2011. The highest the Golden Bears have ever been ranked in an AFCA Poll, regular or postseason, is sixth back on Nov. 14, 2011.

National champion Ferris State (Mich.) topped the poll as the only undefeated team in Division II this year (14-0) ahead of their championship opponent Valdosta State (Ga.). Colorado School of Mines, Northwest Missouri State and Shepherd (W.Va.) were the rest of the top five. Bowie State (Md.), Grand Valley State (Mich.), Kutztown, Notre Dame (Ohio) and Harding (Ark.) held spots 6-10.

The PSAC featured four teams in the Top 25, with No. 20 Slippery Rock and No. 21 Cal U joining Shepherd and Kutztown.