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Mountaineers lose heartbreaker in Greenville, 29-24 |
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Saturday, 05 September 2009 |
 Sophomore defensive lineman Gordy Witte (r) and sophomore line back Brandon Olsen pause for a moment after their game against the East Carolina State University Pirates. Appalachian lost 29-24. Photo by Holt Menzies
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by LILES NEAL
Associate Editor for Production Operations
The Appalachian State football
team fell 29-24 in a heartbreaker to the East Carolina Pirates Saturday
afternoon.
The first quarter undeniably
belonged to the Pirates as they put up 17 points in just over 11 minutes
while holding the Mountaineers to -11 yards in 10 plays from scrimmage.
ECU quarterback Pat Pinkney
went 6-10 for 68 yards and a touchdown toss to wide receiver Reyn Willis.
ASU’s DeAndre Presley, starting
for injured quarterback Armanti Edwards, went 0-4 and rushed for a net
loss of eight yards in the first quarter.
The Mountaineers could not
manage to pick up a first down until 4:26 into the second quarter when
Presley completed only his second pass of the day on a 31 yard throw
to wide receiver Brian Quick.
The completion would prove
to be a key play in a 5:09, 71-yard drive that would eventually set
up a three-yard touchdown run for Presley.
After Pinkney and Presley traded
interceptions, the ECU offense drove to the ASU 15 before stalling and
settling for a field goal in the final minute of the first half to extend
their lead to 27-7.
With just over five minutes
remaining in the third quarter and the score favoring the Pirates 29-7,
Appalachian substituted Presley for sophomore quarterback Travaris Cadet.
Cadet led the struggling offense
to a 6:42, 55-yard drive resulting in a two-yard touchdown run from
running back Devon Moore.
After the fourth quarter score
and a three-and-out stop from the Appalachian defense, the offense again
drove 38 yards in 3:54 en route to another two-yard touchdown run, this
time by Cadet, to pull the Mountaineers within eight with only 8:41
to play.
Cornerback Cortez Gilbert intercepted
Pinkney with 6:34 to play to set up a 43-yard field goal from kicker
Jason Vitaris, pulling Appalachian within five with 3:24 to play.
The defense again held the
Pirate offense to a three-and-out, leaving the offense with 1:28 on
the clock and 76 yards between the ball and the end zone, but time ran
out on the Mountaineers’ rally as they turned the ball over on a fourth-down
incomplete pass intended for CoCo Hillary across the middle.
The Mountaineers move forward
to next week’s home-opener against the No. 15 McNeese State Cowboys.
Photo by Holt Menzies | Chief Photographer
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