Appalachian State unanimous selection in Sports Network FCS Poll

Sep 4, 2007, 3:07 GMT

Philadelphia, PA - Fresh off its 34-32 victory over Michigan on Saturday, Appalachian State was the unanimous selection for No. 1 in the Sports Network FCS Top-25 Poll.

The Mountaineers, who became the first FCS team to defeat an Associated Press Top-25 team by beating the No. 5 Wolverines, received all 88 first-place votes. ASU, the two-time defending national champion, had received 67 of 71 votes in the preseason poll.

Massachusetts edged out Montana for second by just two points in a swap of places. The Minutemen defeated Holy Cross 40-30, while Montana defeated Southern Utah 37-17.

North Dakota State, which opens its season Saturday at home against Stephen F. Austin, remained fourth.

New Hampshire moved up one spot to fifth as it awaits its season-opening game Saturday at James Madison, which fell from eighth to 10th after losing 37-14 at North Carolina.

A 38-6 loss to Ohio State, ranked No. 11 in AP top-25 for FBS schools, cost Youngstown State one spot in the Sports Network poll. The Penguins fell from fifth to sixth.

McNeese State's resounding 35-13 victory over Portland State allowed the Cowboys to rush from 10th to seventh in the new poll. Portland State fell from 13th to 18th with the loss.

Northern Iowa gained one spot from No. 9 to No. 8 after beating Minnesota State 41-14 on Thursday night, while Furman advanced two slots from 11th to ninth by dispatching Presbyterian 40-16.

The biggest leap came from Delaware, which moved six positions from No. 19 to No. 13 with a 49-31 win over William & Mary on Thursday night. Eastern Illinois also made a major move, going up five places, from 17 to 12 following Thursday's 45-24 decision against Tennessee Tech.

Illinois State fell from No. 7 to No. 17 with its 27-24 loss to Drake, while Cal Poly's 38-35 loss to Texas State caused the Mustangs to tumble from 15th to 22nd.

Texas State was one of three new teams appearing in the poll at No. 19. Western Illinois's four-overtime victory against then-No. 20-South Dakota State put the Leathernecks at No. 24. The Jackrabbits fell to 28th in the voting.

Nicholls State joined Appalachian State in beating an FBS rival on Saturday. The Colonels edged Rice 16-14 and were rewarded in the 25th spot in the poll after being unranked in the preseason.

Hampton advanced one spot from 16th to 15th. The Pirates host Howard in an MEAC game to open their season on Saturday.

Yale was another team to take advantage of an off-date to move up one spot. The Bulldogs rose from 24th to 23rd, but don't open their season until a Sep. 15 encounter with Georgetown.

© 2007 The Sports Network