FINDLAY, OHIO - After rolling to its first unbeaten Mid-States Football Association Mideast League season a year ago, Saint Xavier University has been picked as the favorite to capture the 2010 title in a vote by the league's coaches.

           Saint Xavier (7-0, 13-1) received six of the eight first-place votes and 62 points to finishing ahead of Walsh University and the University of Saint Francis of Fort Wayne, IN, two teams that shared runner-up honors with Taylor University last season. Walsh (5-2, 8-3) was named No. 1 on one ballot and had 52 points, while Saint Francis (5-2, 7-3) got the other first-place vote and 51 points.

           The remainder of the balloting saw Taylor (5-2, 7-3) receive 39 points, Marian University (3-4, 6-5) 32 points, Malone University (2-5, 4-6) 28 points, Olivet Nazarene University (1-6, 2-9) 14 points and Trinity International (0-7, 0-11).

           Malone and Trinity International will feature new coaches during the 2010 campaign, Eric Hehman taking the reins at Malone and Kirk Wherritt in charge at Trinity.

Saint Xavier (7-0, 13-1), 6 first-place votes, 62 points

Walsh (5-2, 8-3), 1 first-place vote, 52 points

Saint Francis (5-2, 7-3), 1 first-place vote, 51 points

Taylor (5-2, 7-3), 39 points

Marian (3-4, 6-5), 32 points

Malone (2-5, 4-6), 28 points

Olivet Nazarene (1-6, 2-9), 14 points

Trinity International (0-7, 0-11), 10 points