2007 Appalachian State Mountaineers football team
Encyclopedia
The 2007 Appalachian State Mountaineers football team represented Appalachian State University
in the college football
season of 2007–2008
. The team was coached by Jerry Moore
and the Mountaineers
played their home games at Kidd Brewer Stadium
in Boone, North Carolina
.
The football team competes in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), formerly I-AA, as a member of the Southern Conference
. Appalachian is the only university in North Carolina
, public
or private, to win a National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) national championship in football
. The Mountaineers won the 2005 Division I-AA Football Championship and repeated as FCS national champions in 2006 and 2007. They also captured a third consecutive Southern Conference Southern Conference title.
The team is one of only two from its division to ever defeat a team ranked in the Associated Press Poll
, in a game
that was hailed as one of the biggest upset
s in the history of American sports. Additionally, two players from the 2007 team were selected in the 2008 NFL Draft
: wide receiver
Dexter Jackson
(Tampa Bay Buccaneers
) and safety Corey Lynch
(Cincinnati Bengals
).
.
The 2007
Appalachian State
-Michigan
game was a college football
game held on September 1 at Michigan Stadium
on the campus of the University of Michigan
in Ann Arbor, Michigan
. It pitted the homestanding Michigan Wolverines
against the two-time defending champions of the Division I FCS, the Appalachian State Mountaineers
. In what was hailed as one of the biggest upsets in the history of American sports, the Mountaineers shocked the fifth-ranked
Wolverines 34–32. It is believed to be the first win ever by a team in Division I FCS (still frequently known by its former name of Division I-AA) over a ranked team in Division I FBS (formerly Division I-A) since the NCAA
split its Division I into two football subdivisions in 1978.
against Division II Lenoir–Rhyne on September 8. In front of a record crowd of 28,802, senior quarterback Trey Elder started the game, filling in for an injured Armanti Edwards
, and threw for 210 yards and rushed for 90 more. The Mountaineers scored touchdowns on their first five possessions en route to racking up 403 yards of offense. The Bears were limited to 195 total yards. Freshman linebacker D. J. Smith lead the defense with 12 tackles. With the win, the Mountaineers extended their Division I leading win streak to 16 games and their home winning streak to 28 games.
to see the Mountaineers put up 429 yards of offense in a win over Northern Arizona
. The win was the 17th straight overall and 29th straight home victory. Trey Elder, starting in place of an injured Armanti Edwards
, accounted for 298 yards. Running back Kevin Richardson
set a career high with seven receptions for 122 yards and two touchdowns. Lumberjack quarterback Lance Kriesien paced the Northern Arizona offense with 171 passing and 129 rushing yards.
history, saw the Terriers
end the Mountaineers Division I leading winning streak at 17 games, 42–31. The Terriers outgained the Mountaineers 431 to 320 in total yardage with running back Kevious Johnson accounting for 104 rushing yards. Armanti Edwards
, starting in his first game since the Michigan win, re-injured his shoulder at the start of the second half. Trey Elder replaced Edwards and threw for 105 and rushed for 33 yards. Senior wide receiver Hans Batichon had a career high six receptions for 93 yards. The only other bright spot for the Mountaineers was CoCo Hillary's 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the second quarter.
rushes for 100 or more yards, with a 49–32 win over Elon
. The crowd of 13,100 was the largest in Rhodes Stadium
history. Appalachian outgained Elon 526 to 371 yards with 356 yards coming from a potent ground attack. The Mountaineer defense also played an impressive game, sacking Elon freshman quarterback Scott Riddle five times. Corey Lynch
blocked a Phoenix punt in second quarter and had an interception late in the game to help seal the victory.
crowd of 27,428 witnessed the Mountaineers rout the Bulldogs of Gardner–Webb 45–7. Kevin Richardson
's four second quarter touchdowns put the game away early. On the day, the Mountaineers outgained the Bulldogs 466–211 in total yardage to extend their home-winning streak to 30 games.
of Georgia Southern
, 38–35. The loss also ended the 30 game home winning streak compiled by the Mountaineers since a playoff defeat to Maine
in 2002. The Eagles were led by future Walter Payton Award
winner Jayson Foster
. Foster lined up as quarterback
, running back
, and wide receiver
and finished with 14 passing, 175 rushing and 41 receiving yards. Armanti Edwards
made only his third start of the season, and first since September 22, and became the first quarterback in Appalachian history to rush for over 200 yards. Trailing 38–20 with less than eight minutes left to play, a furious Mountaineer rally came up short as Edwards fell one yard shy of converting on fourth down.
