EIU Among Teams Also Receiving Votes in Top 25

PHILADELPHIA – Eastern Illinois climbed among the teams also receiving votes in this week’s Sports Network Top 25 while the Panthers were listed among the teams also receiving votes in the FCS Coaches Poll for the first time this season.

EIU is coming off a 65-15 win over Austin Peay that moved the Panthers to 3-2 overall, 2-0 in the OVC.  The win was the biggest over an OVC opponent and the 65 points was the fourth highest total in school history.

The Panthers play at UT Martin, a team also receiving votes in the Sports Network Top 25 poll, this Saturday with a 2 p.m. kickoff.  EIU is the 12th team also receiving votes in the Sports Network poll which ranks them 37th in the nation.  EIU is the 10th team also receiving votes in the FCS Coaches poll which ranks them 35th.

North Dakota State remained the nation’s number one team improving to 5-0 on the year.  The Bison are one of eleven FCS teams that are still undefeated.  Two of those schools Tennessee State (5-0) and Alabama A&M (5-0) are not ranked.  TSU did move into No. 24 in the FCS Coaches poll this week.  EIU and TSU do not play each other on the OVC schedule this season.

Montana State, Youngstown State, Old Dominion and James Madison completed the top five.  MSU, YSU and ODU are all undefeated this year.  Wofford remained sixth this week followed by Eastern Washington, Georgia Southern, Illinois State and Sam Houston State in the top ten.  Wofford and ISU have not lost this season.

Undefeated Lehigh is 11th followed by Towson, Stony Brook, New Hampshire, Appalachian State, Delaware, Eastern Kentucky, Northern Arizona, The Citadel and Cal Poly.  Cal Poly has not lost this year.  The final five schools in this week’s Sports Network poll are McNeese State, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State, Central Arkansas and undefeated Harvard.

The Sports Network FCS Top 25  
College Football Poll  
                       
Team               (First-place votes)     2012 Record    Points  Previous Rank                  
1.      North Dakota State Bison (156)            4-0            4,204          1                      
2.      Montana State Bobcats (6)                   5-0            3,974          2                      
3.      Youngstown State Penguins (7)             4-0            3,857          3                      
4.      Old Dominion Monarchs                         5-0            3,691          4                      
5.      James Madison Dukes                           3-1            3,380          5                      
6.      Wofford Terriers                                    4-0            3,321          6                      
7.      Eastern Washington Eagles                    3-1            3,157          7                      
8.      Georgia Southern Eagles                        3-1            2,663       10                     
9.      Illinois State Redbirds                             5-0            2,602       13                     
9.      Sam Houston State Bearkats                 2-2            2,602         9                      
11.     Lehigh Mountain Hawks                         5-0            2,120       15                     
12.     Towson Tigers                                       2-2           2,076       12                     
13.     Stony Brook Seawolves                         4-1           2,036       18                     
14.     New Hampshire Wildcats                        3-2           1,847       20                     
15.     Appalachian State Mountaineers             3-2           1,789       17                     
16.     Delaware Blue Hens                               4-1           1,697         8                      
17.     Eastern Kentucky Colonels                     4-1           1,479       19                     
18.     Northern Arizona Lumberjacks               4-1            1,234       22                     
19.     The Citadel Bulldogs                               3-2            1,192       11                     
20.     Cal Poly Mustangs                                  4-0            1,172       23                     
21.     McNeese State Cowboys                        4-1               723       24                     
22.     Northern Iowa Panthers                         1-4                691       14                     
23.     South Dakota State Jackrabbits              4-1               618        25                     
24.     Central Arkansas Bears                           3-2               602       16                     
25.     Harvard Crimson                                     3-0               426      NR                     
Others receiving votes: Tennessee State 400, Albany 266, Montana 261, Stephen F. Austin 119, Samford 119, Alabama A&M 114, Villanova 102, Indiana State 67, North Dakota 56, Richmond 47, Jacksonville State 32, Eastern Illinois 27, Bethune-Cookman 25, UT Martin 25, Sacramento State 23, Chattanooga 22, Tennessee Tech 19, Howard 13, Southern Utah 8, Jacksonville 8, Southeastern Louisiana 6, Duquesne 5, Brown 4, Lafayette 2, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 1, South Dakota 1

Garoppolo, Houlihan Named Ohio Valley Players Of Week

Following Eastern Illinois 65-15 win over Austin Peay on Saturday afternoon juniors Jimmy Garoppolo and Pete Houlihan were named the Ohio Valley Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week.  The Panthers are 3-2 overall, 2-0 in the OVC.  EIU plays at UT Martin on Saturday with a 2 p.m. kickoff.

Garoppolo won his second OVC Offensive Player of the Week award after having a career day under center.  He completed 18-of-31 passes for a career-high 453 yards and five touchdowns (all over 50 yards in length) and rushed for 48 yards and another score in Eastern Illinois’ 65-15 victory over Austin Peay on Saturday. It marked his fourth 300-plus yard passing game of the season; the 453 yards were the fourth-most in school history and are the eighth-most yards by a quarterback in a single game in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) this season. Garoppolo had touchdown passes of 66, 66, 50, 63 and 56 yards as it marked the third time this season he has thrown five touchdowns in a game. His 52 career passing touchdowns now ranks third in school history behind only Tony Romo and Sean Payton. The junior currently ranks second nationally in each points responsible for (23.60/game), total offense (369.40 yards/game) and total passing yards (1,827) while also ranking third nationally in passing yards/game (365.4) and fifth in completions (28.20/game).

Houlihan was part of a defensive effort that shutdown Austin Peay 65-15.  The Panthers limited the Governors ground game to negative eight yards rushing until late in the second quarter before APSU finished with only 124 yards rushing all day.  He recorded a team-high 10 tackles (7 solo). In addition to his 10 stops, the junior had 1.5 tackles-for-loss and half a sack while also forcing a fumble, netting a pass breakup and registering a quarterback hurry. Houlihan currently ranks seventh nationally in forced fumbles/game (0.50).