Newberry Closes Out 2021 Season Ranked No. 17 Nationally
December 20, 2021
The Newberry Wolves closed out the 2021 season ranked No. 17 in the nation according to the final American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) national poll released on Monday (Dec. 20).
The Wolves were the 2021 SAC Champions and finished the year with a 10-3 record.
Also receiving votes in the poll was Lenoir-Rhyne.
2021 American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches' Poll – December 20, 2021
| Rank | School (1st votes) | Rec. | Pts. | Prev. | Post-season | Head Coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ferris St. (Mich.) (30) | 14-0 | 750 | 1 | D. No. 5 Valdosta St. (Ga.), 58-17, in national championship | Tony Annese |
| 2 | Valdosta St. (Ga.) | 12-2 | 720 | 5 | Lost to No. 1 Ferris St. (Mich.), 58-17, in national championship | Gary Goff |
| 3 | Colorado School of Mines | 12-2 | 651 | 9 | Lost to No. 5 Valdosta St. (Ga.), 34-31, in semifinals | Gregg Brandon |
| 4 | Northwest Missouri St. | 11-2 | 646 | 3 | Lost to No. 1 Ferris St. (Mich.), 41-20, in quarterfinals | Rich Wright |
| 5 | Shepherd (W.Va.) | 13-2 | 626 | 8 | Lost to No. 1 Ferris St. (Mich.), 55-7, in semifinals | Ernie McCook |
| 6 | Bowie St. (Md.) | 12-2 | 545 | 10 | Lost to No. 5 Valdosta St. (Ga.), 41-17, in quarterfinals | Damon Wilson |
| 7 | Grand Valley St. (Mich.) | 10-2 | 521 | 4 | Lost to No. 1 Ferris St. (Mich.), 50-24, in second round | Matt Mitchell |
| 8 | Kutztown (Pa.) | 11-2 | 497 | 12 | Lost to No. 8 Shepherd (W.Va.), 30-28, in quarterfinals | Jim Clements |
| 9 | Notre Dame (Ohio) | 11-2 | 454 | 6 | Lost to No. 8 Shepherd (W.Va.), 38-34, in second round | Mickey Mental |
| 10 | Harding (Ark.) | 11-2 | 448 | 7 | Lost to No. 3 Northwest Missouri St., 28-9, in second round | Paul Simmons |
| 11 | Angelo St. (Tex.) | 11-3 | 437 | NR | Lost to No. 9 Colorado School of Mines, 34-26, in quarterfinals | Jeff Girsch |
| 12 | West Florida | 9-2 | 422 | 2 | Lost to Newberry (S.C.), 33-30 OT, in first round | Pete Shinnick |
| 13 | West Georgia | 9-3 | 413 | 13 | Lost to No. 5 Valdosta St. (Ga.), 66-35, in second round | David Dean |
| 14 | New Haven (Conn.) | 10-2 | 307 | 18 | Lost to No. 12 Kutztown (Pa.), 10-7, in second round | Chris Pincince |
| 15 | Nebraska-Kearney | 10-3 | 304 | 21 | Lost to Angelo St. (Texas), 20-7, in second round | Josh Lynn |
| 16 | Western Colorado | 10-2 | 293 | 11 | Lost to No. 21 Nebraska-Kearney, 31-24, in first round | Jas Bains |
| 17 | Newberry (S.C.) | 10-3 | 271 | NR | Lost to No. 10 Bowie St. (Md.), 13-10, in second round | Todd Knight |
| 18 | Albany St. (Ga.) | 10-2 | 233 | 16 | Lost to No. 13 West Georgia, 23-7, in first round | Gabe Giardina |
| 19 | Bemidji St. (Minn.) | 10-3 | 175 | NR | Lost to No. 9 Colorado School of Mines, 55-6, in second round | Brent Bolte |
| 20 | Slippery Rock (Pa.) | 9-3 | 166 | 19 | Lost to No. 6 Notre Dame (Ohio), 33-25, in first round | Shawn Lutz |
| 21 | California (Pa.) | 9-1 | 135 | 14 | DNQ Playoffs | Gary Dunn |
| 22 | Frostburg St. (Md.) | 10-1 | 134 | 15 | DNQ Playoffs | DeLane Fitzgerald |
| 23 | Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) | 9-2 | 101 | 17 | DNQ Playoffs | Todd Knight |
| 24 | Bentley (Mass.) | 9-2 | 97 | 20 | Lost to No. 18 New Haven (Conn.), 38-13, in first round | Bill Kavanaugh |
| 25 | Washburn (Kan.) | 9-3 | 84 | 24 | Lost to No. 7 Harding (Ark.), 30-14, in first round | Craig Schurig |
Dropped Out: Henderson St. (Ark.) (22), Minnesota-Duluth (23), Augustana (S.D.) (25)
Others Receiving Votes: Minnesota-Duluth, 82; Lindenwood (Mo.), 71; Augustana (S.D.), 55; Henderson St. (Ark.), 51; Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.), 40; Charleston (W.Va.), 12; Colorado Mesa, 6; Findlay (Ohio), 3.