October 1 , 1998

Justin Griffin
Sports Editor

Saturday, Appalachian will get a chance to kill two birds with one stone.  First, they will get to  measure themselves against a formidable opponent in Wake Forest, and secondly, they will renew one of North Carolina’s most heated rivalries, Appalachian State and Wake Forest.

Of course, there has been a question of how many more contests the two teams will have against each other.  NCAA rules all but have ended the practice of Division I teams playing Division I-AA schools in football with regulations on what the teams can and can’t count toward bowls. “All we can worry about is now,”  Mountaineer linebacker Adam Neiheisel said.  “Whatever happens next year is for next year’s team to think about.”

The competition level of the game should be at an all-time high this year.  Appalachian comes into the contest with a 3-0 record, and Wake Forest has a 2-1 record this year.

Wake Forest started out the year by taking a 42-0 beating at the hands of Air Force but have since rebounded with wins over Navy and Clemson.  “They’re one of the best teams we’ll play this year, if not the best.”  Appalachian State Coach Jerry Moore said.

Appalachian, on the other hand, has beat Liberty and East Tennessee State along with The Citadel this year.  Liberty and East Tennessee State were both ranked nationally when Appalachian defeated them. ASU is ranked 10th nationally in the Sports Network Division I-AA.  Wake Forest was ranked 22nd in Sports Illustrated’s  pre-season poll.

“A win is important to any team in any game,” Neiheisel said.  “You never want to have a loss on the record if you can avoid it, whether it’s a I-A opponent or I-AA opponent.  A loss is a loss.”

Wake will be led by senior quarterback Brian Kuklick, who played his first game against Appalachian State four years ago in a 19-13 win for the Deacons.  Kuklick chose playing for Wake Forest over professional baseball.  “I hope he signs a baseball contract before Friday, “  Moore said of the senior.  Kuklick is considered by some to be the best

Coach Moore looks at the future of the ASU-Wake Forest rivalry optimistically. “I suspect in the future there will be other Appalachian-Wake Forest games.  This isn’t going to be the last time these two teams play ever again,” he said.

Kick-off is set for 6:30 at Groves Stadium.