The Bobcat Nation

cats move up to #11
New Hampshire back at No. 1

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - After a 29-26 victory at Hofstra, the New Hampshire Wildcats moved up one spot to re-claim the No. 1 position in The Sports Network I-AA Top 25 poll. The 8-1 Wildcats held the No. 1 ranking for two weeks earlier in the season. New Hampshire moved into the top spot due to Furman’s 27-24 loss at Georgia Southern. The Wildcats have a 6-1 record in the Atlantic 10, and go out of conference play to host Iona on Saturday. The Wildcats picked up 57 of a possible 108 first-place votes and 2,634 points to claim the No. 1 spot.

Hampton became the first team to clinch a spot in the postseason by knocking off Bethune-Cookman, 24-10, to earn the MEAC automatic bid. The 9-0 Pirates also vaulted one spot in the rankings to No. 2. Montana and Southern Illinois posted wins in conference play to move one rung to No. 3 and No. 4, respectively. Massachusetts vaulted three spots to No. 5.

Furman fell five positions to No. 6 after the loss to Georgia Southern. Texas State is up three slots to No. 7 after a 49-7 win against McNeese State. A 24-0 loss at LSU dropped Appalachian State one spot to No. 8, while Coastal Carolina remained put at No. 9. Georgia Southern is up four positions to No. 10 after the victory against the Paladins.

Montana State is up one spot to No.11. Western Kentucky fell six positions to No. 6 after losing in double overtime to Northern Iowa. Lehigh stays at No. 13, while UNI is up three spots to No. 14 after the win against Western Kentucky. Cal Poly moved three positions to No. 15 after knocking off Eastern Washington.

Grambling State and South Carolina State are up three spots to No. 16 and No. 17, respectively. Richmond moves five slots to No. 18, while Youngstown State fell four positions to No. 19. Brown is in at No. 20.

Eastern Washington fell 10 spots all the way to No. 21. North Dakota State is in at No. 22, with Eastern Illinois at No. 23, William & Mary at No. 24 and James Madison at No. 25. The Dukes are back in the top 25 after dropping out last week. UC Davis fell out of the rankings.

All top 25 teams are in action this weekend. There are three matchups between ranked teams, with a pair of Gateway Conference games highlighting the schedule. No. 4 Southern Illinois is at No. 14 Northern Iowa, and the winner will take the Gateway automatic bid. Also, No. 12 Western Kentucky is at No. 19 Youngstown State. In the Big Sky, No. 11 Montana State visits No. 21 Eastern Washington.

oohhhh man this is interesting

eastern at 21


wow


holy cow

obzerver what does the boys in cheney think about that?

Hell's Bells wrote:oohhhh man this is interesting

eastern at 21


wow


holy cow

obzerver what does the boys in cheney think about that?

It has to be their inconsistency as a team. Great one day, losing the next.

EWU is lucky to be in the polls at all, sitting at 5-4.

HB, no real surprise about the current state of affairs in injury ridden EWU Land(lost our 15th starter Sat. to a blown knee in All-Conference Safety Brandon Keeler in the last minute). It will be a monumental task for this coaching staff to get what's left of the players to put out an extraordinary effort in order to beat MSU. This game has the potential to be the most entertaining slug-fests of the year with one of the best QB vs QB match ups in many-a-year in the BSC. Both Seniors have just a little bit on the line this Sat. which should bring out the best in both...By the way, anyone know the BSC record for most yards in a game in a combined effort?

Obzerver wrote:HB, no real surprise about the current state of affairs in injury ridden EWU Land(lost our 15th starter Sat. to a blown knee in All-Conference Safety Brandon Keeler in the last minute). It will be a monumental task for this coaching staff to get what's left of the players to put out an extraordinary effort in order to beat MSU. This game has the potential to be the most entertaining slug-fests of the year with one of the best QB vs QB match ups in many-a-year in the BSC. Both Seniors have just a little bit on the line this Sat. which should bring out the best in both...By the way, anyone know the BSC record for most yards in a game in a combined effort?

it will be set this satruday....15th guy out because of injury...outch!

Obzerver wrote:HB, no real surprise about the current state of affairs in injury ridden EWU Land(lost our 15th starter Sat. to a blown knee in All-Conference Safety Brandon Keeler in the last minute). It will be a monumental task for this coaching staff to get what's left of the players to put out an extraordinary effort in order to beat MSU. This game has the potential to be the most entertaining slug-fests of the year with one of the best QB vs QB match ups in many-a-year in the BSC. Both Seniors have just a little bit on the line this Sat. which should bring out the best in both...By the way, anyone know the BSC record for most yards in a game in a combined effort?

Yes - probably the best QB-QB matchup since our game last year!!! I know Lulay will be ready to work his magic and of course Meyer will be too! Regarding your question - I think they combined for 1,100 or 1,200 yards last year or something ridiculous like that?

Last year's game was just unbelievable. It was a defensive struggle: both defenses really struggled. I bet that the offensive numbers will be a little bit down and each quarterback will be at about 300-400 yards or so of total offense. The defenses will play better than last year. As for losing 15 starters this year, that hurts. That could be an advantage for MSU. But Eastern hasn't lost the two starters that could do the most damage: Meyer and Kimble. This is going to be a great game.

How in the hell is Hampton at #2? Yes, I realize they haven't lost yet. They also haven't played anyone worth mentioning. I can even grant them the #2 spot (begrudgingly - I don't think they are top 10) due to the fact they haven't lost yet, but who are the 44 yahoos who are giving them their #1 votes? Are they serious?! New Hampshire would beat these Hampton boys by 50 points!

As for the Cats up to #11, I like where we are at. I could see us jumping up 3 or 4 more spots with a win this weekend, and we'll be in great position from there. Got to win first, though!

I wish we would have cracked the top 10. If we beat EWU and lose to the Griz, the only way we can get in the playoffs is if we are sitting high enough in the polls they will have a hard time leaving us out.

I'm thinking positive- win this weekend and move up into the top 10. Beat the Griz & move up again, while the Griz drop down a notch or two.

Well, since the #1 ranking has been a curse this year I'd say we are in good shape. New Hampshire will lose to drop out of #1, UM will(should) leapfrog Hampton and get the #1 ranking setting them up to complete the curse of the #1 when we beat them at Cat/Griz.

GOKATS wrote:I'm thinking positive- win this weekend and move up into the top 10. Beat the Griz & move up again, while the Griz drop down a notch or two.

If we win both - the polls won't mean diddly. We'll be home to start the playoffs...

Hell's Bells wrote:eastern at 21. what does the boys in cheney think about that?

Hate to say it, but I have this feeling that they'll be much higher after this Saturday. I say I hate to say it, 'cause it's only fun if the Cats stay in it.