Football picked to finish sixth in CC

The Muhlenberg football team begins its 28th season of Centennial Conference play picked to finish sixth in the CC's annual preseason poll.

With eight starters returning from one of the nation’s top defenses,

Senior linebacker Patrick McDonough looks to be one of the focal points for another punishing Mules defense.

the Mules were picked by conference coaches and sports information directors to finish ahead of McDaniel, Moravian, Gettysburg and Juniata.

CC Preseason Poll School 2009 Record Points 1. Johns Hopkins (11) 10-3 154 2. Franklin & Marshall (7) 9-2 145 3. Ursinus (1) 6-5 126 4. Susquehanna (1) 8-3 107 5. Dickinson 8-2 99 6. Muhlenberg 3-7 90 7. McDaniel 5-5 57 8. Moravian 2-8 52 9. Gettysburg 3-7 51 10. Juniata 1-9 19

Muhlenberg, however, is no stranger to exceeding preseason polls. Coach Mike Donnelly’s squad was picked to finish fifth in the 2007 CC preseason poll before embarking on a perfect regular-season record that concluded with the first of back-to-back CC titles and a trip to the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Defending CC champion Johns Hopkins was picked to defend its crown with Franklin & Marshall predicted as runner-up. The Blue Jays received the most first-place votes, 11, while the Diplomats earned seven first-place nods.

League newcomer Susquehanna, which captured the Liberty League title last season, was slotted fourth in the preseason poll, and also received one first-place vote.

Muhlenberg opens the 2010 season at 7 p.m., Saturday, September 4 at Scotty Wood Stadium against nationally ranked Delaware Valley College. The Aggies are ranked in the preseason top 10 by Lindy’s (No. 7), USA Today (No. 8) and D3football.com (No. 10).