6:40 PM - Appalachian runs out the final five minutes with reserves on the field as the Mountaineers take a convincing 45-14 win over Jacksonville. The Mountaineers move to 2-0 on the season and will host North Carolina Central at The Rock next Saturday afternoon. We'll have some photos from today's game posted in a bit. Thanks for following along here on the Blog!6:23 PM - After holding the Dolphins and forcing another punt, the Mountaineers again knock on the door of the end zone. Jamal Jackson, now quarterbacking in the game for Presley, hits Washington for a long pass play, then Jackson dives over the goal line from three yards out for the score to up the lead to 45-14 with 5:58 to play. The drive of four plays, 42 yards culminates in the first career touchdown for Jamal Jackson.
6:11 PM - Appalachian running away with this one in the fourth quarter. A Presley six-yard TD pass to Ben Jordan ups the lead to 38-14 with 10:18 left in the game. The drive consumed 11 plays, 83 yards, and 4:02 off the clock. It's the first time in school history a quarterback has over 300 yards of total offense three times over his first four starts, as Presley pulls off the trick this afternoon, currently with 386 yards in total offense. Mountaineers was a little slow starting off, but have kicked it into overdrive in the second half.
6:04 PM - Mark LeGree with an ASU interception, his 18th career pick, good for fourth in team history. The interception comes off a double reverse pass attempt by Jacksonville. The trickeration doesn't work for the Dolphins and the Mountaineers get the football back early fourth quarter leading 31-14.
6;00 PM - After three quarters, the Mountaineers lead it 31-14.
5:56 PM - DeAndre Presley connects with a fully-extended Brian Quick for a diving 41-yard touchdown reception in the end zone. The Vitaris PAT makes the score 31-14 capping the six play, 82-yard drive that took 1:39 off the clock. It's Quick's 5th 100-yard receiving game and his fourth multi-touchdown game in his career. The talented wideout has six receptions for 132 yards and three scores today.
5:50 PM - Appalachian holds Jacksonville to force a punt on its ensuing series, then blocks the Dolphins punt. Blalock gets his hands on his second punt of the game, recovered by Trevor Sawyer. Unfortunately, there was a penalty against the Mountaineers that negated the terrific block. Instead, ASU takes over at its own 18 yard line after a long Jacksonville punt.
5:45 PM - The Mountaineers drive the ball downfield on its ensuing offensive series. A pass interference penalty places the ball at the Jacksonville 10-yard line. Two plays later Devon Moore is in the end zone from two yards out. The drive took 11 plays, went 88 yards over 4:11 on the 3rd period clock. Appalachian now leads it again by 10 points at 24-14 with 5:45 left in the third quarter.
5:32 PM -- Appalachian gets the first possession of the second half, but is forced to punt the football. Jacksonville drives the football inside ASU territory and down to the App 10 yard line. A pass interference call against ASU gives the Dolphins the football at the Mountaineers 2-yard line. Two plays later JJ Laster blast the ball across the goal line for Jacksonville to cut the lead. The PAT makes the score 17-14 ASU with 10:02 left in the third quarter. Drive Summary: 8 plays, 78 yards, 3;02
5:00 PM - Jacksonville's ensuing possession takes them into ASU territory, but they cannot convert on a long third down pass play, forcing a punt with under 40 seconds to play in the half. ASU takes over on offense for the final 30 seconds of the first half leading 17-7. Appalachian hands off the football to close the half leading the game 17-7 at intermission.
4:45 PM - The Mountaineers fumble again on its next series (the fourth of the half) but manage to keep possession. The Apps marched inside the Dolphin. Deandre Presley's creativity at the QB position keeps a play alive that moves the Mountaineers to the Jacksonville 14 yard line. Two plays later Presley connects with Brian Quick for an 15-yard touchdown strike. The drive took 12 plays over 80 yards and elapsed 3:56 off the second quarter clock. Mountaineers start to take charge, leading 17-7 with 2:45 left in the half.
