On the heels of a 30-6 win over Shaw University and off to a 2-0 start, the West Alabama football team climbed eight spots to No. 17 in this week’s American Football Coaches Association Division II Football Poll.

The Tigers are one of four Gulf South Conference teams in the weekly rankings. North Alabama (1-0) remained at No. 5. Valdosta State (2-0) jumped to 13th from No. 23 and Delta State (1-0) climbed three spots to 14th.

West Alabama ventures into Football Championship Series territory this week, traveling to Jacksonville State (1-1) to meet the Gamecocks. Jacksonville State is ranked 8th in one FCS national poll and 9th in another. Coming off a bye week, the Gamecocks have defeated Tennessee Chattanooga, 26-23, in overtime and lost at Michigan State, 45-7.

Tickets for the game at Burgess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium are available at http://bit.ly/Ywo2WX.