T-Birds Move Back to #9 in Latest Football Polls

The latest NJCAA football polls are out and Mesa has moved from the #6 spot to #9.  The T-Birds fell to #2 Arizona Western Saturday evening, 45-21.

Although Mesa lost to a tough Matador football team, this is their fourth straight week being ranked in the top ten nationally.

Individually, the T-Birds head into the final week of the season with many players ranked amongst the best in junior college football.

Quarterback Rathen Ricedorff leads the country in touchdown passes (33) and completions (218).  He is second in total passing yards (2885) and fourth in yards per game (320.6).  Wideout Dionte Sykes is tied for sixth in the country in touchdown receptions (9) while Darius Aguirre is tied for 17th in the country in touchdown receptions (7).  Aguirre also ranks second in punt return touchdowns (2) and third in punt return total yards (286).

On the defensive side of the ball, free safety Marcus Brantley ranks first nationally with pass breakups (16) and ninth nationally in total tackles (96).  Kenneth Steele ranks third in force fumbles (4) while Shaquille Grosvenor and Jameer Outsey are both tied for fourth nationally in pass blocks (4).

The T-Birds will have one more regular season game down in Tucson against the Pima Aztecs on Saturday evening then Mesa will host the Valley of the Sun Bowl December 3rd at John D. Riggs Stadium.