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by ROB JENKINS
Sports Editor
The Matchup
Georgia Southern’s record stands at 4-3 after knocking off Chattanooga 30-20 Saturday.
Appalachian State is 4-2 after defeating Wofford 44-34 last weekend in Spartanburg, S.C.
How ASU can win
Offensively, the Mountaineers need to keep doing what they have been
doing for the past two weeks: racking up a lot of yards and points.
Appalachian has gained 1,255 yards and scored 99 points combined in its last two games.
With the spread option, everything starts with the running game, and it
appears the Apps have finally found a running back to replace the
production of Kevin Richardson.
Devon Moore is leading the Southern Conference in rushing, averaging
111.3 yards per game. ASU needs to make sure they get the ball in
Moore’s hands 20-25 times a game: the offense is at its best when he is
leading the way.
Oh, and it does not hurt that Armanti Edwards appears to be playing the best football of his career.
Edwards accounted for three touchdowns at Wofford en route to his second career 400-yard passing game.
The Mountaineers need to continue to work the ball all over the field.
What has made the passing game so successful this season is that
Edwards is not keying on one receiver.
On defense the Mountaineers still need to focus on the fundamentals. It
is too far into the season for the Apps to still be out of position and
have trouble tackling.
Appalachian also needs to force more turnovers.
Mark LeGree, who led the nation in interceptions last year, picked off
his first two passes of the season at Wofford. On the season, the
Mountaineers have only forced eight turnovers.
ASU might be able to find their groove against the Eagles, who have given away a SoCon-worst 17 turnovers.
How GSU can win
The Eagles need to get a lot more production from their offense.
Georgia Southern ranks seventh out of nine teams in the SoCon in both
scoring offense (20.6 points per game) and total offense (285.6 yards
per game).
To keep up with the Mountaineers’ powerful offense, the Eagles will
likely need to score at least 30 points and gain over 400 yards of
offense.
Or the Eagles could just lean on their opportunistic defense.
Georgia Southern leads the SoCon in takeaways with 14 (nine fumble recoveries and five interceptions).
Getting interceptions against ASU may be a tall order, since Edwards
has only thrown one pick all season. The Eagles should focus on
disrupting the Mountaineers’ rushing attack in the backfield: forcing
bad handoffs and quick decisions is the best way to cause fumbles.
The bottom line
Appalachian always seems to get Georgia Southern’s best shot. Last
year, ASU barely survived its trip to Statesboro, Ga., winning 37-36.
The Mountaineers lost by three in Boone in 2007.
ASU 35, GSU 31
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