WACO, Texas — Following their win over Kutztown, the ESU football team jumped up six spots in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Poll to No. 18, garnering their first top-20 ranking since 2006.
 
The Warriors defeated No. 3 Kutztown 32-25 in overtime, dropping the Golden Bears to 11^th while giving ESU its first win as a ranked team in the AFCA poll since 2005. The victory also snapped an 11-game losing streak to Kutztown, clinching the Warriors' spot in the PSAC Championship game in two weeks. Remaining in the rankings, it's the first time since 2005 that the Warriors have gone consecutive weeks in the top 25, which happened after ESU won its last region title.
 
In other rankings, ESU jumped Kutztown in the NCAA Power Index Rankings (NPI), taking the second spot in Super Region 1 with a value of 63.794. Overall, the Warriors are seventh in Division II behind Ferris State (70.007), Slippery Rock (69.179), Harding (67.031), Northwood (65.681), Colorado State Pueblo (64.918), and Minnesota State (64.292). All six teams above the Warriors in the NPI Rankings are also no lower than seventh in the AFCA poll. Additionally, after being ranked 20^th by D2Football.com, ESU moved up four spots to 16^th.
 
ESU wraps up divisional play at Millersville this weekend with the chance to clinch its first outright PSAC East title since 1991 with a win.  Kickoff is scheduled for noon on Saturday, Nov. 7, at Biemesderfer Stadium.