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Tuesday, 26 September 2006 15:20 |
ASU stomps Gardner-Webb
41-6 behind 2nd-half surge
BOILING SPRINGS ÇƒÏ Dexter Jackson set an Appalachian State University record with two punt returns for touchdowns to break open a close game and lead No. 2 ASU to a 41-6 win at Gardner-Webb last Saturday night.
Jackson took back-to-back punts to paydirt early in the third quarter to extend a 13-3 Appalachian lead to 27-3 just 6:24 into the second half.
The GWU-record crowd of 8,490 included between 4,000 and 5,000 Mountaineer faithful, shattering the previous Gardner-Webb attendance record of 6,311, set in 2004 versus Western Carolina.
Jacksonës first return went 86 yards, the third-longest in school history and the first Appalachian punt return to go for a touchdown since DaVon Fowlkes took a punt back 87 yards at Marshall on Aug. 31, 2002. Following the very next series, Jackson returned a 53-yard punt by GWUës Michael Hanna 68 yards to paydirt and the rout was on.
The Mountaineers added touchdowns on a 10-yard connection by the true-freshman duo of quarterback Armanti Edwards to wide receiver Josh Johnson and a one-yard run by Kevin Richardson to account for the final tally.
Appalachian (3-1) held Gardner-Webb (2-2) to just 222 yards, including only 101 in the second half. GWU failed to find the end zone for the first time in 33 games and ASU extended its streak of not allowing a touchdown to 128 minutes and 43 seconds, dating back to the fourth quarter of a 21-10 win over No. 12 James Madison on Sept. 9.
Senior Jeremy Wiggins recorded his first-career two-interception game to lead the impressive defensive effort. Middle linebacker Jacque Roman, making his first-career start in place of injured starter Cam Speer, led the Mountaineers with nine tackles.
A series of miscues led to Appalachian leading just 13-3 at halftime, despite out-gaining Gardner-Webb 258-121 in the first half. Things started out well for ASU offensively, as it responded to a GWU field goal on the first series of the game by driving 80 yards in just nine plays, culminated by a 36-yard touchdown pass from Edwards to T.J. Courman. However, Julian Rauch missed his first kick of the year on the extra point and Appalachianës lead stood at 6-3.
Despite moving the ball with relative ease, untimely penalties, a fumble and a blocked field goal kept the Mountaineers from building on their lead until Edwards scored on an 18-yard run with 1:03 left to play in the second quarter. In all, the Apps were penalized nine times for 84 yards in the first half alone.
In just the second start of his career, Edwards led Appalachianës 446-yard offensive output by completing 16-of-22 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns and adding 101 yards and a touchdown on 13 rushes.
Next, ASU will begin the defense of its 2005 Southern Conference title when it opens league play at home versus Elon. Kickoff for the homecoming tilt is set for 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Kidd Brewer Stadium.
MHC tops St. Augustineës
14-7 with running attack
MARS HILL ÇƒÓ Fueled by a relentless running attack, Mars Hill College beat St. Augustineës College 14-7 in last Saturdayës home opener at Meares Stadium.
MHC (3-1) finished with a 15-minute advantage in time of possession.
Lionsë senior tailback Kendrick Johnson gaining 141 yards in 26 carries, while true freshman Trandon Dendy chipped in 27 yards on eight carries, including a 2-yard run for the winning touchdown with 2:05 left in the third quarter. Nine plays earlier, MCHës Chris Cromer turned a fake punt into a 17-yard scramble to keep the drive alive.
St. Augustineës scored first on a 62-yard run by Travoris Carter. MHC quarterback later retaliated with a 20-yard scoring pass to Jarvis Mathis on the first play of the second quarter to tie the score. The Falcons (1-3) never threatened again.
Next, MHC will host Catawba College at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
No. 3 Furman rips WCU
as fullback scores 6 TDs
GREENVILLE, S.C. ÇƒÓ Jerome Felton set school and Southern Conference records by rushing for six touchdowns in leading third-ranked Furman to a 42-7 win over 22nd-ranked Western Carolina in the Southern Conference season opener for both schools last Saturday night at Paladin Stadium.
The previous Furman and SoCon record for TDs in a game was five.
Felton, a 6-foot, 248-pound junior fullback from Madisonville, Tenn., and Walter Payton Award candidate, ran 20 times for 102 yards and scored on runs of 13, 2, 2, 5, and 1 yards in the first half in helping Furman (3-1, 1-0 SoCon) build a 35-7 lead. Felton finished off his performance with a 1-yard plunge on the first possession of the second half to make it 42-7.
The win marked the 10th straight home triumph for Furman, sixth straight victory over Western Carolina (2-1, 0-1 SoCon) in Greenville, and eighth success in the last nine clashes with the Catamounts.
Furman, which scored on its first six possessions, compiled a 305-217 advantage in total offense. Cedrick Gipson followed Felton in the rushing column with 70 yards on 11 carries, and quarterback Renaldo Gray connected on 4-of-7 passes for 100 yards.
Bennett Swygert completed 17-of-26 passes for 133 yards for Western Carolina.
Next, the Catamounts will host No. 19 Georgia Southern at 6 p.m. Saturday,
Brevard College suffers
3rd straight shutout loss
BREVARD ÇƒÓ Tusculum College whitewashed Brevard College 33-0 in football at Brevard High School last Saturday.
While it was BCës third consecutive shutout loss, the outcome was an improvement over a 45-0 drubbing by Newberry College on Sept. 16 and a 55-0 shellacking by Mars Hill College on Sept. 9.
BC (0-5), which reinstated football this season after a 56-year lapse, is fielding a team comprised mostly of true freshmen.
Tusculum finished with 446 offensive yards, versus 97 yards for BC.
The Tornados were led by Donald Hudson, who gained 31 yards on 13 carries. Cam Patterson chipped in 11 yards on seven carries. Former Enka High star Colby McCoy completed 4-of-8 passes for 56 yards.
After an open date Saturday, BC will return to action at 2 p.m. Oct. 7, when it hosts North Greenville College for homecoming.
TV changes kickoff time for ASU-WCU square-off
CULLOWHEE ÇƒÓ The Nov. 11 football game between mountain rivals Appalachian State and Western Carolina has been changed to a 4 p.m. kickoff so it can be televised.
WMYA (Channel 40) will televise the battle for the Old Mountain Jug.
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