WACO, Texas (Oct. 3, 2016) - The American Football Coaches Association released its latest Top-25 poll for Division II on Monday, and LIU Post broke into the rankings at No. 21.

The Pioneers are off to a stellar 5-0 start in 2016. It is only the third time (2001, 2002) in Head Coach Bryan Collins' tenure that LIU Post has won five straight games to open the season.

This past Saturday, the Pioneers dispatched then-No. 15 Assumption College, 19-18, to take sole possession of first place in the Northeast-10 Conference standings.

Red-shirt sophomore running back Malik Pierre (Holbrook, N.Y.) rushed for a game-high-tying 64 yards and two touchdowns in the effort, including a game-winning two-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Meanwhile, red-shirt senior wide receiver Shane Hubbard (St. Albans, N.Y.) broke the program's all-time receiving yard record, surpassing Jeremiah Pope's former mark of 2,435 yards from 2000-03.

LIU Post returns to the gridiron Saturday (Oct. 8), when it hosts NE-10 opponent Saint Anselm College on Homecoming at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium in Brookville, N.Y. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.

2016 AFCA Division II Poll - Oct. 3, 2016
1. Northwest Missouri St. (30 First-Place Votes) - 750 Points
2. Grand Valley St. - 717 Points
3. Shepherd - 684 Points
4. Texas A&M-Commerce - 655 Points
5. Henderson St. - 623 Points
6. Indiana (Pa.) - 574 Points
7. Midwestern St. - 564 Points
8. Tuskegee - 528 Points
9. Sioux Falls - 474 Points
10. Azusa Pacific - 436 Points
11. North Alabama - 421 Points
12. West Georgia - 387 Points
13. Colorado Mesa - 380 Points
14. Ferris St. - 352 Points
15. California (Pa.) - 315 Points
16. Harding - 312 Points
17. Ashland - 305 Points
18. Emporia St. - 208 Points
19. Slippery Rock - 185 Points
20. Southwest Baptist - 148 Points
21. LIU Post - 134 Points
22. Assumption - 94 Points
23. Florida Tech - 90 Points
24. UNC Pembroke - 81 Points
T-25. Bemidji St. - 73 Points
T-25. Valdosta St. - 73 Points