RFC Summer Semester--Pioneer Football League (PFL) Preview (FCS)

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2011 Final Standings

Looking back: San Diego and Drake shared the Pioneer Football League (PFL) title in 2011, as both teams finished with identical 7-1 records in conference play.  However, the Toreros outlasted the Bulldogs, 31-24, in the lone meeting between the two teams, on October 15.

Looking ahead: Expect another tight race for the PFL crown in 2012.  In 2013, the league will expand into Georgia, as it welcomes Mercer University out of Macon into the fold.  Stetson University from Deland, Florida, will also join the PFL fold in 2013, with the return of its football program.

2012 Predicted Order of Finish (2011 overall record in parentheses)

1. San Diego (9-2):  Despite an all-time record of 246-207-7 over a 47-year period, the Toreros haven't advanced to postseason play of any kind since 1973. The longest road trip of the season for them will be on September 15, when they make the cross country trip to Cambridge, Massachusetts to face defending Ivy League champion Harvard.  Still, with 47 players coming back, including 29 on defense, not to mention 12 starters overall, don't be surprised if USD finds itself on top of the PFL heap again in 2012.

2. Drake (9-2):  Head Coach Chris Creighton has compiled a 30-14 overall record in four seasons at the Bulldog helm.  He must overcome the loss of 16 starters if they have any shot of even winning a share of the PFL title, let alone winning it outright.


3. Jacksonville (7-4):  The Dolphins look to improve on last season's 6-2 mark in PFL play.  They find themselves just six wins away from their 70th all-time win in program history, as JU begins the 15th season of its football program.


4. Campbell (6-5):  The Fighting Camels are coming off of their best season as a varsity program, finishing with a winning record for the first time ever in 2011.  They hope to take that next step towards their first-ever conference title in 2012, although that won't be an easy task.


5. Dayton (6-5):  The Flyers will look to bounce back after slumping to a 4-4 mark in PFL action last season.  That followed a 10-1 overall, as well as unbeaten (8-0) mark in conference play just two years ago.

6. Butler (5-6):  With the loss of 15 starters, as well as 25 letterwinners, from last season, the Bulldogs face an uphill battle in contending for the 2012 PFL title.


7. Davidson (4-7):  The Wildcats will look to post their first winning season since 2007, when they finished 6-4.


8. Marist (4-7):  The Red Foxes look to get back on the winning track after a disappointing 2011 campaign in which six of their seven losses came by 10 points or more.


9. Morehead State (3-8):  The Eagles will face six teams that had winning records in 2011, in 2012.


10. Valparaiso (1-10):  The Crusaders have nowhere to go but up after yet another rough season.