ASU's Edwards Headlines Initial Payton Watch List

courtesy Appalachian Sports Information

PHILADELPHIA — Appalachian State University quarterback Armanti Edwards, the 2008 Walter Payton Award winner, headlines the initial candidates for the 2009 Payton Award, The Sports Network announced on Tuesday.

The Payton Award is presented annually to the nation’s top NCAA Division I FCS (Football Championship Subdivision — formerly Division I-AA) player. In a departure from past years, this year’s official Payton watch list will include 20 candidates, as opposed to 16. Additionally, The Sports Network is spreading the announcement of its official candidates over five weeks, with four names added to the list each week. The full list will be revised in October and November before the final ballot is announced at the end of the regular season.

Last year, Edwards won the award in the landslide, easily out-distancing James Madison quarterback Rodney Landers with 398 total points and 53 first-place votes, compared to 290 points and 17 first-place nods for the JMU signal-caller. In doing so, Edwards became only the sixth underclassman in the 22-year history of the Payton Award to receive the honor. This season, the senior attempts to become the first player to win the award twice.

The consensus first-team All-American and Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Year racked up 2,902 passing yards, 941 rushing yards and a SoCon-record 41 touchdowns responsible for (30 passing, 11 rushing) in 2008. He ranked second nationally with a 170.19 pass-efficiency rating, seventh with 3,843 yards of total offense and 58th in rushing. He threw only two interceptions in 224 regular-season pass attempts, with a school-record string of 176 passes without an interception that spanned over two months — eight full games and parts of two others.

For his career, Edwards already owns 12 school and eight conference records, including the ASU and SoCon records for total offense (10,783 yards) and touchdowns responsible (109) in a career. The Mountaineers are 32-5 in games that Edwards has started behind center.

Appalachian is one of only two programs — Montana being the other — to boast winners of the Payton, Buck Buchanan (FCS Defensive Player of the Year) and Eddie Robinson (FCS Coach of the Year) awards.

Mountaineer senior linebacker Jacque Roman (Kingland, Ga./Kingland) and junior defensive back Mark LeGree are leading candidates to be included on the initial Buchanan Award watch list as it is unveiled over the coming weeks.

Lions Ranked 24th in Lindy's Pre-Season Poll

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Mars Hill College football team is listed No. 24 in the 2009 Lindy’s Sports Preseason Poll. The Lions are one of four South Atlantic Conference teams listed in Lindy’s Preseason Poll.

Carson-Newman is listed ninth, while Catawba is holding down the No. 15 spot. Tusculum is 20th, while Mars Hill is ranked 24th in this year’s preseason listing.

Northwest Missouri State, last year’s national runner-up, is Lindy’s favorite to win the championship in December. Grand Valley State is second, followed by 2008 national champion Minnesota-Duluth. Delta State, who defeated Tusculum in the second round of the NCAA Playoffs, is listed fourth. California (Pa.) is fifth, followed by Pittsburg State, Bloomsburg, Abilene Christian, Carson-Newman and Valdosta State to round out the top 10.

Chadron State is 11th, followed by West Texas A&M, Ashland, North Alabama, Catawba, Tuskegee, West Chester, Nebraska-Kearney, Indiana (Pa.), Tusculum, Edinboro, Wayne State (Neb.), Seton Hill, Mars Hill and Central Washington.

Lindy’s Sports Preseason Division II Football Poll

Rk. Team
1 Northwest Missouri State
2 Grand Valley State
3 Minnesota-Duluth
4 Delta State
5 California (Pa.)
6 Pittsburg State
7 Bloomsburg
8 Abilene Christian
9 Carson-Newman
10 Valdosta State
11 Chadron State
12 West Texas A&M
13 Ashland
14 North Alabama
15 Catawba
16 Tuskegee
17 West Chester
18 Nebraska-Kearney
19 Indiana (Pa.)
20 Tusculum
21 Edinboro
22 Wayne State (Neb.)
23 Seton Hill
24 Mars Hill
25 Central Washington

New Rule to Extend Pitching Distance

The Asheville Citizen-Times is reporting that the NFHS has ruled to change the distance of the softball pitching rubber nationwide beginning in 2011.

Added safety and scoring could be the result of a major change coming to North Carolina high school softball as soon as next spring.

The National Federation of State High School Associations has mandated that the pitching rubber be moved back from 40 to 43 feet in 2011. States have the option of doing it in 2010.

The NCHSAA will make a decision later this month and have an announcement at the N.C. Coaches Association Clinic, NCHSAA assistant executive director Carolyn Shannonhouse said Friday.

Shannonhouse said the NCHSAA is leaning towards making the change next season.

