POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – The Marist football team was picked to finish third in the Pioneer Football League (PFL) Preseason Coaches' Poll, which was released on Monday.
The third-place projection is the highest in Marist's nine years in the PFL. Last year, Marist went 5-3 in PFL play and 5-6 overall. The Red Foxes had a 4-0 start in the PFL for the first time.
This season, Marist returns seven starters offensively, and seven starters defensively. The Red Foxes will have four captains this season: red-shirt senior linebacker
Ruben Avalos III, red-shirt junior safety
Wesley Beans, red-shirt senior running back
Marcellus Calhoun, and red-shirt junior quarterback
Mike White.
Marist has finished with at least a .500 record against PFL competition for four straight years, including a share of the league title in 2013. The Red Foxes' league finish has matched or exceeded their preseason projection the last six years, and in seven of their eight previous seasons in the league. Here is a look at Marist's PFL history.
| Year |
Preseason Poll |
Actual Finish |
Record – PFL/Overall |
| 2016 |
6th |
4th |
5-3/5-6 |
| 2015 |
7th |
Tied for 5th |
4-4/5-6 |
| 2014 |
6th |
Tied for 5th |
4-4/4-7 |
| 2013 |
6th |
Tied for 1st |
7-1/8-3 |
| 2012 |
6th |
Tied for 6th |
3-5/4-7 |
| 2011 |
8th |
Tied for 6th |
3-5/4-7 |
| 2010 |
6th |
Tied for 7th |
2-6/3-8 |
| 2009 |
8th |
5th |
5-3/7-4 |
The All-PFL Preseason Team will be released on Tuesday.
Marist opens the 2017 season on Saturday, Sept. 2 at Bucknell. The Red Foxes will open PFL play and their five-game home schedule on Saturday, Sept. 9 against Stetson. Season tickets are on sale, and for information, please click
here.
2017 PFL Preseason Coaches' Poll Results
1-San Diego (9), 99
2-Dayton (2), 92
3-Marist, 69
4-Drake, 67
T5-Campbell, 62
T5-Jacksonville, 62
7-Butler, 49
8-Morehead State, 42
9-Stetson, 29
10-Valparaiso, 24
11-Davidson, 10
Notes: First-place votes in parentheses. ... Ten points are awarded for a first-place vote, with one point less for each succeeding place. Maximum total is 100 points. ... Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
