Undefeated New Hampshire still climbing the charts

By Staff and Wire Reports  |  October 7, 2008

Like the Jeffersons, the New Hampshire Wildcats are movin' on up.

Despite not playing last weekend, undefeated New Hampshire moved up one spot to No. 4 in the Sports Network Football Championship Subdivision Top 25 poll. The Wildcats, who are 4-0 for the third time in four seasons, received two first-place votes. James Madison (5-1) held on to the top spot, followed by Appalachian State (3-2) and McNeese State (3-1).

UMass (3-2), fresh off a win over Delaware, vaulted five spots to No. 13.

Big haul for Crane

Boston College quarterback Chris Crane was named one of five Atlantic Coast Conference players of the week after providing all the Eagles' touchdowns in a win over North Carolina State. Crane completed 34 of 51 passes for 428 yards and a pair of TDs and rushed for three scores.

Also garnering ACC honors were Florida State tackle Rodney Hudson (the Seminoles rushed for 281 yards); Virginia linebacker Clint Sintim (seven tackles); Florida State cornerback Tony Carter (two interceptions); and North Carolina linebacker Bruce Carter (three blocked punts).

Abare a smart choice

Yale senior linebacker Bobby Abare was named an Ivy League player of the week after collecting 10 tackles and a pair of interceptions in a double-overtime win over Holy Cross. The former Acton-Boxboro star returned his second pick 32 yards for a TD.

Harvard freshman defensive back Matthew Hansen was named rookie of the week after recording his first interception in a win over Lafayette.

Carpenter iffy

Arizona State coach Dennis Erickson said he wants to see how quarterback Rudy Carpenter's sprained left ankle responds before deciding whether he'll play at No. 8 Southern Cal Saturday. Carpenter was hurt in the Sun Devils' 24-14 loss at California last weekend. The senior has made 36 straight starts. The Sun Devils (2-3, 1-1 Pac-10) have dropped three straight games after opening the season ranked No. 15 . . . Louisville coach Steve Kragthorpe says quarterback Hunter Cantwell's injured left ankle won't stop him from starting Friday at Memphis. Cantwell was hurt in a 26-21 loss to Connecticut Sept. 26. Kragthorpe suspended placekicker Tim Dougherty two games for conduct detrimental to the team . . . Nebraska coach Bo Pelini is telling his players to keep their cool. The Cornhuskers have committed eight personal fouls in five games - not counting the flag Pelini got for unsportsmanlike conduct against Virginia Tech. "When there is an either-or situation in the heat of the moment, if the situation calls for it, you have to learn to pull off of it and not take the shot. We're not always doing that," Pelini said. "We need to play smarter."