ASU beats Wofford 70-24

By: Tommy Bowman | JOURNAL REPORTER
Published: October 31, 2008

BOONE

Appalachian State climbed into the Southern Conference driver's seat last night, and gave Wofford's defense a case of whiplash in the process.

The Mountaineers scored on their first six possessions on the way to a 70-24 romp against the Terriers in a nationally-televised matchup of league unbeatens.

Last night's attendance total of 30,931 was a Kidd Brewer Stadium record.

The Mountaineers, ranked No. 2 in Football Championship Subdivision polls and moving closer to what would be a fourth straight SoCon title, improved to 7-2 overall and 5-0 in SoCon play. The Terriers, ranked as high as No. 3, fell to 6-2 and 4-1.

Armanti Edwards, who became the SoCon's all-time leader in total offense, led the offensive onslaught with 440 total yards. He completed 17 of 19 passes for a career-best 367 yards and five touchdowns.

Three of Edwards' touchdown passes were to redshirt freshman Brian Quick, a 6-5 wideout, and two to redshirt freshman Ben Jorden, a 240-pound tight end. Quick wound up with four catches for 172 yards.

Edwards boosted his career yardage total to 9,397, which surpassed a conference record previously held by former Mountaineers quarterback Richie Williams.

Safety Mark LeGree had three interceptions for the Mountaineers, which tied a school record. LeGree leads all FCS players with seven interceptions this season.

Appalachian, which racked up 620 yards, led 42-14 at halftime.

The teams combined for four touchdowns in the first eight minutes, and totaled 361 yards in the first quarter alone.

But the Mountaineers, who did most of the offensive damage with 372 first-half yards, including 233 passing on a 12-of-13 performance by Edwards, shut down the Terriers in the second quarter.

They didn't stop scoring, however.

Four minutes into the second quarter, the Mountaineers scored their 35th point — the most given up by the Terriers in any regulation game this season.

CoCo Hillary's 48-yard return of the opening kickoff helped set up the first touchdown — on a on a 23-yard pass from Edwards to Jorden.

The Terriers answered with a quick strike of their own, getting a 33-yard pass from Ben Widmyer to Andy Strickland that led to a 17-yard touchdown run by Dane Romero.

The Mountaineers scored four plays later, on a 48-yard pass from Edwards to a tackle-eluding Jorden. But the Terriers responded quickly, and tied the score 14-14 with seven minutes left in the first quarter after Romero rambled for 56 yards and set up a 12-yard Widmyer touchdown run.

The Mountaineers then marched 50 yards to take the lead for good, at 21-14 with two minutes left in the first quarter. Robert Welton capped a 10-play drive with a 5-yard touchdown run.

Wofford finally stopped itself, as Widmyer threw his first interception of the season. He went long to Justice Joslin, but came up short and safety Mark LeGree hauled in his first of two interceptions. LeGree is tied among all FCS players with six interceptions this season.

The Mountaineers forced two three-and-outs, and stalled two other Wofford drives before halftime, while ballooning their lead to 42-14 on a 1-yard run by Edwards, a 58-yard pass from Edwards to Quick and a 47-yard run by Devin Radford.

Quick, a redshirt freshman, wound up with two more touchdown receptions in the second half — on strikes of 50 and 31 yards from Edwards.

Backups Josh Jackson and DeAndre Presley scored the Mountaineers' final touchdowns, and 15- and 5-yard runs.

Eric Breitenstein, an all-state performer at Watauga High School last season, returned to Boone and led the Terriers in rushing with 157 yards on 18 carries. Romero rushed for 106 yards.

Wofford, which gave up the most points in any game since 1990, wound up with an uncharacteristic five turnovers — including four in the second half.

The Terriers beat the Mountaineers 42-31 in last season's SoCon opener, and the teams wound up sharing the league title.

■ Tommy Bowman can be reached at 727-7320 or at tbowman@wsjournal.com.