Apps rebound from loss to beat No. 24 Elon 49-32

ELON ó Led by Walter Payton Award candidate Kevin Richardson and senior quarterback Trey Elder, No. 5 Appalachian State University ran for 365 yards ó its highest total in seven years ó en route to a 49-32 triumph over No. 24 Elon at sold-out Rhodes Stadium last Saturday.

Richardson registered his first 100-yard day of the season with 158 yards on 26 carries and Elder chipped in with a career-high 115 yards on 18 carries. Appalachianís 365 rushing yards were its most since racking up a school-record 424 in a 52-0 win over VMI on Nov. 4, 2000.

ASU (4-1, 1-1 Southern Conference) trailed 10-7 after one quarter but, buoyed by a blocked punt in the second quarter, took a 14-7 halftime lead and never relinquished the advantage.

The Mountaineers led by just four points heading into the fourth quarter, but outscored Elon (2-2, 0-1 SoCon), 28-7, in the final period.

Next, ASU will host Gardner-Webb College at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone.

Undefeated MCH dethroned
45-21 in 1st televised game

SALISBURY ó In a clash of unbeaten squads, No. 14 Catawba College whipped Mars Hill College 45-21 before an overflow crowd of 5,514 fans in Shuford Stadium in Thursday nightís nationally televised football game on College Sports TV.

The well-rested Indians (5-0), who had not played since Sept. 15, whipped the Lions (4-1) in the latterís first-ever TV appearance in football in a battle between NCAA Division II teams in the South Atlantic Conference. The Catawba win avenged its 25-7 loss to Mars Hill last year.

MHC suffered four turnovers and Lions quarterback Ricky Spradling was sacked three times and forced to scramble repeatedly.

Catawba intercepted two Spradling passes, sparking a 28-0 halftime lead, as both errant aerials were returned for touchdowns, including a 66-yard return midway through the second quarter.

The Lions finally scored with 10:59 left in the third quarter, after Spradling hit Jame Fayson with a 10-yard pass. MHC later added two more scores, but failed to make the defensive stops needed for a rally.

Spradling finished 15-of-33 for 227 yards, three interceptions and two touchdowns, while MHC tailback George Washington carried 15 times for 128 yards and a touchdown.

Catawba, which scored touchdowns on six of its 11 drives,† amassed a nine-minute advantage in possession time.

Eagles declaw Catamounts
50-21 behind QBís exploits

STATESBORO, Ga. ó Led by quarterback Jyson Fosterís offensive pyrotechnics, Georgia Southern stomped Western Carolina University 50-21 in football last Saturday.

Foster ran for one touchdown, threw for another and completed all 10 of his passes for the Eagles (3-1) against the hapless Catamounts (1-4). Georgia Southern scored on its first six possessions.

A bright spot for WCU was the performance of receiver Eddie Cohen, who caught eight passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns. Adam Hearns, who completed 10 of 26 passes for 213 yards, threw the scoring passes to Cohen.

The Catamounts suffered four turnovers on fumbles, on which the Eagles capitalized with 23 points on short drives.

Next, WCU will host Elon University at 6 p.m. Saturday.

BC suffers five turnovers
in 23-12 loss to Lenoir-Rhyne

HICKORY ó Lenoir-Rhyne College took advantage of five Brevard College turnovers en route to a 23-12 victory in front of 5,976 fans at Moretz Stadium last Saturday night.

L-RC (2-3) also won back-to-back games for the first time in two years in the first-ever meeting between the two schools.

BC (1-4) allowed 17 points off its turnovers, as Bears freshman fullback Chris Durm rushed for a game-high 104 yards on 20 carries and one touchdown.

After L-RC spotted Brevard a 2-0 advantage, the Bears took the lead when Durm scored from four yards out on the second play of the second quarter. On the last play of the first half, senior kicker Andrew Coln booted an 18-yard field goal to give L-RC a 9-2 lead.

However, Brevard retaliated to take the lead with scores on consecutive possessions in the third quarter.

First, Tornados quarterback Trey Wilborn ran around the right corner for a seven-yard touchdown to tie the score at nine. Later, Chase Henry connected on a 30-yard field goal with 1:38 remaining in the third quarter to give Brevard a 12-9 advantage. Both drives were nine plays and 50 yards.

L-RC, however, took the lead for good with a 17-play, 61-yard drive that ended with freshman running back James Poneís 12-yard run with 2:43 remaining.

The Bears secured the win when freshman defensive back Anton Graphenreed returned a fumble on the ensuing kickoff 26 yards to give them a 23-12 advantage..

Next, Brevard will visit Wingate University for a 1:30 p.m. Saturday kickoff.

Grizzlies stomp Generals
to clinch divisional crown

The Asheville Grizzlies locked up the Southeast division title of the North American Football League by ripping the Georgia Generals 17-0 at Memorial Stadium in Asheville.

Asheville (9-1) held a 3-0 halftime lead on a 26-yard field goal by Oneal McCall and then scored two touchdowns in the third quarter, including a 3-yard touchdown by Cortez Oliver and an 80-yard touchdown pass from Frank Meade to Patrick Johnson.

In addition, Johnson registered a goal-line interception to stop a scoring threat by the Generals (8-2).
Next, the Grizzlies will have home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs, which will begin this week, with the pair-ups yet to be announced.

Top runner wins 8K race
by 2 minutes over challenger

Robert Benjamin was the overall winner with a time of 26:51 in the Thomas Wolfe 8K Race in downtown Asheville last Saturday.

Benjamin bested Gary Curran, who finished second, by almost two minutes.

In the womenís division, Amanda Chase was the winner with a time of 30:47. She finished 13th overall.