by LINDSEY HUNTSINGER
Sports Reporter

The Mountaineers’ win over the Samford Bulldogs last weekend was just the confidence booster they needed as they head into the heart of their conference schedule.

Appalachian will move from one team of Bulldogs to the next as they prepare to face The Citadel Saturday in Charleston, S.C.

Last weekend the Mountaineers were able to reestablish the tradition of victory in the Appalachian football program as they defeated Samford 20-7.

Appalachian State travels to Charleston, S.C. to take on The Citadel this Saturday. Last season the Mountaineers defeated the Bulldogs 47-21. File Photo

Players agree it was a relief to get a win under their belts, but running back Devon Moore said the one win is not the team’s ultimate goal.

“It feels like a huge weight off our chest to get this first win,” Moore said. “Really, getting this first win, plus it was a conference win.

Defensive coordinator John Wiley agrees the win eases some of the pressure on the team. 

“It’s like a monkey off your back. Beyond that, it’s good to see the guys play like they can play,” Wiley said. “It’s good to see a sparkle in the guys’ eyes.”

The Apps hope to extend their 13-game Southern Conference winning streak as they take on The Citadel this weekend, in what will be the Bulldogs’ first conference matchup.

The Bulldogs are led by a strong, three-year starting quarterback, Bart Blanchard, who was named Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against Presbyterian last weekend.

Blanchard went 20-30 passing for 263 yards and six touchdowns. Four of Blanchard’s passes were pulled into the end zone by All-American wide receiver Andre Roberts.

Roberts was named as a Walter Payton Award finalist last year, led the SoCon in punt returns and was second in the league in scoring.

“Obviously, they have a great receiver in Roberts. You’ve got to do something to try and handle him to some degree,” Wiley said. “Blanchard, this is his third year as a starter now, so with each year you’ve got to anticipate his experience making him better. It’s going to be a challenge. I think offensively they’re very diverse.”

Not only the ability of the players, but also the creativity of head coach Kevin Higgins will challenge the Mountaineers this weekend.

“They’re going to be multiple in their formations,” Wiley said. “Huggins is very creative. It’s always a challenge to go against a team coached by him.”

The change in The Citadel’s defense poses another problem for Appalachian this coming weekend.

“Citadel, number one, has kind of changed their defense a little bit from last year. They changed from an odd front last year to an even front,” quarterbacks coach Brad Glenn said. “As far as scheme, you have to go with that and look at that first and see how you want to attack it, and then see what they’re doing coverage wise.”

Glenn thinks the adaptability of ASU’s offense will be a great benefit to Appalachian as they face the Bulldogs.

“Our offense is kind of a ‘take what they give us’ offense, so we have to wait and see and get into the flow of the game,” Glenn said. “We have to see what they’re trying to take away and go from there.”

Coaches are taking into consideration, but not worrying over the fact the Mountaineers were unable to score after halftime against Samford, while 60 of the Citadel’s 90 total points this season have been from the second half.

“We just need to put two halves together,” Glenn said. “The thing we were saying during the open week and all last week was ‘Let’s get out to a fast start.’ We get off to that fast start, then we get to the second half and kind of bogged down a little. We just have to put a whole game together.”

Despite early skepticism, the Mountaineers proved they have what it takes to win a football game. Their annual success makes them the team to beat in the SoCon.

“People have been gunning for us ever since I’ve been here. After that first national championship, and then the second one everyone really wants to beat App State especially at home, and when we go to other peoples’ houses,” Moore said. “Beating App State makes or breaks some people’s seasons.”

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