6 PM - Appalachian wins it 43-13 over Wofford to clinch a share of the conference championship. The Mountaineers travel to Gainesville next Saturday to take on the Florida Gators.
Time to crank out a game story for the Sunday edition of the Watauga Democrat. Thanks to everyone for reading!
5:40 PM -- Wofford gets on the board again with its option attack. Quarterback Kass scores from five yards out to cap a 14-play, 84-yard scoring drive that elapsed 7:20 off the clock to make the score 41-13. However, the extra point kick was blocked by ASU's Ed Gainey. Troy Sanders picked up the loose pigskin and returned it for a two-point conversion.
The conversion is the second defensive 2-point conversion of the season and just the third in school history. Sanders has been responsible for both defensive conversion scores this season. Appalachian leads the game 43-13 with 4:52 left in the contest.
5:25 PM -- Appalachian kicker Jason Vitaris continues the Mountaineer dominance as he converts a 50-yard field goal to cap a 9-play, 49-yard fourth-quarter scoring drive. The field goal is the first 50-plus yard field goal since the year 2000. Appalachian now leads it 41-7 with 12:23 left in the contest.
5:20 PM -- The third quarter ends as Devon Moore eclipses the 100-yard mark for the day. ASU leads it 38-7 as we go to the fourth quarter.
5:17 PM -- Appalachian commits its first turnover of the game with an interception. Just two plays later,, a 30-yard pass play from backup QB Brian Kass to wide receiver Brenton Bersin puts the Terriers on the scoreboard for the first time this afternoon. ASU leads 38-7 with 1:38 left in the third period.
5:15 PM -- The Terriers get the advantage of a pair of personal foul penalties to move into Mountaineer territory, but Marshall puts the football on the ground on an option pitch. Appalachian recovers yet another fumble by Wofford to take over possession of the football leading 38-0 with two and a half minutes left in the third period.
4:47 PM - A bad pitch by Wofford quarterback Mitch Allen is recovered by Mountaineer defensive back Dominique McDuffie at the Terrier 17-yard line. The Mountaineers pour it on just three plays later, as Moore tallies another touchdown on a ten-yard scurry over the left side. The ASU offense has taken advantage of every short field it has received. Moore's first 3-touchdown game of the season helps the Mountaineers up its advantage to 38-0 with 11:22 to play in the third period.
4:40 PM - Wofford turns the football over on its third play from scrimmage following the kickoff to open the second half. Jeremy Marshall loses the handle on the football and Appalachian's John Rizer recovers. Appalachian strikes quickly after the turnover as Presley hits Quick on a 34-yard touchdown pass on just the second play after the gaffe. The reception is Quick's second TD of the game and his 7th for his career against the Terriers. ASU leads it 31-0 with 13:25 to play in the third quarter. It's a rout at The Rock!
4:15 PM - Wofford appears to want to run out the first half clock with some running plays and regroup in the locker room, but ASU uses a timeout on second down to stop the clock. Wofford then goes deep on a pass play, which is overthrown to stop the clock, forcing a punt with 1:13 to play. Appalachian gets another opportunity to add to its lead before halftime.
A 26-yard completion from Presley to Hillary moves the Apps into Wofford territory with under 40 seconds left, but the Mountaineers can move no further and have to punt the ball away. A great Sam Martin punt pins the Terriers at its own 1-yard line, where the Terriers run a quarterback sneak to close out the first half. Appalachian's most complete half of the season thus far translates into a commanding 24-0 halftime lead over Wofford. Back for second half action in a few minutes!.
4:05 PM - To make things worse for the Terriers, Wofford fumbles the kickoff return at its own 18-yard line. South Caldwell product Brad Hardee forces the fumble for the Mountaineers and AC Reynolds product Patrick Blalock recovers the football. The Mountaineers score three plays later on a Devon Moore five-yard tote that pierces through the center of the Terrier defense. Just like that, the Mountaineers take a 24-0 lead with 2:06 before halftime.
Time to crank out a game story for the Sunday edition of the Watauga Democrat. Thanks to everyone for reading!
