ASU's comeback falls three yards short

“I didn’t catch it.” 

That was all Appalachian State wide receiver Brian Quick could say after dropping what could have been the game-tying touchdown pass Saturday against Montana.

Appalachian was at the UM three-yard line with six seconds left in the game after getting the ball back with 1:31 left.

Armanti Edwards’ first-and-goal pass was broken up in the end zone, and Quick dropped the second-and-goal pass as time expired, giving Montana a 24-17 victory. READ MORE

No Cheering in the Press Box: Dec. 14

The sky is crying

As I looked at the faces of the Mountaineer fans I traveled to Missoula with as we boarded the bus to take us from Washington-Grizzly Stadium to the airport, I noticed that everyone appeared to be thinking the same thing I was:

It was not supposed to end like that.

Appalachian was on the three-yard line with the greatest player to ever play in the FCS at the helm. It was a foregone conclusion that Appalachian was going to tie the game and go to overtime.
 

But they didn’t. READ MORE

The Breakdown: Appalachian State at Elon

The Matchup
Appalachian State is 7-2 on the year after defeating Chattanooga last weekend 35-20 in Boone.

Elon is 8-1 after knocking off Western Carolina 42-17.

Both teams bring 6-0 Southern Conference records into the contest. The winner of the game will clinch at least a share of the SoCon championship and the automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship. READ MORE

No Cheering in the Press Box: Nov. 10

(originally published in the Nov. 10 edition of The Appalachian) 

Elizabeth Lambert, will you marry me?

I’m not really a fan of women’s sports.

I’m not opposed to women’s sports, it’s just that I was raised watching men’s sports, so that’s what I enjoy watching.

So before you start sending me a bunch of letters about how I am a chauvinist, let me make it clear: I think women’s sports are important.

And I know collegiate female athletes are far more athletic than I am. 

And I know they would beat me at most sports, except for competitive beer drinking: I’m pretty sure I could hold my own with a lot of people in that.

Now that I got that disclaimer out of the way, on with the column. READ MORE

No Cheering in the Press Box: Oct. 27

(originally published in the Oct. 27 edition of The Appalachian)

FAILhomme strikes again

As many of you may have seen Sunday afternoon, Jake FAILhomme failed against the Buffalo Bills as he led the Carolina Panthers to a fabulous FAILory. 

It was truly remarkable how much FAIL he was able to cram into one game.

FAILhomme threw three interceptions and was sacked twice as the Panthers fell 20-9. 
 

The blame for this loss belongs to FAILhomme and FAILhomme alone.

The Panther defense played great, holding the Bills to only 167 yards of offense. 

DeAngelo Williams played well, gaining 89 yards and one touchdown on 16 carries READ MORE

Appalachian manhandles Georgia Southern 52-16

(originally published Oct.24 on theapp.appstate.edu)

Appalachian State racked up 712 yards of total offense en route to a 52-16 thrashing of Southern Conference foe Georgia Southern Saturday at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

 

The Mountaineers got on the board on their first drive of the game as Armanti Edwards hit Matt Cline in the left flats for a 15 yard touchdown connection. 

 

Georgia Southern equalized a few minutes later after ASU tight end Brad Hardee fumbled to Derek Heyden, who returned the ball 38 yards to make the score 7-7.

 

Appalachian answered on their next drive when Edwards hit CoCo Hillary with a pass over the middle and Hillary outran the Eagle defense 53 yards to the end zone. READ MORE

The Breakdown: Georgia Southern at Appalachian State

(originally published in the Oct. 22 edition of The Appalachian)

The Matchup

 Georgia Southern’s record stands at 4-3 after knocking off Chattanooga 30-20 Saturday.

Appalachian State is 4-2 after defeating Wofford 44-34 last weekend in Spartanburg, S.C.
 

How ASU can win

Offensively, the Mountaineers need to keep doing what they have been doing for the past two weeks: racking up a lot of yards and points.

Appalachian has gained 1,255 yards and scored 99 points combined in its last two games. READ MORE