Upcoming Local Sports Camps

Tommy Burleson Basketball Camp
July 20-24
9-11:30 am - boys & girls 3rd-8th grade
6:30-8:30 pm- high school boys
Cost: $50 before day of camp; $60 day of camp

Baseball Camp

July 27-31 for K-9th graders
9am-noon: K-5th grade
1-4 pm: 6th-9th grade
Cost: $45

Avery Volleyball Camp
July 28th - 31st for K-High School
9:00 - 11:30 3rd - 5th grade
9:30 - 12:00 6th - 8th grade
2 -4 pm and 6-8 pm high school

Elementary: $55, Middle: $70, High Sch.: $85
Discounts for families with 2 or more kids.

Cost includes College Coach Instruction and camp t-shirt.
For more information, contact Avery HS volleyball coach Kim Hayes at 733-0151.


Dance Camp
August 3-7 for K-rising 9th graders
8am-noon
Cost: $60 (registration deadline July 20th)

Avery All-Stars Eliminated from Little League District Tournaments

A total of three Avery County Little League Baseball and Softball All-Star teams were in action across the High Country on Saturday afternoon.

9 and 10 Softball:
The 9 and 10 year old Little League Softball tournament reconvened at Hodge Turbyfill Baseball Complex in Newland as Avery faced a tough Wilkes American squad. Avery was unable to find an answer for the well-rounded Wilkes team, falling in four innings by the final score of 17-0.

In the early going the contest remained close as Avery starter Bri Cuthbertson held the Wilkes club to only a pair of first inning tallies in the top of the first inning. Avery threatened to narrow the gap as the squad put two runners on base. A caught stealing at third base ended the rally and the frame with Wilkes up by a pair.

Wilkes was unable to explode offensively through the first three innings but still managed to manufacture runs to build its lead. Wilkes plated three runs in both the second and third innings, taking advantage of seven walks during the stretch to build its lead to 8-0.

Offense against the Wilkes pitching staff was hard to come by for Avery, as the team managed only a pair of hits for the game. Wilkes put the contest away with nine runs in the top of the fourth inning to provide for the final margin.

11 and 12 Softball:
Avery’s 11 and 12 year old softball All-Stars hoped to stave off elimination when they took the diamond at Watauga High School in Boone against a Watauga National squad. Watauga was too tough to tame in the contest, however, defeating Avery 15-0 in four innings.

Starting pitcher Ashlie Yoder ran into early difficulty against Watauga, surrendering a pair of runs. The right hander worked out of a bases-loaded jam, however, to surrender no further damage in the inning.

Avery’s bats found the going tough against Watauga pitching. Offense was at a premium for the squad, as Stacie Brewer provided a base hit in the second inning and Kylie Polsgrove reached base in both her turns at bat for the contest.

Watauga scored five runs in the second inning to increase its edge to seven runs, then put the contest out of reach with an eight-run third inning to provide for the final margin.

Overall, the Avery coaching staff felt their team performed admirably in this year’s All-Star tournament. “To sum it up, we beat the teams we were supposed to beat and lost to the teams that we should have also,” Avery coach Craig Rieger said after the contest. “We didn’t play our best, and wished things could have been closer.”

“We didn’t make the outs on plays that we needed to, and we made some errors,” Coach Kevin Brown added.

11 and 12 Baseball:
Despite a long layoff of around ten days between games, the Avery 11 and 12 year old Baseball All-Stars took the field on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Optimist Park to play a Watauga National ballclub in District 7 tournament action. Avery managed to put runners in scoring position multiple times in the game, but Watauga’s hit parade was too strong as the Nationals took a 17-1 win in four innings.

Southpaw pitcher Gabe Stanley got the starting nod for Avery in the contest, but the Watauga bats began to hit early. A pair of solo home runs started the flurry for the Nationals club, and the team continued to put the ball in play, scoring six runs in the frame to take an early lead.

Avery best scoring chance came early in the game, as the team loaded the bases in the top of the first with no outs as Jerry Lunsford singled, Kyle Hoffman drew a walk and Wade Smith was hit by a pitch. Watauga pitching worked out of the trouble however, as a fielder’s choice and pair of strikeouts prevented Avery from plating a run in the inning.

Avery held Watauga to a lone run on a sacrifice fly in the top of the second, but Watauga increased its bulge to 7-0. Watauga put the contest out of reach in the top of the third inning. The team rallied with two outs in the inning to score three runs for a 10-0 lead.

Avery threatened for its own big inning in the bottom of the third, again loading the bases. A bases-loaded walk plated Avery’s first run, but Watauga again retired the Avery club before further damage could be inflicted.

The proverbial door was slammed by the Nationals in the top of the fourth with a seven-run frame. The big blow for Watauga was a two-run home run by Matt Lambert. Avery could not rally to keep the contest going in the bottom of the inning, enforcing the ten-run rule to end the contest.

