2018 ASC Football Schedule
RICHARDSON, Texas – The
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor has been picked to win the 2018 American Southwest Conference football title after a vote of the league's head coaches, sports information directors and media members, the ASC office announced on Tuesday (August 14).
Hardin-Simmons University senior running back
Jaquan Hemphill was voted as the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while teammate senior kick returner/punter
Reese Childress was selected as the Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year. UMHB senior linebacker
Tevin Jones was named the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Mary Hardin-Baylor (14-1 / 9-0 ASC) received 293 points in the preseason poll and recorded 23 out of a possible 30 first-place votes. The Cru are coming off a national runner-up finish in 2017, winning their 13th consecutive ASC title in the process. UMHB’s stout defense led the NCAA in scoring defense (7.3 points per game) and were third in total defense (223.3 yards per game). The Cru were ranked No. 2 in the D3football.com Top 25 Preseason Poll.
Hardin-Simmons (9-2 / 8-1 ASC) received 276 points, including seven first-place votes, to come in second in the preseason poll. HSU has finished no lower than fourth in the league standings in each of the last 22 seasons, including a three-way tie for the championship in 2015. The Cowboys ranked eighth in the nation in total offense in 2017 (492.8 yards per game) en route to their ninth trip to the NCAA Championship. HSU were No. 10 in the D3football.com Preseason Poll.
East Texas Baptist (7-3 / 6-3 ASC) was picked third in the preseason poll with 222 points. The Tigers tied for third in the 2017 standings. They ranked second in the nation in scoring offense (49.6) and third in total offense (543.9). ETBU received votes in the preseason top 25 poll.
Texas Lutheran (6-4, 6-3 ASC) and
Southwestern (6-4, 6-3 ASC) were fourth and fifth, respectively, in the preseason poll after tying with ETBU for third last year. They are followed by
Sul Ross State (5-5, 4-5 ASC),
Louisiana College (3-7, 2-7 ASC),
McMurry (2-8, 2-7 ASC), Howard Payne (1-9, 1-8 ASC) and
Belhaven (2-8, 1-8).
McMurry has completed the reclassifying process from NCAA Division II and is eligible for the NCAA Championship.
Belhaven University enters its fourth and final year of transition into Division III athletics, but will not be eligible for selection to the NCAA Championship.
With nine eligible members, the ASC will once again have an automatic qualifier for the NCAA Championship in 2018. The regular season champion will be selected to the playoffs which begin on Saturday, November 17.
Hemphill
(Coleman, Texas) was the 2017 ASC Offensive Player of the Year. He ran for 1,028 yards and 14 touchdowns with 317 yards and three scores receiving. He was a D3football.com All-American Honorable Mention and a Preseason First Team All-America pick.
Jones
(Belton, Texas) led the Cru with 129 total tackles last season and was a Third Team All-America pick. He added 13.5 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks and five pass break-ups. He earned First Team All-ASC honors and was a First Team All-South Region selection, as well. Jones was a D3football.com Preseason All-America First Team selection.
Childress
(Abilene, Texas) was the 2017 ASC Special Teams Player of the Year after averaging 12.9 yards per punt return with a touchdown, 20.8 yards per kick return and 40.1 yards per punt. Childress was an All-Region selection last year and a First Team All-ASC pick at slot back and punter.
The 2018 season gets underway Thursday, Aug. 30 as McMurry hosts Trinity, East Texas Baptists takes on UW-Platteville at home and Belhaven hosts Millsaps.
The NCAA Division III Football Championship playoffs begin Nov. 17, with the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl national championship game scheduled for Dec. 14 or 15 at Woodforest Bank Stadium in Shenandoah, Texas.
2018 ASC Preseason Football Poll
| Team (First) |
Votes |
2017 Record |
| 1. Mary Hardin-Baylor (23) |
293 |
14-1 (9-0 ASC) |
| 2. Hardin-Simmons (7) |
276 |
9-2 (8-1 ASC) |
| 3. East Texas Baptist |
222 |
7-3 (6-3 ASC) |
| 4. Texas Lutheran |
204 |
6-4 (6-3 ASC) |
| 5. Southwestern |
200 |
6-4 (6-3 ASC) |
| 6. Sul Ross State |
141 |
5-5 (4-5 ASC) |
| 7. Louisiana College |
113 |
3-7 (2-7 ASC) |
| 8. McMurry |
84 |
2-8 (2-7 ASC) |
| 9. Howard Payne |
62 |
1-9 (1-8 ASC) |
| 10. Belhaven# |
61 |
2-8 (1-8 ASC) |
# Not eligible for 2018 NCAA Championship (NCAA Div. III Provisional Member)
2018 ASC Preseason Players of the Year
Offense: Jaquan Hemphill, RB, Sr., Hardin-Simmons
Defense: Tevin Jones, LB, Sr., Mary Hardin-Baylor
Special Teams: Reese Childress, KR/P, Sr., Hardin-Simmons
2018 Players to Watch
| Name |
Pos. |
Cl. |
Team |
Hometown |
| Reese Childress |
KR/P |
Sr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Abilene, Texas |
| Emory Cuzze |
LB |
Sr. |
Texas Lutheran |
Buda, Texas |
| Luke Fierst |
K/P |
Jr. |
Southwestern |
Kerrville, Texas |
| Kyle Grona |
QB |
Sr. |
Texas Lutheran |
Fredericksburg, Texas |
| Jaquan Hemphill |
RB |
Sr. |
Hardin-Simmons |
Coleman, Texas |
| Frederick Hover |
QB |
Jr. |
Southwestern |
McAllen, Texas |
| Richard Johnson |
WR |
Sr. |
East Texas Baptist |
Cleveland, Texas |
| Tevin Jones |
LB |
Sr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Belton, Texas |
| T.J. Josey |
WR |
Sr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Angleton, Texas |
| Josiah Minnifield |
DB |
Jr. |
Southwestern |
Chandler, Ariz. |
| Aaron Sims |
KR |
Fr. |
Mary Hardin-Baylor |
Cameron, Texas |