Eureka, Aurora Voted No. 1 in NACC Preseason Football Poll
WAUKESHA, Wis. —The Eureka College football team will start the 2019 season where it ended 2018 — at the top of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.
The Red Devils — along with Aurora — were selected first in a preseason NACC poll conducted by league head coaches and sports information directors, the NACC announced Wednesday.
EC and Aurora each received 105 points, with the maroon and gold posting a league-high six first-place votes. Aurora tallied five, third-place Lakeland (99 points) had four and fourth-place Concordia Wisconsin (88) notched one.
Benedictine was voted fifth with 74 points, followed by Wisconsin Lutheran (38), Concordia Chicago (37) and Rockford (30).
This will be the Red Devils' second season in the NACC after joining as a football-only member prior to last season. Kurt Barth's squad captured the conference crown with a 6-1 league record and finished the season 9-2 after reaching the NCAA Division III playoffs for the second straight year.
The 2019 campaign begins on Saturday, Sept. 7 when Eureka hosts Knox in the seventh annual Lincoln Bowl at 6 p.m. The Red Devils will open NACC play on the road against co-preseason league leader Aurora on Saturday, Oct. 5. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.