5:40 PM -- Wofford gets on the board again with its option attack. Quarterback Kass scores from five yards out to cap a 14-play, 84-yard scoring drive that elapsed 7:20 off the clock to make the score 41-13. However, the extra point kick was blocked by ASU's Ed Gainey. Troy Sanders picked up the loose pigskin and returned it for a two-point conversion.
The conversion is the second defensive 2-point conversion of the season and just the third in school history. Sanders has been responsible for both defensive conversion scores this season. Appalachian leads the game 43-13 with 4:52 left in the contest.
5:25 PM -- Appalachian kicker Jason Vitaris continues the Mountaineer dominance as he converts a 50-yard field goal to cap a 9-play, 49-yard fourth-quarter scoring drive. The field goal is the first 50-plus yard field goal since the year 2000. Appalachian now leads it 41-7 with 12:23 left in the contest.
5:20 PM -- The third quarter ends as Devon Moore eclipses the 100-yard mark for the day. ASU leads it 38-7 as we go to the fourth quarter.
5:17 PM -- Appalachian commits its first turnover of the game with an interception. Just two plays later,, a 30-yard pass play from backup QB Brian Kass to wide receiver Brenton Bersin puts the Terriers on the scoreboard for the first time this afternoon. ASU leads 38-7 with 1:38 left in the third period.
5:15 PM -- The Terriers get the advantage of a pair of personal foul penalties to move into Mountaineer territory, but Marshall puts the football on the ground on an option pitch. Appalachian recovers yet another fumble by Wofford to take over possession of the football leading 38-0 with two and a half minutes left in the third period.
4:47 PM - A bad pitch by Wofford quarterback Mitch Allen is recovered by Mountaineer defensive back Dominique McDuffie at the Terrier 17-yard line. The Mountaineers pour it on just three plays later, as Moore tallies another touchdown on a ten-yard scurry over the left side. The ASU offense has taken advantage of every short field it has received. Moore's first 3-touchdown game of the season helps the Mountaineers up its advantage to 38-0 with 11:22 to play in the third period.
4:40 PM - Wofford turns the football over on its third play from scrimmage following the kickoff to open the second half. Jeremy Marshall loses the handle on the football and Appalachian's John Rizer recovers. Appalachian strikes quickly after the turnover as Presley hits Quick on a 34-yard touchdown pass on just the second play after the gaffe. The reception is Quick's second TD of the game and his 7th for his career against the Terriers. ASU leads it 31-0 with 13:25 to play in the third quarter. It's a rout at The Rock!
4:15 PM - Wofford appears to want to run out the first half clock with some running plays and regroup in the locker room, but ASU uses a timeout on second down to stop the clock. Wofford then goes deep on a pass play, which is overthrown to stop the clock, forcing a punt with 1:13 to play. Appalachian gets another opportunity to add to its lead before halftime.
A 26-yard completion from Presley to Hillary moves the Apps into Wofford territory with under 40 seconds left, but the Mountaineers can move no further and have to punt the ball away. A great Sam Martin punt pins the Terriers at its own 1-yard line, where the Terriers run a quarterback sneak to close out the first half. Appalachian's most complete half of the season thus far translates into a commanding 24-0 halftime lead over Wofford. Back for second half action in a few minutes!.
4:05 PM - To make things worse for the Terriers, Wofford fumbles the kickoff return at its own 18-yard line. South Caldwell product Brad Hardee forces the fumble for the Mountaineers and AC Reynolds product Patrick Blalock recovers the football. The Mountaineers score three plays later on a Devon Moore five-yard tote that pierces through the center of the Terrier defense. Just like that, the Mountaineers take a 24-0 lead with 2:06 before halftime.
4:00 PM - A key 17-yard pass completion from Presley to Matt Cline pushes Appalachian into field goal range with under five minutes to play in the first half. Appalachian is content to beat Wofford at its own game: using ball control to set up the passing game that has been picking the Terrier secondary apart. A pass from Presley to Quick sets up the Black and Gold with a first-and-goal at the Wofford 8-yard line. Wofford takes a timeout to discuss strategy and perhaps slow the Apps' momentum with 3:24 left in the half.
