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Special teams lead way for the Mountaineers |
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Tuesday, 26 September 2006 |
by ERIK RHYNE
Sports Editor
The Appalachian State football team scored from an unlikely source to pull away in a 41-6 defeat of Gardner-Webb University Saturday.
Leading 13-3 early in the third quarter, Appalachian junior Dexter Jackson returned a punt 86 yards for a touchdown. It is the third longest in school history and first since DaVon Fowkles did it against Marshall University Aug. 31, 2002.
Following the next Bulldog series, Jackson returned another punt 53 yards for a touchdown to push the score to 27-3.
Jackson became the first Mountaineer to ever return two punts for touchdowns in one game.
However, Jackson did not steal the whole show, as the Appalachian
defense gave up only 222 yards to the Bulldogs and only 101 in the
second half.
GWU failed to score a touchdown for the first time in 33 games while
ASU extended its streak to 128 minutes and 43 seconds of not allowing a
touchdown.
The last time Appalachian held a team under seven points on the road was an 8-6 win against The Citadel in 2001.
Following a first quarter field goal by Gardner-Webb, the Mountaineers
drove 80 yards on nine plays. A 36-yard touchdown pass from quarterback
Armanti Edwards to T.J. Courman capped the drive. Julian Rauch missed
the extra point, but ASU led 6-3.
The Mountaineers were unable to extend their lead due to penalties and a blocked field goal.
With just over a minute left in the second half, Edwards ran 18 yards for a touchdown.
Following the two touchdowns by Jackson, the true-freshmen duo of Edwards and Josh Johnson connected for a 10-yard touchdown.
It was Johnson’s first career touchdown catch.
Kevin Richardson added a one-yard plunge to finalize the score.
Edwards finished the day going 16-22 for 195 yards and two touchdowns.
He added 13 carries for 101 yards and 1 Touchdown and became
Appalachian’s 100-yard rusher in five games.
Richardson finished the day with 65 yards on 14 carries with one
touchdown. He became the ninth Mountaineer to gain 2,000 yards in his
career. He has 2,051 yards and 25 rushing Touchdowns in 30 career
games.
William Mayfield led the way for receivers with a career-high five
receptions for 90 yards. Johnson caught three passes for 35 yards and
one touchdown.
Jeremy Wiggins led the way for the defense with his first career two-interception game.
Linebacker Jacque Roman had nine tackles for Appalachian.
ASU opens its Southern Conference schedule when Elon College travels to Boone next Saturday. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.
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