By DAVE GUFFEY for GoGriz.com
The University of Montana Grizzlies moved a notch in both the Sports Network and FCS Coaches’ final regular-season polls, coming off last Saturday’s 28-14 victory over the 13th-ranked Montana State Bobcats, both of those entities announced today (Monday, Nov. 25).
The Grizzlies’ moved up to fourth in the Sports Network’s poll – its highest of the 2013 season, and was tabbed fifth in the FCS Coaches’ poll.
Montana, which improved to 10-2 overall and 6-2 in the Big Sky Conference with its win at MSU, moved up to 4th from 5th in the Sports Network’s Top 25, earning 2,997 points. The Griz went from 6th to 5th in the FCS Coaches Top 25, receiving 517 points.
North Dakota State, the two-time defending national champion, is 11-0 overall, and remained first in both polls, receiving all 143 first-place votes and 3,575 points in the Sports Network poll, and all 25 votes and 625 points from the FCS coaches. Eastern Illinois, at 11-1, stayed second in both polls.
The Big Sky now has five teams ranked in the top 25 in both polls: Eastern Washington (10-2) at third; Northern Arizona (9-2) at 8th & 9th; Montana State (7-5) at 16th and 18th; and Southern Utah (8-4), which is 22nd and 25th; and of course #4-#5 Montana.
The final polls are for the 2013 season are announced after the completion of the FCS playoffs.
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