Paladins 34–27 in Greenville, South Carolina
. The Mountaineers jumped out to a 24–7 lead at halftime only to see the Paladins roar back with 20 points in the second half. Appalachian rolled up 511 yards of offense with Armanti Edwards
finishing with 337 total yards and Kevin Richardson
adding 124 yards on 21 carries. Richardson become just the second player in ASU history with 4,000 career rushing yards. The game was sealed on a late Corey Lynch
interception on the goal line.
rushed for a school record of 291 yards, leading the Mountaineers to a 45–24 victory over The Citadel
Bulldogs
in Johnson Hagood Stadium
. The victory moved the Mountaineers into a virtual tie for first place with Wofford.
of Western Carolina
. The crowd of 27,977 was the largest to ever witness the Battle for the Old Mountain Jug
. The victory gave the Mountaineers a 53–18–1 series lead over their archrivals from Cullowhee
and a 24–6 advantage since the introduction of the Old Mountain Jug. Appalachian's 743 yards of offense was the second highest in school history after the 788 gained in a 115–0 win against Piedmont in 1936. Kevin Richardson
rushed for a career high 215 yards and Armanti Edwards
added 295 through the air. The Mountaineers also had a season high four interception
s and were never forced to punt.
became the Appalachian's all-time leading rusher, breaking John Settle
's record, in a 37–17 victory over the Chattanooga Mocs. The Mountaineers also claimed a share of the Southern Conference title, their third straight.
. The Dukes controlled the game in practically every statistical category, most notably the time of possession, which was over 40 minutes. James Madison's quarterback, Rodney Landers, led the dukes with 253 yards of total offense. Armanti Edwards
accounted for 258 total yards of offense for the Mountaineers. The Mountaineers were down 27–22 with less than two minutes remaining in the game and facing fourth down. Edwards found the end zone
after completing a pass to Devon Moore to put the Mountaineers ahead 28–27. On the ensuing possession, the Dukes drove 62 yards down the field to put themselves within easy field goal
range. James Madison head coach Mickey Matthews
made the decision to run one more play which resulted in a fumble
. Defensive end
Gary Tharrington knocked the ball from the grasp of the Dukes' running back, Jamal Sullivan, and it was recovered by linebacker
Pierre Banks to give the Mountaineers an improbable win in front of 14,040 fans at Kidd Brewer Stadium
.
accounted for 347 yards of offense and three touchdowns in leading the Mountaineers to a 38–35 victory over the Eastern Washington
Eagles. Safety Corey Lynch
led the defense with an interception, fumble recovery and a blocked field goal in limiting Eastern Washington's passing attack by more than 120 yards off their season average. The victory tied the Mountaineers with the Eagles
of Georgia Southern
as the only two programs to have 10 consecutive postseason wins in contiguous years.
to see the Mountaineers defeat the Richmond Spiders
55–35 on December 7, 2007. Armanti Edwards
racked up 313 yards on the ground, setting an NCAA Division I record for rushing by a quarterback in the win. He accounted for seven touchdowns (four rushing and three passing) and 495 of the Mountaineers 617 total yards. Appalachian jumped out to an early 35–14 lead only to see the Spiders tie up the game in the third quarter. The Mountaineers responded with 20 straight points capped with an incerception by senior safety Corey Lynch
. With the win, Appalachian became just the fifth program in FCS history to advance to three-consecutive national title games, joining Eastern Kentucky
(1979–82), Georgia Southern
(1988–90 and 1998–2000), Marshall
(1991–93) and Youngstown State
(1991–94).
. The Blue Hens of Delaware
stood in the way of history. Senior running back Kevin Richardson
led the way for the Mountaineers with 111 yards rushing and 27 receiving, finishing his career as Appalachian's all-time leading rusher with 4,797 yards. Accounting for three passing touchdowns, Armanti Edwards
threw for 198 yards and rushed for another 98. The Blue Hens offensive attack was paced by future National Football League
first round draft pick
Joe Flacco
at quarterback, who threw for 334 yards and one touchdown. Trey Elder, in his last game in black and gold, finished the scoring for the Mountaineers with a 53-yard scamper to make the score 49–14. Armanti Edwards finished the season with 1,948 yards passing and 1,587 yards rushing. He was 52 passing yards short of becoming only the second player in NCAA
history to pass for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 twice. The record attendance of 23,010 on hand at Finley Stadium was the largest neutral site crowd for the NCAA Division I Championship Game.
class="wikitable" style="white-space:nowrap;text-align:center;">
ASU Opp
Punts–Yards
53–1,993
81–3,147
Avg per Punt
37.6
38.9
Time of Possession/Game
29:22
30:38
3rd Down Conversions
87 for 197
85 for 222
4th Down Conversions
14 for 26
18 for 36
Touchdowns Scored
85
53
Field Goals–Attempts
17–21
10–19
PAT–Attempts
78–83
48–49
Attendance
217,968
166,868
Games/Avg per Game
9/24,219
5/33,374
2007 statistics at GoASU
Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University is a comprehensive , public, coeducational university located in Boone, North Carolina, United States. Appalachian State, also referred to as Appalachian, App State, or simply App, is the sixth largest institution in the University of North Carolina system...
in the college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
season of 2007–2008
2007 NCAA Division I FCS football season
The 2007 NCAA Division I FCS football season, part of the college football season, began on August 25, 2007 and concluded on December 14, 2007 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where the Appalachian State Mountaineers defeated the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens to win the NCAA Division I Football...
