LIVE from.... Kidd-Brewer Stadium!

The Appalachian State Mountaineers football team holds its home opener this afternoon against Jacksonville University. The Apps lost 41-13 at LSU one week ago and look to rebound against the Dolphins.

It's throwback day at App as the team celebrates head coach Jerry Moore's 20th season as Mountaineer head coach by wearing uniforms from that 1989 season. We'll have continuous updates from the newly constructed temporary press box high above Kidd Brewer throughout the day, with possibly photos along the way.

3:30 PM - It's almost kickoff time at The Rock! A new video board, 4,400 new seats, a crowded house, and an overcast afternoon welcome the three-time defending NCAA FCS National Champion Mountaineers.

3:40 PM - ASU takes the opening kickoff and drives with its first possession to the JU 22 yard line, but an Edwards interception stalls the drive.

3:45 PM - JU's opening drive is halted inside App territory when Quavian Lewis and Dominique McDuffie stuff the running back on 4th and less than a yard, giving ASU possession for its second drive near midfield. App immediately capitalized on a 44 yard touchdown run by Robert Welton, his second score of the season. The successful PAT by Vitaris gives the Mountaineers a 7-0 lead with an even eight minutes to go in the first. Drive Summary: 3 plays, 52 yards, 0:56 for ASU's first home touchdown of 2008.

3:55 PM - Jacksonville is held to a three-and-out and App takes over around its own 30 yard line. A long draw run from Devon Moore moved the Mountaineers inside the red zone. Two plays later Moore finishes off the drive with an 11-yard scamper for the second score of the day. PAT makes the score 14-0 ASU with 4:42 to go in the opening stanza. Drive Summary: 4 plays, 67 yards, 1:16 on the second rushing TD of the quarter.

4:05 PM - UPDATE: Another three and out for the Dolphins who appear overmatched early. Appalachian takes over at the JU 35 and are back on the board again on a 28-yard QB draw from Armanti Edwards. PAT puts the Mountaineers up 21-0 with 2:58 left in the first quarter. Drive Summary: 2 plays, 35 yards, 0:43 as ASU wastes absolutely no time slashing through the Dolphin defense.

4:10 PM - First quarter closes with ASU leading 21-0. Jacksonville has gotten nothing going offensively as the App defense has been smothering JU quarterback Josh McGregor. A big hit by Tony Robertson knocked McGregor out of the game on the last possession as JU again had to punt the football away to App. The Mountaineers take over at the own 41.

1st Qtr stats:
ASU - 201 rushing yards, -1 passing yards
JU - 4 rushing yards, 32 passing yards
Armanti Edwards - 5 rushes, 64 yards, TD
Quavian Lewis - 5 tkls
DJ Smith - 4 tkls

4:25 PM - Appalachian back at it again. After a personal foul assessed against JU on a punt return, Appalachian drives only14 yards on three plays. A six yard TD pass from Edwards to Tavaris Washington with the PAT pushes the Mountaineer lead to 28-0. with 11:06 left in the half.

4:35 PM - DeAndre Pressley in the game at quarterback for the Mountaineers with 8:25 remaining in the first half and Appalachian leading 28-0. Seems a little early to pull Edwards, but it is good to see the freshman in the game for the Apps.

4:45 PM - The teams have been exchanging punts. No change in score as the Mountaineers lead by 28.

4:50 PM - Jacksonville attempts a field goal of around 37 yards, but the kick sails wide left, preserving the shutout with 1:12 left before halftime. ASU drives to the JU 38 where Jason Vitaris attempts a 55-yard field goal. The kick sails wide left and is no good as Appalachian holds a commanding 28-0 lead over Jacksonville at intermission.

