Eagles End App State's Streak at Kidd Brewer Stadium
10/20/2007 4:12:00 AM | Football
BOONE, N.C. ? Quentin Taylor stopped Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Edwards one yard shy of picking up a first down, securing Georgia Southern's 38-35 win at Kidd Brewer Stadium Saturday afternoon (Oct. 20). The Eagles snapped App State's 30-game home winning streak, which had stood as the longest among Division I teams in the country.
The fifth-ranked Mountaineers forced Georgia Southern (5-2 overall, 2-2 Southern Conference) to a 3-and-out late in the game. Daniel Jordan launched a 47-yard punt and ASU was flagged for an illegal batting penalty, eventually setting up 1st-and-10 from its own 36.
Edwards completed a pass to Hans Batichon on first down, getting to their own 48. Edwards threw an incomplete pass on first down but had a 9-yard completion to Dexter Jackson on second down. An illegal shift penalty would set up 3rd-and-10. Damon Suggs and Jerry Barker stopped Edwards on a one yard loss. Flushed out of the pocket, Edwards tried hitting the left corner but Taylor stopped him shy of the marker. All that remained was Jayson Foster taking a knee to seal the win.
The Eagles, who had not won in Boone since a 27-18 victory in 2001 and won for only the third time ever during the modern era here, jumped out to an early lead.
Georgia Southern had to burn a timeout on the very first play. Foster completed a pass on first down for no gain then broke loose on a 24-yard run for a first down. On the very next play the senior quarterback took a handoff, went off right tackle and eluded several tackles for a 56-yard TD run. Jesse Hartley's extra point made it 7-0.
Thanks to Carson Hill the Eagles quickly struck again. On third down, Edwards, making his first start since Wofford on September 22nd, threw a sidelines pass but Hill stepped in front and was off for a 35-yard interception return. It was his third interception in as many games and first-ever for a TD. Hartley made it 14-0 just over two minutes in.
App drove down the field, thanks to the play of Edwards. The sophomore quarterback eluded Larry Beard's potential sack on third down, running for a first down. Then he capped the 9-play drive by completing a 24-yard TD pass to Kevin Richardson to cut the Eagles' lead to 14-7 with 9:11 left in the first.
GSU converted 4th-and-inches from App's 35 when Lamar Lewis took a pitch and hit the right corner. Three plays later Lewis ran up the middle for an 18-yard score, a 21-7 lead with 5:23 left in the first quarter.
On the Mountaineers' ensuing drive, Edwards hit CoCo Hillary on a 30-yard completion then Richardson finished off the drive scoring from five yards out. The teams combined for 35 points in the first 13-plus minutes of the contest.
Georgia Southern responded with another TD of its own, and overcame two holding penalties in ASU territory to do so. Billy Lowe threw his second touchdown pass of the year, an 18-yard strike to Raja Andrews. Hartley's extra point made it 28-14 with just under 12 minutes in the first half.
The Mountaineers drove deep into Eagle territory. Edwards fumbled on second down but GSU could not up with the loose ball. Julian Rauch eventually hit a 27-yard FG.
However, the Eagles had the last word in the first half when Hartley hit a 31-yard field goal on the last play and took a 31-17 lead into the locker room. Foster accounted for 154 rushing yards and a season-high 36 receiving. Lowe also completed all four of his pass attempts for 66 yards. Lewis added 64 rushing yards as GSU held a 237-183 edge on the ground and 310-257 in total yardage.
The Eagles held ASU to what seemed to a 3-and-out to start the third quarter but were flagged for offsides, which gave App a first down. They had to settle for a 32-yard field goal by Rauch.
Brandon Jackson came up with his first career sack, which forced a 3rd-and-16. On the next play, Chris Covington intercepted Edwards, his third career interception and second in as many games.
During the Eagles next drive, on 3rd-and-14 from their own 17, Lowe hit Andrews across the middle for a 42-yard gain. Georgia Southern entered the game tied for fifth nationally in fourth-down conversion (80 percent). Foster and Mike Hamilton each picked up a key fourth down during that drive. Lewis finished off the 13-play, 79-yard drive hitting the left corner for a 15-yard score. His second rushing TD not only tied a personal-high but more importantly spotted the Eagles a 38-20 lead with under 10 minutes left in the game.
The Mountaineers came right back. Trey Elder came on in relief of Edwards and instead of throwing the ball, displayed his running skills. The senior quarterback recorded a 19-yard TD run just 2:35 later.
With 2:02 remaining Devon Moore scored from a yard out as ASU covered 91 yards in eight plays ? and was successful on a 2-point conversion - but that would be the final margin.
Foster finished with 175 rushing yards, 14 yards on 3-of-3 passing and caught three balls for 41 yards. Andrews recorded a career-high 89 receiving yards on four catches.
Lowe completed 8-of-11 passes for 145 yards and the one TD. Freshman linebacker E.J. Webb recorded a team- and career-high 11 tackles. Suggs also recorded a career-high nine stops.
Overall the Eagles accumulated 435 total yards of offense. Despite being 3-of-11 on third down conversion, GS was a perfect 3-of-3 on fourth down.
Edwards recorded a career-high 220 rushing yards on 29 carries. He also was 10-of-21 for 178 yards but threw two costly interceptions. Richardson tallied 88 rushing yards and 69 receiving. Batichon made four catches for 95 yards. Tony Robertson recorded a game-high 12 tackles.
App State travels to Furman next Saturday (Oct. 27). The Eagles return to Paulson Stadium for a Homecoming game 12 noon kick next Saturday against The Citadel. The game will be televised live on CSS.
GAME NOTES: Georgia Southern has scored first in all seven games this year... Hill's interception return for a touchdown was the first time an Eagle did so in 19 games. A.J. Bryant had a 74-yard return for a TD against Morehead State in the 2005 regular season finale at Paulson Stadium... Foster went over 1,000 season and 3,000 career rushing yards on the 56-yard TD run in the first quarter. The 56-yard run ties for the fifth-longest from scrimmage in his career. It also marks the second time in his career rushing for 1,000 yards. On that touchdown Foster recorded his 66th career TD accounted for, tying Adrian Peterson for fifth place all-time in SoCon history. He now has 1,131 yards this season and 3,122 in his career... It was Andrews' second career TD reception, his first coming last year against App... The 31 first half points equal the most this year by the Eagles (South Dakota State) and second-most in a half all season (35 in second half against West Georgia)... Edwards' rushing yards marked the first time in a span of 21 games an opposing rusher gained 200 yards. Anthony Watson of South Dakota State rushed for 204 yards in the game at Brookings during the 2005 season.