4:35 PM - Appalachian QB DeAndre Presley is hit and fumbles the football on ASU's ensuing offensive series. The ball was recovered by the Dolphins' Layne McCombs at the ASU 37 yard line. ASU's defense holds, however, forcing JU to punt back to ASU. Miscues hurting the Apps thus far in this first half as the Black and Gold leads 10-7 .
4:30 PM - Jacksonville QB Josh McGregor connects on a 30-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Rudell Small. The drive, which was 6 plays, 43 yards, and took 2:43 off the second quarter clock, was capped by a PAT to draw the Dolphins to within 10-7 with 7:56 left in the opening half.
4:24 PM - The Mountaineers get the football back on a punt and drives to near midfield, but a Devon Moore fumble forced by the Dolphins was recovered by Jacksonville's Leonard Smith at the ASU 43-yard line. Jax football trailing by 10.
4:10 PM - Appalachian's Patrick Blalock partially blocks a punt by Jacksonville and ASU takes over at the 41 yard line of the Dolphins. ASU immediately strikes with a 41-yard pass from Presley to wide receiver Brian Quick on the first play from scrimmage. ASU leads 10-0 with 4.4 seconds left in the opening period.
Also, congratulations to Dixon Wright and the JMU Dukes on a stunning 21-16 upset win this afternoon over Virginia Tech! Great win for the former Viking and his teammates in Harrisonburg, VA!
4:05 PM - Appalachian moves the ball effectively downfield on the feet of DeAndre Presley to
set up first and goal at the 3-yard line. Appalachian has three shots from the five-yard line but can't score a touchdown. Jason Vitaris comes on for a field goal of 22 yards, which he converts to put the Mountainee
rs on the board. ASU's drive amounts to a 13 play, 72 yard drive that ends with the Apps leading Jacksonville 3-0 with 1:38 left in the first period.
3:55 PM - Jacksonville picks up one first down after getting the football back, but the Mountaineer D clamps down to force a punt. Appalachian takes the ball back over offensively at its own 24-yard line.
3:45 PM - Jacksonville gets the football on offense to start the game and is held to a three and out, forcing a punt. Appalachian sets up shop near its own 40 yard line. ASU moves the ball downfield with a pair of pass plays. A personal foul facemask moves the pigskin inside the Dolphin 30-yard line. The Mountaineers go for a first down on fourth and short, and the Dolphin defense holds to turn the football over on downs. Strong stand by the JU defense in the opening five minutes of the contest.
On a side note, former Avery Vikings placekicker Dixon Wright, now currently placekicking at James Madison University, is playing in Blacksburg this afternoon against the Virginia Tech Hokies. Wright and the Dukes lead Va. Tech by a field goal early in the fourth quarter.
3:30 PM - We've had a very moving pre-game ceremony honoring the victims and service personnel lost in the tragedy of September 11, 2001, complete with the playing of "Taps", moment of silence, and a 21-gun salute. Appalachian is preparing to hit the field in full force to open the 2010 home schedule against Jacksonville. The wait is over and it's time to get the game underway!
We are LIVE from Boone for the Appalachian State football home opener vs. the Jacksonville Dolphins. Appalachian enters this afternoon's game at 1-0 off a thrilling come-from-behind victory last Saturday afternoon at UT-Chattanooga, while Jacksonville University won last week 35-25 over Old Dominion last Saturday. The Dolphins are 17-7 since their last visit to Boone when the were thumped 56-7 by the Mountaineers in 2008.
Below is a link to the full set of game notes in .pdf format for today's contest. Special thanks to Appalachian Sports Information for the news and stats leading up to this afternoon's football contest.
Appalachian-Jacksonville Game Notes
Mountaineer quarterback DeAndre Presley, last week's National Player of the Week as well as SoCon Offensive Player of the Week, will look to repeat a 22 of 29 passing performance for 340 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
We'll be back at 3:30 pm this afternoon for the opening kickoff. Rain has been falling steadily throughout the morning and early afternoon at the stadium, so hopefully the weather will clear out in time for today's ballgame. Thanks for following along!