HALFTIME STATISTICS:

Individual:
ASU Rushing: Devon Moore (9 rushes, 98 yards TD)
JU Rushing: Rudell Small (7 rushes 16 yards)
JU Passing: Josh McGregor (11 of 20, 133 yards)

Team:
ASU:
Passing Yards: 32 yards
Rushing Yards: 261 yards
Total Offense: 293 yards

JU:
Passing Yards: 136 yards
Rushing Yards: -3 yards
Total Yards: 133 yards

The Mountaineers open the second half with a touchdown as Edwards returns to the lineup to begin the first ASU drive. A six play, 61 yard drive over 2:15 culminated with a two yard touchdown run by Robert Welton, making the score 35-0 ASU.

5:32 PM - Jacksonville is finally on the scoreboard on a 60-yard punt return touchdown from Elliot Finkley, the first allowed by ASU since Jayson Foster ran one back for Georgia Southern against Appalachian in 2004. The PAT is successful to make the score 35-7 ASU at the 7:16 mark of the third period.

Talk about a quick answer! ASU immediately responds with a 72-yard touchdown run from Robert Welton on the first play from scrimmage following the JU score for his third rushing touchdown of the afternoon (the eighth time in the last 13 games that an App player has scored at least three rushing scores in a game). PAT good, ASU 42-7 (6:58 3rd)

5:40 PM -- Avery's own Josh Johnson has returned a total of three punts in the game. His second run went for 16 yards to set the Apps up at their own 46 yard line, with the team up big.

On a side note: The attendance this afternoon at The Rock -- 30,718 -- a new record.

5:50 PM -- Three quarters in the books -- 42-7 Appalachian.

6:05 PM -- Add a DEFENSIVE score to the tally for the Apps -- a 33-yard Interception return by Travis Dowda and PAT gives the Mountaineers a 49-7 lead with 9:44 left in the game. A number of substitutes are in the game and have been for a while.

ASU travels to James Madison in two weeks for a Saturday night special against the Dukes, who will be looking for revenge after last year's 28-27 playoff loss.

6:20 PM - Josh Jackson gets on the scoreboard for the Mountaineers after a 10 play 65 yard drive that took 3:16 with a three yard touchdown run. The score and PAT pushes the Apps over the half-century mark with a 56-7 lead, which provides for the final margin of victory.

Vikings Lose Bucket Battle to Pioneers

The Avery varsity football team played its best defensive football game of the season on Friday night, but a third quarter Watauga surge was too great to overcome as the Big Red fell 28-14 at Jack Groce Stadium.

A full recap of Friday's game can be found in the coming days as well as in next week's edition of the Journal-Times.

Pre-Game Interview with Avery Head Coach Darrell Brewer for this week's showdown with Watauga

Click the above link for an audio interview with Avery head football coach Darrell Brewer discussing tonight's "Battle for the Bucket" contest against neighboring Watauga. Game time is set for 7:30 pm from Jack Groce Stadium in Boone.

Other high school games taking place around the Western Highlands Conference tonight:

Erwin (1-1) at Madison (0-2)
North Buncombe (2-0) at Mitchell (0-2)
Rosman (0-2) at Mountain Heritage (1-1)
Owen (0-1) at Reynolds (1-0)
Polk County (1-1) at R-S Central (2-0)
West Henderson (0-2) at Hendersonville (2-0)

Avery sports roundup

Avery's high school sports programs have been busy as several sports continue to build momentum in regular season action.

TENNIS:
The Avery tennis team began regular season play with a pair of conference matches this week. On Tuesday the squad skunked the Polk County Lady Wolverines nine matches to zero, and also won both its exhibition matches for good measure. Anna Melton, Morgan Yackey, Judy Dillashaw, Hayden Blackburn, Leah Powell, and Echo Wise each won singles matches on the afternoon.

On Thursday the Lady Vikings defeated Owen 5 match victories to 4 to capture its first ever victory over the Warlassies. Melton, Yackey and Dillashaw each won singles matches, with the teams of Melton/Yackey and Dillashaw/Blackburn winning doubles matches to earn the win.

VOLLEYBALL:
The Avery volleyball team struggled against a tougher-than-expected Thomas Jefferson Academy, but the varsity team took a five-game match victory on Tuesday. The junior varsity team was dominant in winning two straight over TJCA.