. The team was coached by Jerry Moore
Jerry Moore
Gerald Hundley "Jerry" Moore is the current head football coach of the Appalachian State University Mountaineers located in the town of Boone in Watauga County, North Carolina. He has filled the position since 1989. Moore has had a winning record in 19 out of the last 20 seasons. He led the...
and the Mountaineers
Appalachian State Mountaineers
The Appalachian State Mountaineers are the athletic teams that represent Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, United States. The Mountaineers compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and have been a member of the Southern Conference since 1972....
played their home games at Kidd Brewer Stadium
Kidd Brewer Stadium
Kidd Brewer Stadium is located in Boone, North Carolina and is Appalachian State University's 21,650 seat multi-purpose stadium. Nicknamed "The Rock", the stadium is home to the Mountaineers, the NCAA 2005, 2006, and 2007 Division I FCS national champions. It is also the home of the school's field...
in Boone, North Carolina
Boone, North Carolina
Boone is a town located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, United States. Boone's population was reported as 17,122, as of 2010...
.
The football team competes in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), formerly I-AA, as a member of the Southern Conference
Southern Conference
The Southern Conference is a Division I college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision . Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama, Georgia, North...
. Appalachian is the only university in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, public
University of North Carolina
Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century...
or private, to win a National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA) national championship in football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
. The Mountaineers won the 2005 Division I-AA Football Championship and repeated as FCS national champions in 2006 and 2007. They also captured a third consecutive Southern Conference Southern Conference title.
The team is one of only two from its division to ever defeat a team ranked in the Associated Press Poll
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
, in a game
2007 Appalachian State vs. Michigan football game
The 2007 Appalachian State-Michigan game was a college football game held on September 1 at Michigan Stadium on the campus of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It pitted the #5 ranked Michigan Wolverines against the two-time defending champions of the Division I FCS, the...
that was hailed as one of the biggest upset
Upset
An upset occurs in a competition, frequently in electoral politics or sports, when the party popularly expected to win , is defeated by an underdog whom the majority expects to lose, defying the conventional wisdom...
s in the history of American sports. Additionally, two players from the 2007 team were selected in the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
: wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
Dexter Jackson
Dexter Jackson (wide receiver)
Dexter Myles Jackson is an American football wide receiver who is currently a practice squad member of the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
(Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
) and safety Corey Lynch
Corey Lynch
Corey Lynch is an American football safety for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Appalachian State.-High school:Corey graduated from Evangelical Christian School...
(Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
).
Schedule
Michigan
The 2007
2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on August 30, 2007, progressed through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 7, 2008, where the top...
Appalachian State
Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University is a comprehensive , public, coeducational university located in Boone, North Carolina, United States. Appalachian State, also referred to as Appalachian, App State, or simply App, is the sixth largest institution in the University of North Carolina system...
-Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
game was a college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
game held on September 1 at Michigan Stadium
Michigan Stadium
Michigan Stadium, nicknamed "The Big House," is the football stadium for the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan Stadium was built in 1927 at a cost of $950,000 and had an original capacity of 72,000. Before playing football at the stadium, the Wolverines played on Ferry Field...
on the campus of the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
. It pitted the homestanding Michigan Wolverines
2007 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 2007 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 2007 college football season. This was Lloyd Carr's final season as Michigan head coach. The 2007 season began with a stunning loss to Appalachian State, but the Wolverines won eight straight games after...
against the two-time defending champions of the Division I FCS, the Appalachian State Mountaineers
Appalachian State Mountaineers
The Appalachian State Mountaineers are the athletic teams that represent Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, United States. The Mountaineers compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and have been a member of the Southern Conference since 1972....
. In what was hailed as one of the biggest upsets in the history of American sports, the Mountaineers shocked the fifth-ranked
2007 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings
Three polls and one formulaic ranking make up the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings, in addition to various publications' preseason polls. Unlike most sports, college football's governing body, the NCAA, does not bestow a National Championship title. That title is bestowed by one or more...
Wolverines 34–32. It is believed to be the first win ever by a team in Division I FCS (still frequently known by its former name of Division I-AA) over a ranked team in Division I FBS (formerly Division I-A) since the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
split its Division I into two football subdivisions in 1978.
