NAU finishes 20th in both FCS polls

Published Jan. 7, 2013 3:53 p.m. ET

foxsports

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Northern Arizona was ranked 20th in both of the final Football Championship Subdivision polls released Monday. It was the eighth time in school history the Lumberjacks were listed in a final poll and first time since the 2003 season.

The Lumberjacks finished 20th in both the coaches poll and the Sports Network poll of sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters and writers.

NAU finished the season 8-3. After opening the year with a loss at Arizona State, the Lumberjacks won eight consecutive games for the first time since the 1958 season, when they won 11 straight. NAU beat an FBS/I-A opponent for the first time since 1987 with its 17-14 victory on Sept. 8 over UNLV, snapping a 21-game losing streak to FBS opponents. The win at Montana on Sept. 22 was the first win for NAU over Montana since 1997 and the first in Missoula since a 34-28 victory in 1986. The Lumberjacks also posted a 5-1 record on the road, tying the school record for road wins, and league play with a 6-0 start for first time since 1996, tying
the school record for consecutive Big Sky wins, before finishing in
fourth place with a 6-2 league mark.

NAU was ranked for nine consecutive weeks to end the season. The No. 11 ranking before the Southern Utah game on Nov. 10 was the highest for the program since 2003, when the Lumberjacks were ranked as high as No. 10.

The Lumberjacks return 18 starters in 2013 and are scheduled to open the season at Arizona.

2012 Sports Network Final Poll

1. North Dakota State (142) 14-1 3,350
2. Sam Houston State 11-4 3,386
3. Georgia Southern 12-4 3,183
4. Eastern Washington 11-3 3,143
5. Montana State 11-2 2,949
6. Old Dominion 11-2 2,859
7. Wofford 9-4 2,673
8. Illinois State 9-4 2,289
9. Appalachian State 8-4 2,229
10. Central Arkansas 9-3 2,166
11. Stony Brook 10-3 2,158
12. Cal Poly 9-3 1,930
13. New Hampshire 8-4 1,839
14. South Dakota State 9-4 1,537
15. Villanova 8-4 1,354
16. Lehigh 10-1 1,346
17. Towson 7-4 1,147
18. Richmond 8-3 938
19. James Madison 7-4 894
20. Northern Arizona 736
21. Wagner 9-4 103
22. Bethune-Cookman 9-3 523
23. Eastern Kentucky 8-3 515
24. Coastal Carolina 8-5 495
25. Colgate 7-5 383

2012 FCS Coaches Final Poll

1. North Dakota State (26) 14-1 650
2. Sam Houston State 11-4 618
3. Georgia Southern 12-4 579
4. Eastern Washington 11-3 572
5. Montana State 11-2 539
6. Old Dominion 11-2 527
7. Wofford 9-4 496
8. Appalachian State 8-4 434
9. Illinois State 9-4 408
10. Central Arkansas 9-3 401
11. Cal Poly 9-3 378
12. Stony Brook 10-3 366
13. New Hampshire 8-4 334
14. Lehigh 10-1 295
15. Towson 7-4 235
16. Villanova 8-4 227
17. South Dakota State 9-4 222
18. Richmond 8-3 188
19. Eastern Kentucky 8-3 163
20. Northern Arizona 8-2 142
21. James Madison 7-4 111
22. Wagner 9-4 103
23. Bethune-Cookman 9-3 89
24. Coastal Carolina 8-5 88
25. Eastern Illinois 7-5 75