On Thursday evening the Lady Vikings hosted the Hendersonville Lady Bearcats. Hendersonville picked up a pair of games for the win in junior varsity action to open the evening. In varsity play, Avery won the first game by a 28-26 score which was a harbinger of the tightness of the match.

Hendersonville won game two to even the match, but the Lady Vikings took game three to lead 2 games to 1. Hendersonville showed the heart of a champion in battling back to capture game four to again knot the match at two games each, then managed to win a hard-fought 15-11 win in the fifth and deciding game to escape Viking Gym with victory. Avery travels to Morganton to take on Patton to close out the week.

SOCCER:
Avery men's soccer took on a pair of tough rivals in hosting Watauga and Ashe County this week in a pair of entertaining matches.

On Tuesday the Vikings fell behind 2-0 at halftime on a a penalty kick by Jennings Rex as well as a second goal later in the opening half. Avery fell behind 3-0 after a Ben Robertson goal, but Avery rallied with goals by Andrew Ingram and Kyle Griewisch, the second a long direct kick from roughly 40 yards out which bounced over the keeper's head to cut the lead in the 58th minute to 3-2. A second Robertson goal gave the Pioneers a 4-2 advantage, but Ingram added a second goal off a throw-in to cut the lead to 4-3 in the 76th minute of action.

Avery could not tally the equalizer in the closing minutes of an exciting match for players and fans alike.

On a sunny Thursday afternoon the Vikings hosted the Ashe County Huskies and were looking for revenge after a loss to the Huskies earlier this season in Jefferson. The first half was a tight affair as both teams had scoring opportunites but could not capitalize offensively, resulting in a scoreless half.

The lone goal of the match came off the foot of Ashe County's Richie Absher, skirting a shot passed the sprawling Avery keeper. The score held up as the Avery offense was unable to convert a number of corner kicks and offensive runs.

JUNIOR VARSITY FOOTBALL:
The Avery junior varsity football team was unable to hold off a pressing Watauga offense on Thursday night at MacDonald Stadium. Watauga took a 14-0 advantage at halftime, and added another touchdown to take a 20-0 lead. Avery picked off a Watauga pass attempt and the offense used its I-formation rushing game to find its way into the end zone as Andy Gonzalez rolled out and scrambled left for a six-yard touchdown run. A conversion run by Trent Mitchell provided Avery's points in cutting the lead to 20-8.

The Pioneers added an insurance score late in the half to win by the final score of 28-8. The JV's have a week off before facing the Johnson County Longhorns in Mountain City on Monday, September 15th.

Highlander Gameday

On Friday night, the Cloudland Highlanders look to bounce back from a disappointing loss to the West Greene Buffaloes (for a complete review of the contest, check this week's Avery Journal-Times). The team they face is an improved Cosby Eagle team. The contest opens the conference slate for the 'Landers. For the ‘Landers, they must rebound as the Eagles travel to Roan Mountain for the conference opener. The Eagles are 2-0 on the season with victories over a pair of 3-A teams, Gibbs and Pigeon Forge. Last season, the ‘Landers took the victory over the Eagles 28-6 in Cosby.
“This is a tough loss but it’s not a season-ending loss,” Turbyfill said. “Last year we lost our first game then bounced back to have a good season. We’ll go back and practice then we see where we’re at. We’ve got a huge home conference game with Cosby next week. I believe we’ll be focused and ready to play.“
Kickoff is at 7:30 on Friday Night at Orr Field.
Weather: According to Weather.com, the weather for tonight's game is going to be mostly cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 58F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.

Vikings and Pioneers Square off in Bucket Battle

Following Friday’s loss at the hands of the Robbinsville Black Knights, the Avery Vikings look to get in the win column for the first time in 2008 as they travel to Boone for the annual Battle for the Bucket against the Watauga Pioneers. The Vikings suffered a difficult 35-13 loss at home last week to the Knights, while Watauga is coming off a bye week following a 41-7 trouncing at the hands of Davie County.

