The Blazers moved from No. 4 to No. 3 in the rankings following a 37-6 win over Gulf South Conference newcomer Shorter.Miles remains the top-ranked team in the region with an 8-1 record, followed by West Alabama, who clinched at least a share of the Gulf South Conference championship this past weekend.
Mars Hill, No. 2 in the first region rankings, moved down two spots to No. 4. Carson-Newman is fifth, followed by Lenoir-Rhyne, who moved up one spot from seventh.
Fort Valley State is down one spot to seventh, followed by UNC-Pembroke, Albany State and North Alabama.
If the playoffs were to begin this week, Miles and West Alabama would receive bye's, while Valdosta State would host Lenoir-Rhyne and Mars Hill would host Carson-Newman.
The final region rankings will be released Sunday, Nov. 11 and the top six teams in each of the four regions qualify for the playoffs, which begin Nov. 17.
— Follow me on Twitter at @Ed_Hooper.