“We got off to such a bad start. When you give up home runs early and walk a few runners, you find yourself in a mess. But after the first inning we played all right. We made an error or two, but it is what it is,” Avery coach Jerry Lunsford said after the game. “As far as doing what they needed to do in practice and in games, this has been the best team in the three years that I’ve coached All-Stars. We were a little inexperienced, but the players wanted to come to practice and work hard to get better together.”

Overall, the Little League season for Avery County has been a successful and fun time for all.
“We had a great year. The all-stars represented Avery County well,” League President Jerry Moody said. “The Board of Directors are very proud of all of the kids, parents, coaches and volunteers.”

Congratulations to all the Avery All-Stars for great effort throughout their respective district tournaments.

Vikings Shine in Hosting 7-on-7 Passing League

On July 6 and 7, the Avery Vikings welcomed a number of visiting teams to MacDonald Stadium for a 7-on-7 passing league. Joining the Big Red in the activities were the Highlanders from neighboring Cloudland (TN), as well as another neighbor in the Mitchell Mountaineers. West Wilkes High School, who held a team camp throughout the week in Avery County, took part in the action. A pair of additional schools, Draughn High School during Monday’s events, and Patton High School, who participated on Tuesday, took advantage of the close proximity to Burke County and picture-perfect Avery County weather.

Teams took part in what amounted to round-robin competition as schools took turns playing one another. The goal of the offense was to drive the football to the end zone through the air from 40 yards away against an opposing defensive secondary.

Multiple teams played without key contributors at times due to family vacation and other summer activities, but players who participated left everything on the field as they worked to improve both themselves and their team.

“This has been really good for us. It has allowed our receivers to run some sharp routes on offense, and it makes your secondary concentrate solely on defending the ball and defending the pass,” Avery head football coach Darrell Brewer said regarding the event. “It is competition, and you can see the kids out there competing hard and wanting to win. We have got a team of competitors this year, and I’ve been really proud of them.”

On Monday Avery was without a number of regulars who had been participating and contributing throughout the spring and summer. However, those players in attendance stepped up admirably, and the group who worked together the following day ran like a well-oiled machine.

“We had several kids missing on Monday who had attended the Gardner-Webb camp and we were out of sync a little with out new kids. But we came together Tuesday and didn’t miss a beat,” Coach Brewer continued. “I was proud of the team’s focus, especially on that second day.”

The Vikings continue to build up to the season-opener at Robbinsville, working to improve in all areas and erase the sour taste of a 2-10 campaign in 2008.

“Going into spring practice, I knew that most of the varsity team this year would be players from last year’s junior varsity team, with the exception of about five returning players. It’s a whole new group of young kids, but you really forget how young they really are,” Coach Brewer explained. “The players are such competitors and play with such passion, that you look at them and sometimes forget that they’re just pups. We’ve been pleased with their progress.”

Following the event, it was obvious to see the respect the competing teams had for one another, as well as the desire to help each other improve as the fall approaches. It allowed the Vikings a unique opportunity to watch and compete against partial squads from three of their opponents in the upcoming season.

“I think both Mitchell and Cloudland had a few kids missing and was in kind of the same boat we were in. Both of them are teams we know as rivals but we know that neither team takes a play off. You always expect them to play disciplined, hard-nosed football,” Coach Brewer added. “West Wilkes had brought their entire team up for camp, and they basically had all hands on deck.”

Although the Vikings may not quite possess the offensive firepower in years past, this year’s squad is out to prove it can achieve great things, executing offensively in a variety of ways, whether by running or throwing the football.

“Alex (QB Villanueva) is one of those kids that you forget is only going to be a sophomore. The way he’s handled himself throughout the summer doesn’t give any indication that he’s just in his sophomore season,” Coach Brewer added. “He’s just got an air about him, and we believe we will throw the football with success.”

The recent 7-on-7, as well as activities such as the upcoming six-squad scrimmage in August, are events the Avery coaches hope can take place annually given the ability to use the stadium’s Field Turf surface in greater volume than the natural surface of years past.

“Having the field we have, the sky’s the limit to the things we can do. We’ve never had anything like this in the past because we’ve had to stay off the field as much as possible to allow the ground to recover and grass to grow,” Coach Brewer said. “I would love for us to have a huge passing tournament with a lot of schools coming in, doing t-shirts and trophies and that type of thing. With what we enjoy now, we’re able to have six-team scrimmages and the 7-on-7s that we just had no way of doing before.”

Avery’s next large-scale team event will be a scrimmage that will take place in the second week of August, a final tune-up as teams prepare for opening night on August 21^st.