Howard Payne, who finished 4-6 overall and 2-4 in conference last season, received 41 points in the pre-season poll ahead of Sul Ross State in sixth. The Yellow Jackets were just four points behind the fourth spot, East Texas Baptist.
The Yellow Jackets will start their season on September 4th at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. Kickoff is at 6:00 p.m.
The 2014 season is the 19th in ASC history and will get underway September 4 as East Texas Baptist travels to Texas A&M-Commerce for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff. The following Saturday (September 6) each of the ASC members will take the field for regular season openers. Louisiana College is the only ASC team that will begin the season at home as the Wildcats welcome Huntingdon College for a 1:00 p.m. start time. Starting at 6:00 pm, Sul Ross State will be at Texas Lutheran and preseason favorite Mary Hardin-Baylor at Millsaps College. Hardin-Simmons will take on Southwestern at 7:00 p.m.
The NCAA Division III Football Championship playoff is scheduled for a Nov. 22 start, with the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl national championship game on tap for Dec. 20 in Salem, Va.
2014 ASC Preseason Football Poll
Team Votes 2013 Record
1. Mary Hardin-Baylor 95 (15) 13-1/6-0 ASC
2. Louisiana College 79 (1) 7-3/5-1 ASC
3. Hardin-Simmons 59 4-6/2-4 ASC
4. East Texas Baptist 44 3-7/1-5 ASC
5. Howard Payne 41 4-6/2-4 ASC
6. Sul Ross State 18 1-9/1-5 ASC
(First-place votes)
2014 ASC Preseason Players of the Year
Offense: Easton Melancon, QB, So., Louisiana College
Defense: Deshon Kinsey, LB, Sr., Mary Hardin-Baylor
Special Teams: Jessie Ramos, KR, Jr., Hardin-Simmons