Lenoir–Rhyne
The Mountaineers returned home after the Michigan win for their first contest at Kidd Brewer StadiumKidd Brewer Stadium
Kidd Brewer Stadium is located in Boone, North Carolina and is Appalachian State University's 21,650 seat multi-purpose stadium. Nicknamed "The Rock", the stadium is home to the Mountaineers, the NCAA 2005, 2006, and 2007 Division I FCS national champions. It is also the home of the school's field...
against Division II Lenoir–Rhyne on September 8. In front of a record crowd of 28,802, senior quarterback Trey Elder started the game, filling in for an injured Armanti Edwards
Armanti Edwards
Armanti Fredrico Edwards is an American football player for the Carolina Panthers. He was the starting quarterback for the Appalachian State Mountaineers football team from 2006–09. He was drafted by the Panthers in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft...
, and threw for 210 yards and rushed for 90 more. The Mountaineers scored touchdowns on their first five possessions en route to racking up 403 yards of offense. The Bears were limited to 195 total yards. Freshman linebacker D. J. Smith lead the defense with 12 tackles. With the win, the Mountaineers extended their Division I leading win streak to 16 games and their home winning streak to 28 games.
Northern Arizona
A crowd of 27,104 packed Kidd Brewer StadiumKidd Brewer Stadium
Kidd Brewer Stadium is located in Boone, North Carolina and is Appalachian State University's 21,650 seat multi-purpose stadium. Nicknamed "The Rock", the stadium is home to the Mountaineers, the NCAA 2005, 2006, and 2007 Division I FCS national champions. It is also the home of the school's field...
to see the Mountaineers put up 429 yards of offense in a win over Northern Arizona
Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University is a public university located in Flagstaff, Arizona, United States. It is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and has 39 satellite campuses in the state of Arizona. The university offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees.As of...
. The win was the 17th straight overall and 29th straight home victory. Trey Elder, starting in place of an injured Armanti Edwards
Armanti Edwards
Armanti Fredrico Edwards is an American football player for the Carolina Panthers. He was the starting quarterback for the Appalachian State Mountaineers football team from 2006–09. He was drafted by the Panthers in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft...
, accounted for 298 yards. Running back Kevin Richardson
Kevin Richardson (American football)
Kevin Lamont Richardson is a former starting running back for the Appalachian State Mountaineers for the 2005-2007 seasons...
set a career high with seven receptions for 122 yards and two touchdowns. Lumberjack quarterback Lance Kriesien paced the Northern Arizona offense with 171 passing and 129 rushing yards.
Wofford
A crowd of 11,042, the fourth largest in Gibbs StadiumGibbs Stadium
Gibbs Stadium is a 13,000-seat multi-purpose stadium in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It opened in 1996 and is home to the Wofford College Terriers football team. It is also the home to the Spartanburg High School varsity football team. It is home to the 30th largest college football scoreboard in...
history, saw the Terriers
Wofford Terriers
Wofford College sponsors 18 sports for men's and women's programs. The Terriers also compete in the Southern Conference, and have been a part of the league since the 1997–98 academic year. Wofford and the other SoCon members play football in the Football Championship Subdivision...
end the Mountaineers Division I leading winning streak at 17 games, 42–31. The Terriers outgained the Mountaineers 431 to 320 in total yardage with running back Kevious Johnson accounting for 104 rushing yards. Armanti Edwards
Armanti Edwards
Armanti Fredrico Edwards is an American football player for the Carolina Panthers. He was the starting quarterback for the Appalachian State Mountaineers football team from 2006–09. He was drafted by the Panthers in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft...
, starting in his first game since the Michigan win, re-injured his shoulder at the start of the second half. Trey Elder replaced Edwards and threw for 105 and rushed for 33 yards. Senior wide receiver Hans Batichon had a career high six receptions for 93 yards. The only other bright spot for the Mountaineers was CoCo Hillary's 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the second quarter.
Elon
The Mountaineers moved to 15–0 when running back Kevin RichardsonKevin Richardson (American football)
Kevin Lamont Richardson is a former starting running back for the Appalachian State Mountaineers for the 2005-2007 seasons...
rushes for 100 or more yards, with a 49–32 win over Elon
Elon University
Elon University is a private liberal arts university in Elon, North Carolina, United States. Formerly known as Elon College, it became Elon University on June 1, 2001. The campus is a botanical garden and features oak trees, brick sidewalks, fountains, and lakes...
. The crowd of 13,100 was the largest in Rhodes Stadium
Rhodes Stadium
Rhodes Stadium is a 13,000-seat multi-purpose stadium in Elon, North Carolina. Named for trustee Dusty Rhodes, his wife, Peggy, and their family, the stadium opened in 2001 and is home to the Elon University Phoenix football team. The stadium also hosts soccer games.Before Rhodes Stadium was built...
history. Appalachian outgained Elon 526 to 371 yards with 356 yards coming from a potent ground attack. The Mountaineer defense also played an impressive game, sacking Elon freshman quarterback Scott Riddle five times. Corey Lynch
Corey Lynch
Corey Lynch is an American football safety for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Appalachian State.-High school:Corey graduated from Evangelical Christian School...
blocked a Phoenix punt in second quarter and had an interception late in the game to help seal the victory.
