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WNE football continues to reign in New England rankings

Date: 10/23/2015

SPRINGFIELD – For the fifth consecutive week, the Western New England University football team is ranked No. 1 in the New England Division III Football Poll, which was released earlier on Oct. 19.

Western New England is also among teams receiving votes in both the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and d3football.com Division III national polls. The Golden Bears improved to 6-0 on Saturday, matching their best start in program history with a 58-35 New England Football Conference (NEFC) victory at Maine Maritime Academy.

Western New England (6-0, 3-0 NEFC) received 16 of the 20 possible first-place votes and 195 total points in the poll, which is voted on by Division III sports information directors in New England.

Framingham State University (5-1, 4-0 MASCAC) finished second 176 points, receiving the final four first-place nods, while Amherst College (4-0, 4-0 NESCAC) checked in at No. 3 with 163 points.

Trinity College (4-0, 4-0 NESCAC) and Salve Regina University (4-1, 2-1 NEFC) rounded out the top-five with 139 and 80 points, respectively. Bridgewater State University (5-2, 4-1 MASCAC) was the only newcomer to poll this week, coming in at No. 7 with 62 points.

The Golden Bears rolled up a season-high 444 rushing yards and scored 30 third quarter points in Saturday's victory at Maine Maritime.

Graduate quarterback Tyler Ward led the way, rushing for 159 yards and one touchdown to go with 124 yards through the air on 7-of-14 passing and four scores. Junior running back Nick Connell also had a productive day, finishing with 142 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries.

After Saturday's contest, Western New England now ranks seventh in all of NCAA Division III in rushing yards per game (309.7), 18th in total offense (504.3 YPG), and 20th in scoring offense (43.7 PPG).

The Golden Bears will be back in action at 5 p.m. on Saturday, when they take on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) at Steinbrenner Stadium in Cambridge.