by BRYAN LAIL
Intern Sports Reporter

If Appalachian State’s struggling defense had questions entering their third game of the season, they needed only to look at Samford quarterback Dustin Taliaferro for the answers.

Through a smothering combination of defense and special teams coverage, Appalachian never allowed the Samford offensive unit to find a rhythm as the Mountaineers got their first win of the season, a 20-7 thrashing of the Bulldogs in both teams’ conference opener at rain-soaked Kidd Brewer Stadium Saturday.

With an average starting field position at their own 19-yard line, Taliaferro struggled to lead the Bulldogs out of their own territory as Appalachian’s special teams dumped Samford within their own 20 on numerous occasions in the first half.

Appalachian’s first two punts from kicker Sam Martin backed the Bulldogs up to their one and two-yard line respectively. Martin also put the Bulldogs at their own 14-yard line after Appalachian’s first score of the game, a 14-yard rushing touchdown by quarterback Armanti Edwards.

“Field position was a key part of what we did today,” Appalachian head coach Jerry Moore said. “We stalled out a bit offensively and had several three-and-outs, but every time we had to punt Sam [Martin] did a great job of pinning those guys back inside the 15-yard line and that was crucial when the offense wasn’t clicking.”

Taliaferro did not manage to complete a pass for gain, at least to his own team, until late in the second quarter, when Appalachian already held a 17-0 lead, thanks in large to a second quarter goal-line interception by defensive back Ed Gainey.

The Mountaineers’ early plan on defense appeared to be simple: stop the run.

It worked, in more ways than one.

The defense was heavily criticized coming into the game for their first half performance against East Carolina in the opener and more recently in their week two loss to McNeese State, but managed to nip a dynamic two-headed attack in Taliaferro and Bulldog starting tailback Chris Evans.

“We were totally focused across the board,” defensive tackle Anthony Williams said. “We took it as a challenge this week to come out and show what we’re capable of. After giving up 30-plus the first two games we knew we had to come out today and make a statement.”

Evans had amassed 320 yards and two touchdowns on the ground in three games for Samford coming into Saturday’s contest. He only managed 87 yards and one late touchdown run against Appalachian.

Appalachian never allowed Evans to break free, and rarely allowed him a gain of more than two or three yards. With Samford content to push the run offensively on first and second down for much of the game, it made keeping the passing game in check on third down that much easier.

It was simple and effective and it seems that was just what the Mountaineer defense needed to get back to form.

It was on those numerous third-and-longs that Taliaferro failed time and again to convert.

Through six first half possessions, Taliaferro threw incomplete passes five times on third down due to Appalachian’s immense front-line pressure.

More times than not, the receivers he was attempting to throw to were well covered.

While Samford’s two stars struggled, Appalachian’s excelled. Starting running back Devon Moore powered the Mountaineers early with a career first half performance.

Devon Moore rushed 10 times for 80 yards, finding room outside on the option or making his own through the middle.

“The run game was there the first half,” Devon Moore said. “They were opening up a lot of big holes. The option and zone reads were there, so we just stuck with what was working.”

Devon Moore was instrumental in giving Appalachian the field position needed for its first two scores, but once Gainey returned the Mountaineers’ lone interception to Samford’s 44 yard line, Edwards finished the first half with a dominant performance through the air.

Edwards went 9-for-10 in the final minutes of the half for 92 yards passing before capping the first drive with a touchdown pass to tight-end Jordan Gary to give the Mountaineers a 17-0 lead.

Edwards also moved Appalachian into position for a Jason Vitaris field goal as the first half expired to put Appalachian up 20-0.

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (0)

Show/Hide comments