Gardner–Webb
A record homecomingHomecoming
Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni of a school. It most commonly refers to a tradition in many universities, colleges and high schools in North America...
crowd of 27,428 witnessed the Mountaineers rout the Bulldogs of Gardner–Webb 45–7. Kevin Richardson
Kevin Richardson (American football)
Kevin Lamont Richardson is a former starting running back for the Appalachian State Mountaineers for the 2005-2007 seasons...
's four second quarter touchdowns put the game away early. On the day, the Mountaineers outgained the Bulldogs 466–211 in total yardage to extend their home-winning streak to 30 games.
Georgia Southern
Appalachian State suffered its second loss of the year in a heartbreaking defeat to the EaglesGeorgia Southern Eagles football
The Georgia Southern Eagles represent Georgia Southern University in football as part of the Southern Conference under head coach Jeff Monken. The Eagles have won an unprecedented six FCS national championships and eight Southern Conference championships and have produced two Walter Payton Award...
of Georgia Southern
Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University is a national public university located on a campus in Statesboro, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1906, it is part of the University System of Georgia and is the largest center of higher education in the southern half of Georgia offering 117 academic majors in a comprehensive...
, 38–35. The loss also ended the 30 game home winning streak compiled by the Mountaineers since a playoff defeat to Maine
University of Maine
The University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System...
in 2002. The Eagles were led by future Walter Payton Award
Walter Payton Award
The Walter Payton Award is awarded annually to the most outstanding offensive player in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision of college football as chosen by a nationwide panel of media and college sports information directors...
winner Jayson Foster
Jayson Foster
Jayson D. Foster is an American football wide receiver for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2008...
. Foster lined up as quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
, running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
, and wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
and finished with 14 passing, 175 rushing and 41 receiving yards. Armanti Edwards
Armanti Edwards
Armanti Fredrico Edwards is an American football player for the Carolina Panthers. He was the starting quarterback for the Appalachian State Mountaineers football team from 2006–09. He was drafted by the Panthers in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft...
made only his third start of the season, and first since September 22, and became the first quarterback in Appalachian history to rush for over 200 yards. Trailing 38–20 with less than eight minutes left to play, a furious Mountaineer rally came up short as Edwards fell one yard shy of converting on fourth down.
Furman
Rebounding from the loss against Georgia Southern, the Mountaineers held on to defeat the FurmanFurman University
Furman University is a selective, private, coeducational, liberal arts college in Greenville, South Carolina, United States. Furman is one of the oldest, and more selective private institutions in South Carolina...
Paladins 34–27 in Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
. The Mountaineers jumped out to a 24–7 lead at halftime only to see the Paladins roar back with 20 points in the second half. Appalachian rolled up 511 yards of offense with Armanti Edwards
Armanti Edwards
Armanti Fredrico Edwards is an American football player for the Carolina Panthers. He was the starting quarterback for the Appalachian State Mountaineers football team from 2006–09. He was drafted by the Panthers in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft...
finishing with 337 total yards and Kevin Richardson
Kevin Richardson (American football)
Kevin Lamont Richardson is a former starting running back for the Appalachian State Mountaineers for the 2005-2007 seasons...
adding 124 yards on 21 carries. Richardson become just the second player in ASU history with 4,000 career rushing yards. The game was sealed on a late Corey Lynch
Corey Lynch
Corey Lynch is an American football safety for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Appalachian State.-High school:Corey graduated from Evangelical Christian School...
interception on the goal line.
The Citadel
Armanti EdwardsArmanti Edwards
Armanti Fredrico Edwards is an American football player for the Carolina Panthers. He was the starting quarterback for the Appalachian State Mountaineers football team from 2006–09. He was drafted by the Panthers in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft...
rushed for a school record of 291 yards, leading the Mountaineers to a 45–24 victory over The Citadel
The Citadel (military college)
The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, also known simply as The Citadel, is a state-supported, comprehensive college located in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. It is one of the six senior military colleges in the United States...
Bulldogs
The Citadel Bulldogs
The Citadel Bulldogs are the athletic teams that represent The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina. All sports participate in the NCAA Division I. Varsity sports compete primarily in the Southern Conference, although the Rifle teams compete in the South Eastern Air Rifle Conference...
in Johnson Hagood Stadium
Johnson Hagood Stadium
Johnson Hagood Stadium, is a 21,000-seat football stadium in Charleston, South Carolina that is the home field of The Citadel; it is named in honor of Brigadier General Johnson Hagood CSA, Class of 1847 who commanded Confederate forces in Charleston during the Civil War and later served as...
