Appalachian State scored the second-most points in a single game in school history Saturday, running up a 79-35 victory over rival Western Carolina to capture the Old Mountain Jug for the 21st time in the last 23 meetings.
On a Saturday when Nebraska posted 73 points and Navy got 74, the Mountaineers (8-2, 4-2 Southern Conference) produced the most points in a game since a 115-0 beating of Piedmont in 1936.
The final score was also the most points in the series by a big margin. In 1966, Western Carolina took a 35-33 victory.
At the half, Appalachian State held a 45-21 edge, matching the most points it has scored in the opening two quarters since 2001.
Corey Lynch collected his 21st career interception, which he turned into Appalachian State's last score on a 65-yard return with 4:10 left to play.
Western Carolina (1-9, 0-6 SoCon) actually led 7-3 when Adam Hearns scored on a 5-yard run with 7:21 left in the first quarter to cap an 80-yard drive. Richardson scored on a 4-yard run on the ensuing possession to put the Mountaineers up for good.
Mike Malone rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns for the Catamounts.
Appalachian State finished with 743 yards of offense, including 347 yards passing on 32-of-40 attempts. The defense intercepted four Western Carolina passes, three of which were thrown by Hearns.
Following the loss, Western Carolina University announced on Monday that head football coach Kent Briggs will not return to lead the team next season.
Athletic director Chip Smith said the search for a replacement for Briggs would begin immediately. Smith said in a prepared statement that Briggs, who will coach the season finale against Furman on Saturday, would be reassigned to a position within the university.
Briggs has a career-mark of 22-42, with a Southern Conference mark of 12-31. The Catamounts have lost their last 14 conference games dating back to 2005.
Last season, Briggs received a three-year contract extension to lead the Catamounts after the team challenged for the conference title in 2005. He finished 2006 with a 2-9 record, including an 0-7 finish in the conference. It marked the first time Western Carolina had gone winless in the Southern Conference since 1977, when it joined the league.
After last Saturday's 79-35 loss to the Mountaineers, Western Carolina fell to 1-9 with an 0-6 conference mark.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
Mike Malone rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns for the Catamounts.
Appalachian State finished with 743 yards of offense, including 347 yards passing on 32-of-40 attempts. The defense intercepted four Western Carolina passes, three of which were thrown by Hearns.
Following the loss, Western Carolina University announced on Monday that head football coach Kent Briggs will not return to lead the team next season.
Athletic director Chip Smith said the search for a replacement for Briggs would begin immediately. Smith said in a prepared statement that Briggs, who will coach the season finale against Furman on Saturday, would be reassigned to a position within the university.
Briggs has a career-mark of 22-42, with a Southern Conference mark of 12-31. The Catamounts have lost their last 14 conference games dating back to 2005.
Last season, Briggs received a three-year contract extension to lead the Catamounts after the team challenged for the conference title in 2005. He finished 2006 with a 2-9 record, including an 0-7 finish in the conference. It marked the first time Western Carolina had gone winless in the Southern Conference since 1977, when it joined the league.
After last Saturday's 79-35 loss to the Mountaineers, Western Carolina fell to 1-9 with an 0-6 conference mark.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
