Sioux City, Iowa – The Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) held their 19th annual football media day on Tuesday, July 31, at the Delta Hotels South Sioux City Riverfront Conference Center in South Sioux City, Nebraska. The day featured comments from all ten of the league’s football coaches in preparation for the 2018 season.
One of the highlights of the day is the release of the preseason coaches’ poll. Morningside is the preseason pick to win the GPAC championship. The Mustangs totaled 81 points and nine (9) first place votes. Northwestern was picked second with 73 points and one (1) first place vote. Midland was third with 61 points. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
Northwestern finished second in the GPAC regular season last year with a 7-1 record and advanced to the 16-team NAIA Football Championship Series for the first time since 2014. They defeated Langston (Okla.) in the first round before bowing out to eventual national champion University of Saint Francis (Ind.) in the quarterfinals to complete a 10-2 campaign. 16 starters (6 offense, 6 defense, 4 special teams) and 26 letterwinners return from last year’s squad.
McCarty and his staff welcome the 2018 team to campus the weekend of Aug. 10-11 and begin practice on the 13th.
2018 GPAC Preseason Football Coaches’ Poll:
Place Team Pts (1st Place Votes)
1. Morningside 81 (8)
2. Northwestern 73 (1)
3. Midland 61
4. Concordia 52
5. Dordt 47
6t. Dakota Wesleyan 38
6t. Hastings 38
8. Doane 34
9. Briar Cliff 15
10. Jamestown 11
For the sixth year a media poll was conducted among those present at the press conference. Morningside was tabbed in the media poll to win the GPAC with 120 points and eight (12) first place votes, while Northwestern second with 108 points and Midland was picked third with 80 points and Concordia fourth by the GPAC media with 76 points.
2018 GPAC Preseason Football Media Poll:
Place Team Pts (1st Place Votes)
1. Morningside 120 (12)
2. Northwestern 108
3. Midland 80
4. Concordia 76
5. Dordt 69
6. Dakota Wesleyan 65
7. Doane 51
8. Hastings 43
9. Jamestown 33
10. Briar Cliff 15
Games for the 2018 season kick off on Thursday, August 23, with Dakota Wesleyan hosting Dakota State at 7 PM. Also in action on opening weekend are Morningside (vs. William Penn), Jamestown (vs. Valley City State), Midland (vs.MidAmerica Nazarene), Doane (at Friends University) and Hastings (vs. Peru Stat) on August 25 in non-conference play. The GPAC schedule will consist of nine games in the conference. League games will being on September 8th and 15th.
