Quarterback Armanti Edwards breaks a tackle while playing Furman in Greenville, S.C. on Saturday. Edwards accumulated 461 total yards of offense, making him the only quarterback in Division I history to throw for more than 9,000 yards and rush for more than 4,000 yards. Photo by Tommy Penick

by TOMMY PENICK
Photographer

On yet another rainy Saturday afternoon, the Mountaineers were able to come away with their fifth straight win this season in a 52-27 trampling of the Furman Paladins in Greenvile, S.C.

The Mountaineers got off to a strong start in the first quarter, outgaining the Paladins 120 yards to 28, and continued their offensive dominance throughout the game. 

With an impressive 554 yards of total offense on the day, Appalachian chalked up their fourth consecutive game with over 500.

The Mountaineers managed to post seven touchdowns during the game. Armanti Edwards led the scoring frenzy with four rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns.

The Mountaineers had a less-than-potent running game with only 178 yards, compared to last week’s 328 against Georgia Southern. They more than made up for it with 376 yards in the air.

“[The Furman] defense had to choose which one they wanted to stop,” Edwards said. “When we tried to run the zone read with Devon [Moore], they shut that down pretty good, but they kept leaving holes for our receivers so we took advantage of it.”

Junior defensive back Mark LeGree stops Furman fullback Tersoo Uhaa during the game in Greenville, SC on Saturday. LeGree finished the game with five tackles. Photo by Tommy Penick

“Coming down here you never know,” coach Moore said. “You’re always expecting it to be a tough, tight, hard-fought, within-a-touchdown or field goal ball game.”

The Mountaineers seem to have shaken their early season setbacks, averaging 631 yards and 51 points in the last four games.

Despite the fact Appalachian’s defense allowed 350 yards, the Mountaineers stopped six out of 11 third-down conversion attempts by the Paladins. 

“Defense, we just kinda got back into an old rut,” coach Moore said. “[Furman] did some things we weren’t prepared for.

They went back and ran a lot of old Furman stuff that Furman had run in years past. But that doesn’t excuse tackling.”

After today’s win, the Mountaineers boost their undefeated Southern Conference record to 5-0, placing them directly behind number one seeded Elon.

“We just came in and executed like we always planned,” Edwards said. “When we get in the red zone we were looking to put up six instead of three. That’s what we came to do.”

The Mountaineers continue SoCon play Saturday at The Rock against Chattanooga. The Mocs (5-3, 3-3 in the SoCon play) are looking to clinch their first .500 SoCon record since 2005.

Photos by Tommy Penick  |  The Appalachian

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