. The victory moved the Mountaineers into a virtual tie for first place with Wofford.
Western Carolina
The Mountaineers had their highest offensive output in 71 years in a 79–35 rout over the CatamountsWestern Carolina Catamounts
The Western Carolina Catamounts are the athletic teams of Western Carolina University. The Catamounts compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Southern Conference. Western fields sixteen varsity sports teams. The Catamount football team competes in Division I Football...
of Western Carolina
Western Carolina University
Western Carolina University is a coeducational public university located in Cullowhee, North Carolina, United States. The university is a constituent campus of the University of North Carolina system....
. The crowd of 27,977 was the largest to ever witness the Battle for the Old Mountain Jug
Battle for the Old Mountain Jug
The Battle for the Old Mountain Jug is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Appalachian State Mountaineers football team of Appalachian State University and the Western Carolina Catamounts football team of Western Carolina University.- Series history :The Mountaineers...
. The victory gave the Mountaineers a 53–18–1 series lead over their archrivals from Cullowhee
Cullowhee, North Carolina
Cullowhee is a census-designated place in Jackson County, North Carolina, United States. Cullowhee is best known for being the home of Western Carolina University . The population was 9,428 as of the 2010 census. The area known as Cullowhee has Western Carolina University, part of the UNC...
and a 24–6 advantage since the introduction of the Old Mountain Jug. Appalachian's 743 yards of offense was the second highest in school history after the 788 gained in a 115–0 win against Piedmont in 1936. Kevin Richardson
Kevin Richardson (American football)
Kevin Lamont Richardson is a former starting running back for the Appalachian State Mountaineers for the 2005-2007 seasons...
rushed for a career high 215 yards and Armanti Edwards
Armanti Edwards
Armanti Fredrico Edwards is an American football player for the Carolina Panthers. He was the starting quarterback for the Appalachian State Mountaineers football team from 2006–09. He was drafted by the Panthers in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft...
added 295 through the air. The Mountaineers also had a season high four interception
Interception (football)
An interception, intercept or pick is a move in many forms of football, including Canadian and American football, as well as rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules football and Gaelic football, which involves a pass, either by foot or hand, being caught by an opposition player, who usually...
s and were never forced to punt.
Chattanooga
Kevin RichardKevin Richardson (American football)
Kevin Lamont Richardson is a former starting running back for the Appalachian State Mountaineers for the 2005-2007 seasons...
became the Appalachian's all-time leading rusher, breaking John Settle
John Settle
John R. Settle , is a former professional American football player. A 5'9", 207-lb. undrafted running back from Appalachian State University, Settle attended Rockingham County High School and played for the Atlanta Falcons from 1987 to 1990...
's record, in a 37–17 victory over the Chattanooga Mocs. The Mountaineers also claimed a share of the Southern Conference title, their third straight.
James Madison
A forced fumble with 22 seconds left in the game gave the Mountaineers a 28–27 win over James MadisonJames Madison Dukes football
The James Madison Dukes football team, founded in 1972, plays at Bridgeforth Stadium. Originally called JMU Stadium, it was renamed for William E. Bridgeforth in 1990. The JMU football team was rarely the centerpiece of JMU sports until the hiring of Mickey Matthews in 1999...
. The Dukes controlled the game in practically every statistical category, most notably the time of possession, which was over 40 minutes. James Madison's quarterback, Rodney Landers, led the dukes with 253 yards of total offense. Armanti Edwards
Armanti Edwards
Armanti Fredrico Edwards is an American football player for the Carolina Panthers. He was the starting quarterback for the Appalachian State Mountaineers football team from 2006–09. He was drafted by the Panthers in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft...
accounted for 258 total yards of offense for the Mountaineers. The Mountaineers were down 27–22 with less than two minutes remaining in the game and facing fourth down. Edwards found the end zone
End zone
In gridiron-based codes of football, the end zone refers to the scoring area on the field. It is the area between the end line and goal line bounded by the sidelines. There are two end zones, each being on an opposite side of the field...
after completing a pass to Devon Moore to put the Mountaineers ahead 28–27. On the ensuing possession, the Dukes drove 62 yards down the field to put themselves within easy field goal
Field goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
range. James Madison head coach Mickey Matthews
Mickey Matthews
Michael Chester "Mickey" Matthews, is the head football coach at James Madison University , and has served in that role since 1999. Under Matthews's leadership, James Madison achieved a Division 1-AA national football championship in 2004...
made the decision to run one more play which resulted in a fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
. Defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
Gary Tharrington knocked the ball from the grasp of the Dukes' running back, Jamal Sullivan, and it was recovered by linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Pierre Banks to give the Mountaineers an improbable win in front of 14,040 fans at Kidd Brewer Stadium
Kidd Brewer Stadium
Kidd Brewer Stadium is located in Boone, North Carolina and is Appalachian State University's 21,650 seat multi-purpose stadium. Nicknamed "The Rock", the stadium is home to the Mountaineers, the NCAA 2005, 2006, and 2007 Division I FCS national champions. It is also the home of the school's field...
