Special thanks to Skip Sickler for his assistance with photos throughout the season, as well as to ASU Sports Information and Director Mike Flynn for his help all season. Thanks for reading along.
UPDATE #14: Maine gets on the board yet again, as Pushaun Brown busts through the line virtually untouched for a 31-yard touchdown run, capping a short drive. The PAT is good, and Maine leads 34-12 with 9:30 left in the game.
UPDATE #13: ASU shoots itself in the foot after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty near midfield. Jackson throws an interception to quell the possession. As radio play-by-play commentator for ASU David Jackson has said, "It's just not in the cards today," as Maine takes over on offense with a shade more than 11 minutes to play.
UPDATE #12: ASU forces a Black Bears punt on its ensuing series, but with 13:15 on the game clock, the Mountaineers will have to operate with precision and urgency to further cut into the 27-12 Maine advantage. Slightly more than 15,000 fans are in attendance at today's game, the second-highest total for a postseason home opener at The Rock.
UPDATE #11: Three quarters are in the books, and Maine leads 27-6. The Mountaineers are on the move, however, with the football at the Maine one-yard line. On the opening play of the final quarter, Cadet scores from a yard out, narrowing the game to 27-12. The TD caps a 10-play, 74-yard drive, elapsing 3:22 off the clock. ASU misses the PAT, however, leaving the team trailing 27-12.
UPDATE #10: Following another Mountaineer punt, Maine strikes again on a one-play, 54-yard drive, a run by David Hood. The PAT is good, and the Black Bears lead 27-6 with 6:12 to play in the third period. Maine continues to show the proverbial "eye of the tiger" this afternoon, looking like the hungrier team thus far. The game is not over yet, but ASU will need its offense to wake up quickly to get back in the game down 21 points.
UPDATE #9: Maine converts a fourth down and a couple plays later scores on an 8-play, 58-yard drive culminating in a 21-yard scoring pass play, upping Maine's advantage to 20-6 with 8:32 to play in the third period. Maine is not intimidated at all this afternoon, and has been giving the Mountaineers a handful throughout the contest.
UPDATE #8: ASU's defense establishes itself on Maine's first drive, forcing a three-and-out punt.
UPDATE #6: Maine answers the ASU drive with an 80-yard, 8-play scoring drive, capped by a 35-yard pass connection for a score from Smith to Damarr Aultman. ASU blocks the Maine extra point, as Gordy Witte gets a paw up to get a hand on the ball. Maine now leads 13-6 with 4:51 left in the half.
UPDATE #5: Following a Maine punt, ASU drives for the tying score, a 7-play, 58-yard drive capped by a 20-yard TD pass from QB Jamal Jackson to Andrew Peacock. The PAT was blocked by Maine's Michael Cole, leaving Maine with a 7-6 edge with 9:00 left in the half.
UPDATE #3: Maine marches inside the ASU 10-yard line on a 12-play, 79-yard drive, but the ASU special teams blocks a field goal to keep the game a seven-point margin.
UPDATE #2: ASU gains a first down, but again is stopped by the Black Bears defense and must punt. Midway through the opening period and ASU trails 7-0.
UPDATE #1: ASU gets first crack at the football but has a three-and-out. ASU DB McDuffie is out for today's game due to a university issue.
Maine gets on the scoreboard first with a play-action fake and TD pass from Smith for a 44-yard score. It's Smith's 18th TD pass of the season. A 4-play, 69-yard drive takes only 1:20 off the clock as Aultman hauls in the touchdown pass. Maine leads 7-0 in the early going at The Rock.
We are LIVE this afternoon at Kidd Brewer Stadium on a gorgeous day for playoff football as the ASU Mountaineers play host to the Maine Bears in the second round of the NCAA FCS football playoffs. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m.
Maine finished its regular season with an 8-3 mark, good enough for second place in the Colonial Athletic Association conference. ASU meanwhile, enters today's game with an identical 8-3 record, earning the Mountaineers a tie for second place in the Southern Conference standings.
Maine's spread offense attack has averaged more than 29 points per game this season, and averaged more than 370 yards in total offense per contest. The team allows more than 23 points per game and 348 yards per contest on defense.
Appalachian has won six-straight playoff openers. Ironically, its last loss in a postseason opener came at the hands of Maine, a 14-13 defeat in the first round of what was then known as the NCAA Division I-AA Championship on Nov. 30, 2002 at Kidd Brewer Stadium.
Maine won seven of its first eight games this season, but have dropped two of its last three entering today's matchup, with six of its 11 games decided by 10 points or fewer.
Senior quarterback Warren Smith triggers the Maine attack, as he has amassed 2,643 passing yards and almost 2,900 yards in total offense.
We'll be here at The Rock all afternoon updating the playoff action as time and regulations allow. Thanks for reading.
