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EWU picked to finish second, Montana sixth in Big Sky football
There won’t be an undefeated tie this year between North Dakota and Eastern Washington University in the race to the Big Sky Conference football championship, but they are expected to battle at the top again.
The Fighting Hawks and Eagles were pegged to finish 1-2, respectively, by both the coaches and media as the picks were released Tuesday at the Big Sky Conference Football Kickoff in Park City, Utah.
Montana was picked to finish sixth in both polls. Idaho State was picked to finish last in the 13-team league.
Eastern and North Dakota meet Nov. 11 in Grand Forks, N.D., in what could be a showdown for the league title. That game ends the regular season for the Fighting Hawks, while the Eagles play their last game at home versus Portland State the following week.
PRESEASON FOOTBALL POLLS
MEDIA POLL
(First-place votes in parentheses)
1, North Dakota (15) 298 points. 2, Eastern Washington (5) 271. 3, Northern Arizona (3) 236. 4, Cal Poly 224. 5, Weber State 209. 6, Montana (1) 204. 7, Southern Utah 175. 8, Montana State 156. 9, Northern Colorado 135, 10, Portland State 104. 11, UC Davis 62. 12, Sacramento State 61. 13, Idaho State 44.
COACHES POLL
(First-place votes in parentheses)
1, North Dakota (6) 130 points. 2, Eastern Washington (2) 124. 3, Northern Arizona (2) 119. 4, Cal Poly (1) 108. 5, Weber State (1) 103. 6, Montana (1) 83. 7, Southern Utah 80. 8, Montana State 69. 9, Portland State 62. 10, Northern Colorado 60. 11, UC Davis 35. 12, Sacramento State 26. 13, Idaho State 15.
Vandals’ Elliss, Cougs
named to award watch lists
FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. — Idaho junior linebacker Kaden Elliss has been recognized for his outstanding work both on and off the field as a member of the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List.
Washington State linebacker Peyton Pelluer, a fifth-year senior, was also named to the watch list.
The Wuerffel Trophy is known as “College Football’s Premier Award for Community Service.”
- Aikeem Coleman, Matt Linehan and head coach Paul Petrino will be in New Orleans this weekend for the annual Sun Belt Media Day on Monday. The event will be streamed live through ESPN3.
- Washington State junior wide receiver Tavares Martin Jr. was named to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List, an award given to the most outstanding receiver in college football.
- Washington State running back Jamal Morrow was named to the Paul Hornung Award Watch List. The award is given annually to the most versatile player in major college football. Morrow becomes the first Cougar to be named to the Paul Hornung Watch List since the award was created in 2010.