Photo by Tommy Penick

by ROB JENKINS
Sports Editor

Dominique McDuffie returned a fumble 50 yards for a touchdown with 7:42 left in the fourth quarter and Appalachian State hung on the rest of the way to claim a 20-13 victory over South Carolina State in the first round of the NCAA Division I Football Championship.

“It was a good fight,” head coach Jerry Moore said. “I told [SCSU head coach] Buddy [Pough] after the game that they might be the best team we played this year. They had a great plan and when you watch them on tape you can see how good of a football team they are.”

The Bulldogs got on the board first when Blake Erickson kicked a 31-yard field goal that capped a 15- play, 57-yard opening drive.

Defensive back Ed Gainey takes down a South Carolina ballcarrier during Saturday's playoff game. Photo by Casey Gahagan

The Mountaineers drove 66 yards in 7:15 seconds on their first possession before Devon Moore fumbled the ball away to SCSU’s Markee Hamlin.

Three plays later, defensive lineman Daniel Finnerty intercepted Bulldog quarterback Malcolm Long to set the Apps up at the SCSU 35 yard line.

The Mountaineers moved the ball to the two-yard line before settling for a field goal, tying the game 3-3 with 12:03 left in the second quarter.

Mark LeGree picked off his seventh pass of the year on South Carolina State’s next possession, but the Mountaineers were unable to capitalize on the turnover as Armanti Edwards threw an interception on the next play.

Appalachian got its only offensive touchdown of the day later in the second when Edwards hit Brian Quick with a seven yard touchdown strike on third-and-goal.

Photo by Tommy Penick

The PAT was good, giving ASU a 10-3 lead.

Long threw his third interception of the day on the ensuing drive when Ed Gainey stepped in front of a pass and returned it to the ASU 25.

The Bulldogs equalized the score when Rafael Bush picked off Edwards and returned the interception for a touchdown.

Because of unsportsmanlike conduct and personal foul penalties after the touchdown, South Carolina State had to kick off from their own seven-yard line.

Appalachian took advantage of the short field and returned the kick to the SCSU 33.

Jason Vitaris kicked a field goal as time expired in the first half to give the Mountaineers a 13-10 halftime lead.

The Appalachian defense held South Carolina State to 122 first half yards.

Quarterback Armanti Edwards narrowly escapes a tackle from South Carolina State defender during Saturday's playoff game. Photo by Casey Gahagan

The Bulldogs’ star tailback William Ford mustered only 18 yards on the ground in the half.

“Our defense has gotten a lot better in the last month,” coach Moore said. “They’ve really been a difference maker for us in the last few ball games and they really stepped up today and did a good job on the Ford kid.”

SCSU put together a 10-play, 83-yard drive on its first possession of the third quarter.

Erickson kicked his second field goal of the day to re-tie the game 13-13.

A very strange play occurred on the Apps’ next possession.

Facing a third-and-20, Edwards was sacked and lost the ball on the way down.

SCSU’s Ronell Ferguson recovered the fumble and began streaking toward the end zone.

ASU wide receiver Matt Cline ran down Ferguson from behind and stripped the ball.

Mountaineer offensive lineman Matt Ruff fell on the ball, giving the Mountaineers a first down at their own 19.

Much of the second half was a defensive struggle, as the Bulldogs only gained 107 yards and the Mountaineers gained 100 in the third and fourth quarters.

“All month long, the defense has been making some changes in practices,” defensive tackle Anthony Williams said. “We’ve been more intense and more focused and the results of that have been evident on game day.”

The deciding points came on a botched special teams play.

South Carolina State was lined up for a 32-yard field goal that would have given them the lead.

However, a miscommunication between the long snapper and holder lead to a bad snap.

The ball soared past the holder, and Erickson took off after the ball.

Erickson attempted to fall on the ball at midfield, but he knocked the ball toward ASU’s McDuffie.

McDuffie scooped up the ball and was escorted by three Mountaineers into the end zone to make the score 20-13.

Edwards finished the day completing 19 of 30 passes for 218 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.

D. Moore gained 66 yards on 20 carries, and Blake Elder set career highs with five catches for 57 yards.

Appalachian travels to Richmond next weekend to face the Spiders in the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs.

Richmond defeated the Mountaineers 33-13 last season in the quarterfinal round.

Photos by Tommy Penick and Casey Gahagan  |  The Appalachian

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