October 27, 1998
Mountaineers terrorize Terriers
October 27, 1998
TJ Thomasson, Staff Writer
Wofford had the rush, but it was Appalachian State that had a buzz
Saturday, after the seventh-ranked Mountaineers pounded the Terriers 31-6
in a key Southern Conference contest at Kidd Brewer Stadium.
Wofford (3-4, 2-4) showed why they have the sixth-best running game in the nation: They refuse to pass. Wofford’s first trip in 20 years to Boone was an unpleasant one, and the Terriers probably won’t be looking forward to their return in 2000. Wofford Coach Mike Ayers commented, “Appalachian’s a heck of a team. They were a better man today.”
ASU now leads the overall series 8-7 after their fifth straight win over the Terriers.
The Mountaineers (6-1, 4-1) were able to contain the Terrier rushing attack which ran 64 times for 235 yards and helped Wofford control the ball 11 minutes longer than ASU. No Terrier had over 50 yards on the ground, and the team averaged just 3.1 yards per rush. Despite all the rushing numbers, the Mountaineers controlled the numbers that really counted: the ones on the scoreboard.
Appalachian was only able to muster 10 points in the first half of play
and built a 10-3 halftime advantage. The lack of scoring continued in the
third quarter until back-up quarterback Daniel Jeremiah took over for the
injured David Reaves, who left after re-injuring his ankle. 
Jeremiah was an instant spark for the Mountaineer offense as he connected on four of five, passing for 107 yards. He also ran four times for 19 yards.
Does the debate of who is the better quarterback intensify after this result? Ayers contends, “I think both quarterbacks are quality players.”
“Honestly, if we win, I don’t care who starts,” said Jeremiah. “Teams have to be prepared for two quarterbacks each week.”
Jeremiah commanded ASU on an 81-yard drive that was capped when Terrence McCall rumbled into the end zone on the third down and five from the Terrier six-yard line to give Appalachian a 17-3 lead. Jeremiah opened up the offense by completing two passes on the drive for 19 yards while rushing four times for 18 yards. McCall led the Mountaineer rushing attack with 18 carries for 81 yards on the day. “I feel like I’m getting stronger as the season goes on,” said McCall.
Reaves’ injury isn’t serious, and he should be ready to play, if asked, at Chattanooga Saturday.
Unfortunately, wide receiver Joey Gibson was lost for the season after he tore his anterior crutiate ligament late in the contest. Gibson was Appalachian’s second-leading receiver with 14 catches for 199 yards on the year. Gibson recorded two more receptions for 23 yards against Wofford before leaving the game.
As for the rest of the game, Jeremiah may have sparked the offense, but the defense was on from the start. Linebacker Joey Hall, second on the team in tackles, led the defensive effort with 15 tackles. Hall also rescued the special teams in the third quarter when Darryl Skinner muffed a punt. Hall recovered the loose ball and returned it to the Mountaineer 33-yard line to set up ASU’s first scoring drive of the second half.
Hall wasn’t the only star on defense. Sophomore cornerback Kevin Tatum got something in the first half that he’s been wanting all year: an interception. “I’ve been trying to get a pick all season,” said Tatum. Tatum intercepted Travis Wilson’s first pass attempt of the game to set up the first score of the game for the Mountaineers and again prove that Wofford knows best by running the football on nearly every down. “There’s not a feeling better for a cornerback,” said Tatum. Tatum also made nine tackles, while ASU’s leading tackler, Adam Neiheisel, had 13 stops for Appalachian.
The ultimate goal for any defense is a shutout, and the Mountaineers
have seemed to be so close to recording their first shutout since ‘94 in
several of their games. Tatum said it’s not a matter of “if” but
“when” the defense will pitch a shutout.
“We are going to get one before this season’s over,” Tatum said.
In ASU’s sole scoring drive in the final quarter, it seemed as if the Mountaineers couldn’t help but score again as the Terrier defense ran out of gas. ASU rumbled 82 yards in under two minutes to record their last touchdown. Appalachian’s Chris Abrille came off the bench to relieve McCall, and Abrille picked up right where McCall left off, rushing three times for 25 yards. “He’s just learning to be an I-back right now,” said Moore. But it was the 47-yard pass completion from Jeremiah to Darryl Skinner that set up fullback Kareem Young’s 24-yard touchdown run to wrap up the Mountaineer scoring for the day.
Appalachian almost tacked on a another score late in the contest, but third-string quarterback Roman Kelley fumbled at the Wofford 3-yard line.
ASU’s 10 points in the first half came off of a 14-yard touchdown run by Reaves after a Wofford interception. ASU added a Stuart Jones 32-yard field goal in the second quarter after Wofford’s Matt Martin had connected for three points from 44 yards out. Martin later nailed a 42-yarder midway through the fourth quarter to cap the Terrier scoring for the day. “It was good work for our place-kicker,” said Ayers.
Quarterback Jeremiah has a positive outlook for the rest of the Mountaineer season, “This team is capable of winning out and finishing 10-1, and we’re not going to settle for anything less.”