BOONE, N.C. — Thanks to a 45-17 win over visiting Jacksonville on Saturday, coupled with losses by No. 1 Montana and No. 2 Southern Illinois, Appalachian State University is the nation's top-ranked team in this week's American Football Coaches Association NCAA Division I FCS poll, which was released on Monday afternoon.
Off to only its second 2-0 start in 12 seasons, Appalachian (2-0, 1-0 SoCon) received 11-of-28 first-place votes to edge out defending national champion Villanova for the top spot in this week's AFCA poll. ASU is ranked No. 1 for the first time since the 2009 preseason poll.
In The Sports Network media poll, the Mountaineers are ranked No. 2 behind Villanova this week.
Individually, junior wide receiver Brian Quick was tabbed as the Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Week by the SoCon office on Monday. Quick hauled in six receptions for 132 yards and three touchdowns in Saturday's triumph over Jacksonville. The three touchdown catches matched a career high and he became the first Mountaineer with three TD receptions in a game since he did it versus Wofford in 2008. The 100-yard effort was the sixth of his career and marked the first time the 6-5, 220-pounder has ever reached the 100-yard plateau in back-to-back games.
For the year, Quick ranks second nationally in receiving yardage at 126.5 yards per game.
Additionally, SouthernPigskin.com honored ASU quarterback DeAndre Presley as its SoCon Offensive Player of the Week. Presley racked up a career-best 386 yards of total offense (285 passing, 101 rushing) and threw for four touchdowns (also a career high) in the win over the Dolphins. In the process, Presley became the first player in Mountaineer history to account for at least 300 yards of total offense in three of his first four career starts.
Presley, who was the SoCon and national Player of the Week following his 365-yard performance in Appalachian's season-opening win at Chattanooga, leads the nation inpassing efficiency (190.5 passer rating), total offense (375.5 yards per game) and touchdowns responsible for (nine) through two weeks.
In other player news, defensive end Lanston Tanyi underwent surgery on Monday in Charlotte, N.C. for a toe injury sustained during fall camp. Tanyi's recovery time from the surgery on his left foot is expected to be 16 weeks.
Tanyi, who did not redshirt as a true freshman in 2008 and has not seen game action this season, will redshirt this year and have two seasons of eligibility remaining when he returns to the field in 2011.
