It was announced yesterday by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) that the University of Redlands football team landed among the Top-25 in the final NCAA Division III Poll of 2019 by snagging the No. 22 position.  With more than 250 schools considered in the rankings, Redlands sits among the very best in the nation.

Amidst a record-breaking campaign, the Bulldogs finished the season with a 9-2 overall record and a 6-1 showing in conference. This was the team's first nine-win season under Head Coach Mike Maynard and the first since 1978. As a result, the Bulldogs earned an at-large berth to the NCAA Championship Tournament for the ninth time in Maynard's tenure and its first since 2016.

Highlights of the 2019 season include beating then-ranked No. 11 Linfield College (OR) for Maynard's 200th win at Redlands. Maynard improved to a 206-91-1 career record at the conclusion of the season.

In addition, Redlands reset the program scoring record for a single season with 445 points, which improves upon the previous top mark of 417 points from the 1996 season.

This season, the Bulldogs garnered 15 All-SCIAC honorees. Senior defensive lineman Elias Hackney (Santa Monica, CA), senior defensive back Jeff Hector (Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA), senior kicker Alex Raya (Jamul, CA) and senior tight end Blake Roy (Camas, WA) were also named to the D3football.com All-West Region team while Hackney and Hector made the All-America team.

Raya and Hector also received an AFCA All-America nod, for the first time in school history two student-athletes earned the accolade in the same year. Hector also was named to the Associated Press All-America First-Team.

Academically, Roy and junior offensive lineman Calhoun Helmberger (Tacoma, WA) garnered CoSIDA Academic All-District honors, while Roy also earned All-America recognition.

To view the final poll, please visit the AFCA website.