.
Eastern Washington
Armanti EdwardsArmanti Edwards
Armanti Fredrico Edwards is an American football player for the Carolina Panthers. He was the starting quarterback for the Appalachian State Mountaineers football team from 2006–09. He was drafted by the Panthers in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft...
accounted for 347 yards of offense and three touchdowns in leading the Mountaineers to a 38–35 victory over the Eastern Washington
Eastern Washington University
Eastern Washington University is an American public, coeducational university located in Cheney, Washington.Founded in 1882, the university is academically divided into four colleges: Arts and Letters; Business and Public Administration; Science, Health and Engineering; and Social & Behavioral...
Eagles. Safety Corey Lynch
Corey Lynch
Corey Lynch is an American football safety for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Appalachian State.-High school:Corey graduated from Evangelical Christian School...
led the defense with an interception, fumble recovery and a blocked field goal in limiting Eastern Washington's passing attack by more than 120 yards off their season average. The victory tied the Mountaineers with the Eagles
Georgia Southern Eagles football
The Georgia Southern Eagles represent Georgia Southern University in football as part of the Southern Conference under head coach Jeff Monken. The Eagles have won an unprecedented six FCS national championships and eight Southern Conference championships and have produced two Walter Payton Award...
of Georgia Southern
Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University is a national public university located on a campus in Statesboro, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1906, it is part of the University System of Georgia and is the largest center of higher education in the southern half of Georgia offering 117 academic majors in a comprehensive...
as the only two programs to have 10 consecutive postseason wins in contiguous years.
Richmond
A record FCS postseason crowd of 24,140 packed Kidd Brewer StadiumKidd Brewer Stadium
Kidd Brewer Stadium is located in Boone, North Carolina and is Appalachian State University's 21,650 seat multi-purpose stadium. Nicknamed "The Rock", the stadium is home to the Mountaineers, the NCAA 2005, 2006, and 2007 Division I FCS national champions. It is also the home of the school's field...
to see the Mountaineers defeat the Richmond Spiders
Richmond Spiders football
The Richmond Spiders are a college football team representing the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia. Richmond was the Division I Football Championship Subdivision champion for the 2008 season. Richmond currently competes in the Colonial Athletic Association of the NCAA's Division I...
55–35 on December 7, 2007. Armanti Edwards
Armanti Edwards
Armanti Fredrico Edwards is an American football player for the Carolina Panthers. He was the starting quarterback for the Appalachian State Mountaineers football team from 2006–09. He was drafted by the Panthers in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft...
racked up 313 yards on the ground, setting an NCAA Division I record for rushing by a quarterback in the win. He accounted for seven touchdowns (four rushing and three passing) and 495 of the Mountaineers 617 total yards. Appalachian jumped out to an early 35–14 lead only to see the Spiders tie up the game in the third quarter. The Mountaineers responded with 20 straight points capped with an incerception by senior safety Corey Lynch
Corey Lynch
Corey Lynch is an American football safety for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Appalachian State.-High school:Corey graduated from Evangelical Christian School...
. With the win, Appalachian became just the fifth program in FCS history to advance to three-consecutive national title games, joining Eastern Kentucky
Eastern Kentucky University
Eastern Kentucky University, commonly referred to as Eastern or by the acronym EKU by local residents, is an undergraduate and graduate teaching and research institution located in Richmond, Kentucky, U.S.A.. EKU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools...
(1979–82), Georgia Southern
Georgia Southern Eagles football
The Georgia Southern Eagles represent Georgia Southern University in football as part of the Southern Conference under head coach Jeff Monken. The Eagles have won an unprecedented six FCS national championships and eight Southern Conference championships and have produced two Walter Payton Award...
(1988–90 and 1998–2000), Marshall
Marshall Thundering Herd
The Marshall Thundering Herd are the intercollegiate athletic teams that collectively represent the Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Thundering Herd athletic teams compete in Conference USA, which are members of the NCAA Division I...
(1991–93) and Youngstown State
Youngstown State Penguins
Youngstown State University is in NCAA Division I. Nicknamed the Penguins, they play in the Horizon League and Missouri Valley Football Conference, and compete in the following sports:*Baseball *Basketball *Cross Country...
(1991–94).