The Pioneers won last season’s battle by the final score of 31-14 and have captured three of the past five meetings between the two squads.

Scouting the Pioneers:
The Watauga Pioneers are members of the Northwestern 4A Conference and are coached by Tim Pruitt. Pruitt is in his first season at Watauga, having previously coached at West Wilkes High School and taking over for former coach Adrian Snow who returned to coach his alma mater in Forsythe County following last season.

Although Pruitt’s clubs in Wilkes County were best known for a bruising running game, the coach decided to keep many of the elements of Watauga’s spread offense intact which have netted the team back-to-back state semifinal playoff appearances the past two seasons.

The Pioneers were 11-4 a season ago and return six offensive and defensive starters from one of the most successful teams in school history, including three all-conference performers in senior WR/DB Baine Martin (18 receptions, 514 yards receiving, 6 TD last season), senior WR/DB Jake Wallace (10 receptions, 232 yards, 2 TD last season), and senior WR/DB Cam Steury (22 receptions, 386 yards, 3 TD last season). Gone from this year’s club is current Wofford College running back Eric Britenstein, who rushed for 2,297 yards and 28 touchdowns as a senior in 2007.

A number of other players with experience step in to fill holes left by last year’s graduates, including junior quarterback Devan Corum, and senior WR Ryan Campbell. The leading tackler returning on defense for Watauga is Logan Smith, a 6’0” 185 lb. Linebacker who registered 137 tackles a season ago, good for third on the team overall, while Martin led the team with four interceptions in 2007.

The Low Down:
It is difficult to believe that the two teams entering Friday night’s tussle are winless on the season. In recent years, the squads have entered the game with undefeated records, high-octane offenses, and stifling defenses. However, thus far in 2008, the defenses have given up an average of 40 points per game.

With a bye week so early in the season, the Pioneers have had two weeks to fix what ailed them in their opening week blowout loss against Davie County, while Avery failed to show significant improvement last week in its second consecutive loss on the year. Each year the two rivals seem to bring out the best in one another on the field, with neither team wanting the distinction of having lost the game and bucket trophy.

Watauga got off to a rapid start in taking an early lead in their game with Davie County, but the defense gave up too many big plays. Avery meanwhile has had a hard time stopping the run on defense.

The good news for the Big Red this week is that they will not have to see Eric Britenstein. The talented running back torched the Vikings with over 200 yards in each of the past two meetings.
Friday night’s contest will be won or lost at the line of scrimmage, with the team that is best able to run the football having a sizable advantage.

By the Numbers:
5- turnovers forced by the Avery defense in last week’s game against Robbinsville.
14- number of days between Watauga’s loss to Davie County and this week’s matchup with the Vikings.
43 – yards passing by Avery QB Adam Pate in last week’s loss to the Black Knights.
83- yards gained by leading rusher Baine Martin in Watauga’s opening week loss to Davie County.
244- yards rushing by Eric Britenstein against the Vikings in last year’s Watauga win.
260- yards in total offense gained by the Vikings in last year’s 31-14 loss to the Pioneers.
276 – yards rushing surrendered by the Watauga defense in its game two weeks ago at Davie County.
314- rushing yards gained by Robbinsville in last week’s game against Avery.

Read next week’s edition of the Avery Journal-Times for a full recap of this week’s Bucket Battle with Watauga.

Vikings Outdueled by Knights

Last Friday night the Avery Vikings hoped to put the sting of the prior week’s loss to Cloudland behind them when they hosted the Robbinsville Knights in a Class 1A non-conference tilt. The Knights jostled and jousted its way through the Avery defense for over 400 yards on the evening en route to a 35-13 Vikings defeat.

Avery looked poised to gain early control of the contest in its opening series. The Vikings offense used the I-formation with proficiency in the early going as a 48- yard run by senior quarterback Adam Pate rushed the Big Red inside the Knights 30 yard line. The drive stalled quickly as the Knights regrouped, holding Avery on downs four plays later.

