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Despite Tough End to Season, Appalachian Gets Top 10 Rank in Final FCS Coaches Poll, Sports Network Poll

By Paul T. Choate

Andrew Peacock and the Mountaineers season ended in heartbreak in a loss to Illinois State on Dec. 1. Photo by Tyler Buckwell and courtesy of Appalachian Sports Information
Andrew Peacock and the Mountaineers season ended in heartbreak in a loss to Illinois State on Dec. 1. Photo by Tyler Buckwell and courtesy of Appalachian Sports Information

Jan. 8, 2013. Following a disappointing end to their season on a blocked free kick by Illinois State, the Mountaineers football team can look back on their final rankings and take some pride in single digits. ASU’s final rank came in at No. 8 in the final FCS Coaches Poll and No. 9 in the Sports Network Poll. 

North Dakota State finished the season with the No. 1 ranking. The Bisons finished their season 14-1 and dismantled Sam Houston State last Saturday 39-13 to win their second-consecutive national championship. 

The team that vanquished ASU from the playoffs did not have long to enjoy their win, as they were upended in the very next round by Eastern Washington and received a No. 9 ranking in the final Coaches Poll and a No. 8 ranking in the final Sports Network Poll. 

The Southern Conference’s highest ranked team in the final polls was Georgia Southern. The Golden Eagles finished their season with a 10-4 record, making it to the FCS Tournament semifinals before to the eventual champions 23-20. Both the final Coaches Poll and Sports Network Poll ranked the Golden Eagles at No. 3, behind only the two teams that squared off in the championship game. 

Another SoCon standout this year turned out to be the Wofford Terriers, who finished their season with a 9-4 record and were ranked No. 7 in both final polls. The Terriers made it to the quarterfinals before losing to North Dakota State 14-7. 

Final FCS Coaches Poll

Team (No. 1 Votes) 2012 Record Points Previous Ranking
1. North Dakota State (26) 14-1 650 1
2. Sam Houston State 11-4 618 5
3. Georgia Southern 10-4 579 7
4. Eastern Washington 11-3 572 4
5. Montana State 11-2 539 2
6. Old Dominion 11-2 527 3
7. Wofford 9-4 496 9
8. Appalachian State 8-4 434 6
9. Illinois State 9-4 408 15
10. Central Arkansas 9-3 401 8
11. Cal Poly 9-3 378 12
12. Stony Brook 10-3 366 11
13. New Hampshire 8-4 334 13
14. Lehigh 10-1 295 10
15. Towson 7-4 235 14
16. Villanova 8-4 227 18
17. South Dakota State 9-4 222 21
18. Richmond 8-3 188 17
19. Eastern Kentucky 8-3 163 16
20. Northern Arizona 8-2 142 19
21. James Madison 7-4 111 20
22. Wagner 9-4 103 NR
23. Bethune-Cookman 9-3 89 22
24. Coastal Carolina 8-5 88 NR
25. Eastern Illinois 7-5 75 NR

Final Sports Network Poll

Team (First-place votes) Record Points Previous Rank
1. North Dakota State Bison (142) 14-1 3,550 1
2. Sam Houston State Bearkats 11-4 3,386 5
3. Georgia Southern Eagles 10-4 3,183 6
4. Eastern Washington Eagles 11-3 3,143 4
5. Montana State Bobcats 11-2 2,949 2
6. Old Dominion Monarchs 11-2 2,859 3
7. Wofford Terriers 9-4 2,673 9
8. Illinois State Redbirds 9-4 2,289 16
9. Appalachian State Mountaineers 8-4 2,229 7
10. Central Arkansas Bears 9-3 2,166 8
11. Stony Brook Seawolves 10-3 2,158 10
12. Cal Poly Mustangs 9-3 1,930 12
13. New Hampshire Wildcats 8-4 1,839 11
14. South Dakota State Jackrabbits 9-4 1,537 19
15. Villanova Wildcats 8-4 1,354 14
16. Lehigh Mountain Hawks 10-1 1,346 13
17. Towson Tigers 7-4 1,147 15
18. Richmond Spiders 8-3 938 18
19. James Madison Dukes 7-4 894 17
20. Northern Arizona Lumberjacks 8-3 736 20
21. Wagner Seahawks 9-4 603 NR
22. Bethune-Cookman Wildcats 9-3 523 22
23. Eastern Kentucky Colonels 8-3 515 21
24. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 8-5 495 NR
25. Colgate Raiders 8-4 383 24