6:15 PM -- ASU wins it 58-6. Solid performance overall in the win as ASU moves to 1-1 for the season. Full coverage of the game in next week's edition of The AJT. Thanks for reading!
6:10 PM -- Jamal Jackson tops off a 10-play, 57-yard drive that elapsed 5:13 off the fourth quarter clock with a three-yard touchdown run. The PAT gives the Mountaineers a 58-6 lead.
With the pending victory, Jerry Moore becomes the 16th head coach in college football history to win 200 games at one institution. Moore won his first game at ASU over Gardner-Webb 23 seasons ago, and three championships later has reached another impressive milestone. Multiple team records were set in today's contest as the Mountaineers pulled away to dominate the Aggies in the second half
5:55 PM - The Aggies appear ready to score its second TD of the game, when a pass is intercepted at the 3-yard line by Doug Middleton. Middleton takes the pick to the house for a 97-yard interception return touchdown. The extra point failed, but the Mountaineer lead bulges to 51-6 with 10:21 left in the game.
5:47 PM -- After ASU blocks a second punt of the day (both courtesy of Phillip Strickland), the Mountaineers move 13 yards over 7 plays, with kicker Martin belting a 51-yard field goal (7th longest in school history) to increase the lead to 45-6 with 12:30 to play in the game.
5:35 PM -- The ASU defense holds A and T to a three-and-out, then the offense takes care of business with a four-play, 63-yard drive highlighted by a 50-yard run from Tarvaris Cadet and capped by a one-yard plunge by quarterback Jamal Jackson. Mountaineers lead 42-6 and are well on the way to evening its record to 1-1 for the season.
5:29 PM - Following a Troy Sanders INT, the Mountaineers score for a fifth time on the day with a six-play, 68-yard drive. Presley capped the drive with a three-yard jaunt to the goal line. The Sam Martin extra point kick stakes ASU to a commanding 35-6 lead late in the third quarter.
5:15 PM - Appalachian answers the NC A and T score with its own touchdown, off a 12-play, 78-yard drive. The scoring effort took 4:55 off the clock and was culminated by a nine-yard TD pass from Presley to Quick, the pair's second connection of the afternoon.
With the score, Quick tallies his 23rd career touchdown, moving him alone into second place on the all-time Mountaineer touchdown reception list. ASU leads 28-6.
5:04 PM - NC A and T gets on the scoreboard with its first drive of the second half. Despite missing the extra point, the Aggies drove 60 yards over four plays, taking 1:58 off the third quarter clock. Quarterback Lewis Kindle connected with Wallace Miles for 40 yards. ASU leads 21-6 with 13:02 left in the third period.
4:38 PM -- At halftime, the Mountaineers maintain a 21-0 lead over the Aggies of NC A and T. Defensively the Mountaineers has been strong in the first half, but has shown a bit of flexibility in the pass defense, as A and T has found greatest success through the air.
ASU led 222 to 131 in total yards for the half, with DeAndre Presley completing 13-of-15 passes for 135 yards and a score.
Second-half updates to come.
4:29 PM -- It took a bit of time, but with 2:52 remaining in the half, the Mountaineers get on the scoreboard again. ASU has blocked a punt in the quarter, as well as recovered an NC A and T fumble, but it took 4:18 to march 50 yards over nine plays to reach paydirt. Cedrick Baker-Boney scores from three yards out to push the Mountaineer lead to 21-0 over the Aggies.
3:54 PM - The Mountaineer defense holds the Aggies and ASU marches 98 yards on 13 plays, elapsing 4:57 off the first quarter clock. DeAndre Presley does the honors with his legs with an 8-yard touchdown run to boost the ASU lead to 14-0 with 4:50 left in the first period.
3:42 PM -- ASU gets on the board with a touchdown in its opening drive, as a Brian Quick 19-yard touchdown reception from DeAndre Presley helps the Mountaineers draw first blood. The play capped an eight-play, 69-yard drive that elapsed 2:54 off the clock. ASU grabs an early 7-0 lead.
The AJ-T is at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone for this afternoon's home football opener between the ASU Mountaineers and the NC A and T Aggies.
ASU dropped a tough 66-13 loss to FBS opponent Virginia Tech in Blacksburg last Saturday, while the Aggies and new head coach Rod Broadway take the field for the first time in 2011.
We'll be bringing updates of all the action from the stadium throughout the afternoon as the Mountaineers look to even its mark at 1-1 on the season.
Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m., so check back periodically for your Mountaineer football fix.
