Moore: Strong recruiting class expected to fill huge void in passing attack

Chris Boyce - Varsity Sports Beat

A depleted wide-receiver core, an injured quarterback, and eight incoming high school football sensations highlight what has been a tough yet productive spring for Appalachian State University football.

Appalachian State head football coach Jerry Moore's troops finished their second scrimmage March 31 in buildup for Saturday's Black and Gold spring football game.

The event is set up in a draft format in which coaches will select player-by-player their offense and defense.

According the Moore, the event serves as a chance for the players to have some fun and cap off what Moore says has been a good spring.

"There's not going to be any continuity," said Moore. "It's just going to be a fun deal to wrap up spring."

Unfortunately, the game on Saturday will be played without Appalachian State quarterback Joe Burchette, center Tyler Elkins and running back Jerry Beard.

The Mountaineers' starting signal caller is down with a rotator cuff injury that will sideline him until the end of May.

Beard is suffering from a shoulder injury, which he was scheduled to have surgery on Wednesday.

After Appalachian State's amazing postseason run that ended in an overtime NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal loss to eventual runner-up University of Montana, the Mountaineers must fill glaring holes in the team's make-up for next year.

Gone is the talented wide receiver core of Troy Albea, Rashad Slade and Joey Gibson.

"The receiver position is where we're going to have the most losses," said Moore. "We've recruited some players that I think are going to be able to come in and contribute. They'll be rookies who are new to the program, and they'll have a lot to learn real quick, but I think the receiver position is one of the positions that's fairly easy to learn."

The Mountaineers will add four receivers to their team next season. Brandon Turner of Dorman High School in Spartanburg, S.C., Chris Thomas from East Lake High School in Tarpon Springs, Fla., Jermaine Little of Miami Beach High School in Miami, and Andrew Layton, a transfer from Georgia Military College, will suit up in black and gold come fall.

Turner gained 716 receiving yards as a senior and added eight touchdowns to propel the Dorman High Cavaliers to the South Carolina Class 4A Football Championship. In addition, Turner rushed for 332 yards and three touchdowns in the South Carolina North-South All-Star Game.

Thomas gives the Mountaineers a versatile offensive weapon. As a senior, Thomas ran for 621 yards and six touchdowns and also played quarterback for East Lake High, throwing for 670 yards and four touchdowns.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Mountaineers will add three linebackers to an already solid unit.

Stewart Adams of Scotland County High School in Laurinburg, Errol Kelly from Miami Jackson High School in Miami, and Brad West of Daniel High School in Central, S.C., will feast on opposing Southern Conference quarterbacks next season.

"Stewart Adams is a terrific athlete. He's a good baseball player and an outstanding linebacker," said Moore. "Errol Kelly's a quick kid who runs to the ball exceptionally well."

Appalachian State's Black and Gold football game is scheduled to take place Saturday at 9:30 a.m. in Kidd-Brewer Stadium.

49ers cruise to five-goal rout of ASU

Andy Morris - Sports Beat

The rally came too late for the Appalachian State University men's club soccer team as they faltered in a 6-1 loss to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC) Saturday in the Queen City.

Trailing 4-0, the Mountaineers finally got on the scoreboard with a goal by senior Matt Georgitis, assisted by freshman Lee Spruill. The goal came with 20 minutes remaining in the second half and appeared to revitalize Appalachian.

The Mountaineers began to pummel the 49ers' goalkeeper with shot after shot but to no avail.

UNCC soon closed the door with two quick goals, a header off a corner, followed by a breakaway that put the Mountaineers away for good. The two goals deflated Appalachian's hope for a rally.

Freshman Philip Gooding, a native of Clemson, S.C., said that a key factor in the team's loss was lack of preparation.

"We didn't play together as a unit because no one came to practice that week. When they put those two goals in at the end, we realized that we weren't going to win," he said.

Teammate Chris Floyd agreed that lack of practice had an influence on the team's loss.

"Not enough people are showing up to practice, and we need to have bigger team practices to do well. We played well on Saturday, but in comparison to our other games, we regressed," he said.

Although the score does not reflect, the Mountaineers dominated the first half, missing many close opportunities. Appalachian hit the post twice and barely missed the left corner on another shot but was denied each time.

However, the 49ers were able to capitalize on their chances and scored two counterattacks to end the half in the lead 2-0.

"After controlling pretty much the entire half and then still giving up two goals took a lot out of us," said Spruill. "We let our heads get down."

Another problem the team struggled with was the lack of referees. The game was a "gentleman's game," meaning that the players were to call their own fouls.

After a couple of hard tackles by both sides, the quality of play deteriorated rapidly.

"It was hard to maintain our cool and not fight anyone. But we knew it was just a game, and we left it on the field," said Spruill.

The Mountaineers will travel to Clemson, S.C., this weekend as they will compete in a tournament with many of the best club soccer teams in the region.

Floyd said the team is eager to travel to such a large tournament. "We're all pretty excited about going, and it's a good way to play a bunch of different schools that we wouldn't get to play otherwise," he said.

"Hopefully, we'll be able to play as well as we did earlier in the season against Duke and N.C. State."

According to Gooding, team unity will be a key in the tournament.

"We need to work hard in practice and possess the ball as a team," he said.

James Nix - Club Sports Beat

Two members of the Appalacian State University women's AHO rugby club have been named to USA Rugby Under-23 Women's Southern All-Star team.

The two outstanding Moutaineers are senior K.B. Hoffman and junior Kit Thompson.

Both girls have helped the women's AHO club grow and improve greatly over the years.

"They are a coach's dream," said the woman's AHO club coach Ken Muir. "I see them both going far with rugby."

Every year, USA Rugby selects women under 23 years old to four different regional All-Star teams: South, West, Midwest and Northeast.

The tryouts for the South All-Star team were held in Athens, Ga., over Spring Break, which kept several AHO women from trying out, according to Muir.

The four regional teams go to a series of camps throughout the summer and then compete in the National All-Star Tournament in December. From this tournament, scouts select women to represent the United States on the U-23 National Team, which competes around the world.

There is also an Over-23 national team for women.

"I'm really excited about it," said Thompson. "I never expected to make it."

Thompson has been a member of women's AHO rugby club since her freshman year and is currently the vice president of the club. Next year, she will be the captain of the team.

As vice president, Thompson has become more involved with the club aspect of the team and is responsible for most of the paperwork the Club Sports program requires.

"Rugby is something I've always played for fun," said Thompson. "I've always wanted to get better. We'll see what happens next."

Hoffman has served as captian for the women's AHO club for the last two years and plays fly-half for the team.

"I think it is her (Hoffman) leadership skills that attracted the eyes of the selectors," said Muir.

"I have a lot more to work on if I'm going to make it the national team," said Hoffman. "I'm just happy to be on the Southern All-Star team."

Hoffman plan to continue her rugby career after she graduates in May.