Robbinsville came out firing on all cylinders offensively as its I-formation backfield consisting of running back Blake Anderson and fullback Kurt Odom helped the offense move swiftly downfield. An 18-yard run by Anderson was followed three plays later with a 45-yard gallop from Odom that took Robbinsville into the end zone for the first score of the night, giving the Smoky Mountain Conference contender the early 7-0 lead at the 7:49 mark of the first period.

Avery was held to a three-and-out on its next series, prompting the Knights again roll up yards on the ground. A nine-play drive featured seven running plays, but was capped by a nine-yard pass from quarterback Luke Perkins to Odom to give Robbinsville a 14-0 advantage.

Late in the period the Big Red looked to stifle the Knights’ momentum. Avery returned to its familiar spread attack offensively, but was stonewalled by the Robbinsville defense. Coach Darrell Brewer in an attempt to jump start the offense made the decision to go for a first down on a fourth down play near midfield, but Pate was hauled down in the backfield to turn the ball over on downs to the Knights.

As second quarter play started, the Knights showed little signs of slowing down. A key third down conversion pass play from Perkins to Anderson moved the Knights inside the red zone, and two plays later Odom rumbled over the goal line from six yards out. The extra point gave Robbinsville a commanding 21-0 advantage with 9:18 remaining in the half.

Fortunes turned from bad to worse for the Big Red, as Luke Perkins intercepted Pate on Avery’s first play from scrimmage following the Odom score. Robbinsville immediately capitalized on the turnover, this time with a 35-yard touchdown strike from Perkins to wide receiver Randy Hernandez, digging the Vikings an even deeper hole at 28-0 with just under nine minutes left in the period.

The Vikings compiled their best drive of the half on its next series following the turnover, holding the football for ten plays and consuming over six minutes off the game clock. Avery marched using primarily the running of power running back Chase Arrowood and quarterback Pate. The drive stalled inside the red zone, however, as a fourth down pass play fell incomplete.

Following the change of possession, Robbinsville committed its first of five turnovers on the evening, a fumble that Avery defensive back Chris Eggers recovered near the Knights 30. The play was just what the doctor ordered for the ailing Vikings psyche, as a pass from Pate to running back Travis Thomas netted 25 yards and Pate raced across the goal line from a yard out to put Avery on the board at 28-7, providing a positive end to an otherwise forgettable first half.

As the second half played out, the Avery defense played inspired football, forcing three additional fumbles over the final two quarters. Robbinsville’s first drive of the second half resulted in a turnover, but Avery was forced to punt back to the Knights after the inability to take advantage of the turnover.

Robbinsville was held to three-and-out with its second drive and was forced to punt. The kick was blocked by Avery and advanced to the Knights 33-yard line. Avery took only four plays to score what proved to be its final touchdown of the evening, a six-yard scamper by Pate. The extra point was blocked, leaving Avery trailing 28-13 late in the third quarter.

Avery forced yet another turnover on Robbinsville’s next possession, and the Vikings drove 55 yards over 13 plays in the most important drive of the game, keeping the football for over eight minutes of clock time. Avery had a golden opportunity to cut the lead to a touchdown with a first and goal from the Knights 3-yard line. However, the Robbinsville defense stiffened, denying Avery the score on three consecutive run plays. On fourth down, a Pate pass sailing toward the end zone was intercepted by Jaron Ayers to turn the Big Red away with 4:46 left in the game.

The Knights put the finishing touches on its win with a six play, 88-yard touchdown drive, featuring a 23-yard run by Anderson, a 22-yard pass from Perkins to Odom, and a 29-yard touchdown run by Odom, his third of the night, to provide the final margin in the 35-13 contest.

Avery falls to 0-2 on the season and look to capture its first victory of the season when it travels to Boone to play rival Watauga in the Battle for the Bucket this Friday night.