Two plays after the timeout, Presley whips a pass across the middle to Quick in the back of the end zone for a six-yard touchdown. The PAT gives ASU a 17-0 lead. The touchdown caps an impressive 12-play, 70-yard drive that used up 5:37 on the second quarter clock. Wofford's largest margin leading up to this game was just four points. The Mountaineers have put the Terriers squarely behind the 8-ball, leading by 17 with 2:58 left in the opening half.
3:50 PM -- ASU's defense holds Wofford to a three-and-out and subsequent punt. The Mountaineer offense fares no better as the Terrier defense holds the Apps to a three-and-out and punt.
The Mountaineer defense has been nothing short of dominant as it smothers the Terriers for another three-and-out, forcing yet another punt to get the pigskin back to the offense. 8:35 remains on the second quarter clock, and the Black and Gold leads 10-0 over Wofford.
3:40 PM -- On third down ASU's Moore fumbles the football, but is able to recover the ball to preserve possession. The Mountaineers settled for a 39-yard field goal from senior placekicker Jason Vitaris to cap its 11-play, 54-yard drive that consumed just two seconds less than six minutes off the clock. Appalachian leads 10-0 with 14:13 left before halftime.
A couple of quick first-quarter stats: Britenstein (WU): 6 carries for just 21 yards in the opening period, while ASU quarterback DeAndre Presley was 7-of-8 passing in the first quarter for 68 yards.
3:35 PM - Appalachian's offense showed little sign of slowing down during its second series. A pair of pass completions to tight end Ben Jorden picked up yardage across the middle, while Moore picked up tough yards between the tackles. Appalachian is inside the Terrier 25-yard line as the first quarter clock expires. One quarter in the books from Kidd Brewer, and the Mountaineers lead 7-0.
3:26 PM -- Wofford picks up a first down on its opening series, but faced with a 4th and 1 from its own 40-yard line, head coach Mike Ayers opts to go for the first down. After a timeout, the Terriers give the football to Britenstein who barrels for a two-yard gain for a first down to keep the drive alive. Wofford loses five yards on its next three plays and is forced to punt the ball back to the Black and Gold.
3:13 PM - Appalachian marches the football down the field with relative ease against the Wofford defense. ASU uses a mix of run and pass to mount an 8 play, 71 yard drive that elapses 3:24 off the clock. ASU QB Deandre Presley goes 3 of 4 passing on the drive and throws in an 18-yard rush for good measure.
Running back Devon Moore caps the drive with an 11-yard run bounce-out off the right side for the first score of the game. It is the first touchdown the Terrier defense has surrendered in three games. The PAT from Jason Vitaris spots the Mountaineers the early 7-0 advantage with 11:36 to play in the opening period.
Wofford's first offensive series coming up....
3:02 p.m.- Appalachian for the 9th time in 10 games has lost the coin toss. Wofford has won and deferred the toss here on this 63-degree Saturday afternoon. Appalachian will receive the opening kickoff to get us started from The Rock. Huge game with huge implications. What a great spot for a sports fan to be! Doesn't get much better than a college football game on a Saturday afternoon.
3:00 p.m. The National Anthem has been played, the teams have made their way on the field, and we're ready for kickoff! Beautiful day at The Rock with a decent breeze blowing. All in all, a terrific day for mid-November in the North Carolina mountains!
We're LIVE at ASU's Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone for this afternoon's de facto Southern Conference Championship football game between the Mountaineers and the Wofford Terriers.
Appalachian enters today's game ranked third nationally with an 8-1 mark, while Wofford comes into today with the same 8-1 record and a No. 4 national ranking. Wofford stands at 6-0 in Southern Conference play, while Appalachian enters with a 6-1 record, 1/2 game out of first place.
The Mountaineers look to bounce back in its first game since its 26-game conference winning streak was snapped at Georgia Southern in overtime last Saturday. The winner of today's contest clinches no less than a share of the Southern Conference championship, and will earn the conference's automatic berth in the upcoming FCS playoffs.
As if that is not enough to chew on for today's game, former Watauga High School All-State standout running back Eric Britenstein comes home to Boone with his Terriers. Britenstein is the reigning SoCon Player of the Week and is the conference's leading rusher coming into the game this evening.
We'll be at Kidd Brewer all afternoon reporting from the press box with updates and all the drama as it unfolds during today's ballgame. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m. here at The Rock.