Delaware
Entering their third consecutive national championship game, the Mountaineers were looking to become the first team to win three in a row at the FCS (I-AA) level since the playoffs began in 19781978 in sports
1978 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Ingemar Stenmark, Sweden** Women's overall season champion: Hanni Wenzel, Liechtenstein-American football:...
. The Blue Hens of Delaware
University of Delaware
The university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...
stood in the way of history. Senior running back Kevin Richardson
Kevin Richardson (American football)
Kevin Lamont Richardson is a former starting running back for the Appalachian State Mountaineers for the 2005-2007 seasons...
led the way for the Mountaineers with 111 yards rushing and 27 receiving, finishing his career as Appalachian's all-time leading rusher with 4,797 yards. Accounting for three passing touchdowns, Armanti Edwards
Armanti Edwards
Armanti Fredrico Edwards is an American football player for the Carolina Panthers. He was the starting quarterback for the Appalachian State Mountaineers football team from 2006–09. He was drafted by the Panthers in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft...
threw for 198 yards and rushed for another 98. The Blue Hens offensive attack was paced by future National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
first round draft pick
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
Joe Flacco
Joe Flacco
Flacco was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens 18th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft, becoming the highest drafted player ever from the University of Delaware...
at quarterback, who threw for 334 yards and one touchdown. Trey Elder, in his last game in black and gold, finished the scoring for the Mountaineers with a 53-yard scamper to make the score 49–14. Armanti Edwards finished the season with 1,948 yards passing and 1,587 yards rushing. He was 52 passing yards short of becoming only the second player in NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
history to pass for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 twice. The record attendance of 23,010 on hand at Finley Stadium was the largest neutral site crowd for the NCAA Division I Championship Game.
Roster
Coaching staff
| Name | Position | Alma Mater | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jerry Moore Jerry Moore Gerald Hundley "Jerry" Moore is the current head football coach of the Appalachian State University Mountaineers located in the town of Boone in Watauga County, North Carolina. He has filled the position since 1989. Moore has had a winning record in 19 out of the last 20 seasons. He led the... |
Head Coach | Baylor Baylor University Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:... , 1961 |
19th |
| John Wiley | Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs | East Texas State Texas A&M University–Commerce Texas A&M University–Commerce is a state university located in Commerce, Texas and a member of the Texas A&M University System, the second largest university within the system behind Texas A&M University in College Station.... , 1984 |
17th |
| Dale Jones | Linebackers | Tennessee University of Tennessee The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States... , 1988 |
12th |
| Scott Satterfield | Quarterbacks | Appalachian State, 1996 | 9th |
| Shawn Elliott | Offensive Line | Appalachian State, 1996 | 11th |
| Chris Moore | Running Backs | Appalachian State, 1999 | 13th |
| Mark Speir | Defensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator | Clemson Clemson University Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States.... , 1990 |
5th |
| Lonnie Galloway | Wide Receivers (Split Ends) | Western Carolina Western Carolina University Western Carolina University is a coeducational public university located in Cullowhee, North Carolina, United States. The university is a constituent campus of the University of North Carolina system.... , 1994 |
3rd |
| Brad Glenn | Wide Receivers (Slot) | Clemson, 1995 | 3rd |
Rankings
| Poll | Pre | Wk 1 | Wk 2 | Wk 3 | Wk 4 | Wk 5 | Wk 6 | Wk 7 | Wk 8 | Wk 9 | Wk 10 | Wk 11 | Wk 12 | Final | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Sports Network | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 5 | |- style="text-align:cen>er;" | FCS Coaches | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 1 |
Awards and honors
- Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year (coaches and media) — Corey LynchCorey LynchCorey Lynch is an American football safety for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Appalachian State.-High school:Corey graduated from Evangelical Christian School...
- Southern Conference Jacobs Blocking TrophyJacobs Blocking TrophyThe Jacobs Blocking Trophy is the name of several similar annual college football awards bestowed by a conference upon their best blocker. The awards are named in honor of , the founder and president of Presbyterian College from 1935 to 1945. The trophies are awarded by his sons, Hugh and William...
— Kerry Brown
Team
| class="wikitable" style="white-space:nowrap;text-align:center;"> | ASU | Opp | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scoring | 641 | 400 | |
| Points per Game | 42.7 | 26.7 | |
| First Downs | 351 | 314 | |
| Rushing | 203 | 160 | |
| Passing | 130 | 132 | |
| Penalty | 18 | 22 | |
| Total Offense | 7,325 | 5,698 | |
| Avg per Play | 6.7 | 5.2 | |
| Avg per Game | 488.3 | 379.9 | |
| Fumbles–Lost | 26–13 | 24–12 | |
| Penalties–Yards | 99–829 | 90–717 | |
| Avg per Game | 55.3 | 47.8 |
Scores by quarter
2007 statistics at GoASU
External links
- GoASU.com - Official Appalachian State Mountaineers football website