A lot at stake for today's ASU-Elon game

Appalachian State will try to reaffirm its status as the Southern Conference kingpin, and up-and-comer Elon will try for a landmark victory when the two meet at 3:30 today at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

The winner will be assured of at least a share of the SoCon title, and Appalachian State can clinch the conference's automatic berth for the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs with a victory.

The Mountaineers (8-2, 6-0 SoCon) have won three straight FCS national titles and 12 straight games against Elon. They also have won seven straight this season, the last two by an average of 44 points.

"I hope that we haven't peaked, but I hope we're in the process of it," Coach Jerry Moore of the Mountaineers said.

It might seem like old hat for Appalachian against Elon, which is new to the SoCon title picture, but Moore isn't buying into history.

"They know what they're playing for just like we do," he said. "I don't think it's a big advantage."

Elon (8-2, 6-1) has made significant strides under Pete Lembo, who was 44-15 at Lehigh before becoming Elon's coach in 2006. Elon was 14-42 in the five seasons before Lembo took over but is 20-12 since, with a win over every SoCon opponent except Appalachian.

Lembo said that it will be a great challenge playing on the road against what he called the premier program in the FCS. He also said he thinks that his players are prepared for a crucial late-season stretch.

"We've been fortunate in that our first season we actually went into our last game playing for a winning season, which is something that they hadn't done here in the previous five years," Lembo said. "So that made that last game very meaningful, on a different level obviously. Last year we were fortunate that going into November, we were playing some very meaningful games with potential playoffs and championship (implications).

"And then obviously this year, being in this position with two games left, against top-25 teams in App and Liberty, we have a chance to finish with a great year.

"This is where we want to be. It's been a change in the culture and trying to create high expectations. One of those is to be in November and have games that have meaning to them."

Moore said he's impressed with the Phoenix, which has been ranked as high as No. 10 in the FCS polls and has lost only to top-10 teams Richmond and Wofford.

"I evaluate how hard people play as much as I do what they're doing," Moore said. "Their kids play hard, and I think that's the most impressive thing about them."

Regardless of what happens today, Elon should be in line for its first FCS playoff berth if it can beat Liberty, another top-25 team, next Saturday.

The Phoenix has the SoCon's top passing attack, although it has been a bit more balanced this season, and has made significant strides on defense, ranking second to surprising Samford in points and yards allowed in the SoCon.

"They've got a good scheme, they run to the ball on defense, they've got a good kicking game," Moore said. "Our guys see that, and our coaches do. We're very well aware of that. If you need motivation, all you have to do is turn on one of these video gadgets around here and watch them."

Scott Riddle, a sophomore quarterback, leads the SoCon in passing with 247 yards a game. His top target is junior Terrell Hudgins, who is the SoCon's all-time leader in receptions (262), receiving yards (3,544) and touchdown catches (35). Riddle has thrown 14 interceptions; Appalachian leads the SoCon with 17 interceptions.

"I think the formula for us this year is when we have played consistent defense, that's been a big change from last year," Lembo said. "And the ability for us to be more balanced offensively. We were pretty much a one-dimensional offense last year and the fact that we've been able to run the ball with pretty good success in a number of our games has been really important."

Quarterback Armanti Edwards, the SoCon's all-time leader in total offense with 9,725 yards, leads the Mountaineers. He ranks third in the FCS this season in passing efficiency.

Appalachian is 5-0 at home this season. Elon is 4-0 on the road.

"It's always more comfortable playing at home, particularly when you come off the road," Moore said. "Our last three trips were to Chattanooga, to Statesboro and to Birmingham. They were all long trips, and it takes a lot out of you. We always like to play at home. We've got a good environment here, the kids like it and it's a fun place to play."

Lembo said: "One of the scary things coming into this conference was not just the magnitude of the programs that you have to play every week and the tradition in the conference and the tradition in (the FCS) with championships and playoff appearances, but also the environments that you go into…. Obviously the atmosphere up in Boone is a great one….

"It makes it a greater challenge, but if you're truly a competitor it makes it even more exciting. I think our players enjoy going into those environments and we try as a staff to do our best to prepare them for what's going to happen there."

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