September 15 , 2006

Mountaineers face Division II Mars Hill

Appalachian State coach Jerry Moore didn’t need to repeat Montana State’s loss to Chadron State (Neb.) to motivate his Mountaineers for their game with Mars Hill during practice this week.  The 46-point per game scoring average the Lions have produced did that.  Instead of a pushover, Moore expects Mars Hill (2-0), a Division II program from the South Atlantic Conference, not to be in awe of the the Mountaineers. Mars Hill has played Southern Conference teams before, losing to Western Carolina 21-7 last year and to East Tennessee State 20-10 in 2002.

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Avery grad faces old friends

Appalachian State receiver Josh Johnson had his big chance to make an immediate impact on the Mountaineers’ season. With one flick of the wrist, an N.C. State defensive back took it away.

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ASU sweeps UTC

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Chrissy Finch recorded her fourth double-double of the season as the Appalachian State volleyball team beat Chattanooga 3-0 (30-25, 30-27, 30-28) in the Mountaineers’ Southern Conference opener Wednesday at Maclellan Gym.

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September 13 , 2006

Pioneers blast S.C.

Watauga beat South Caldwell 8-0 Monday night at Jack Groce Stadium, but it could have been much worse had the Pioneers connected on half the shots it took inside the goal keeper’s box.  True, the Pioneers had no trouble solving South Caldwell’s defense. Watauga took 17 shots on goal and missed on several more that either went just wide or over the crossbar of the Spartans’ goal.

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WHS, Purpur take second

Watauga, behind the 42 scored by Eileen Purpur, finished second to A.C. Reynolds in a Northwestern 4-A Conference golf match held at Boone Golf Club Monday afternoon.  Purpur’s effort placed her second behind medal winner, Stephanie Wagstaff, of A.C. Reynolds. She fired a 1-under, 34. The Rockets also won the team competition with a two-person total of 77.

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Special teams shine

WILKESBORO — Watauga’s special teams were truly special Friday night. C.J. Hodges’ blocked punt followed by Caleb Martin’s recovery for a touchdown not only helped Watauga take a 7-6 lead over Wilkesboro, it sparked what was a slow start into a 41-18 rout of Wilkes Central.  “There’s something about it when I hear that double thud,” Watauga coach Adrian Snow said. “You can hear the momentum switch.”

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Banks earns national honor

Appalachian State linebacker Pierre Banks was one of I-AA.org’s four all-stars for his performance last week in the Mountaineers’ 21-10 victory over James Madison.

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September 11 , 2006

Dukes go down

Though it allowed 337 yards in total offense to James Madison, Appalachian State’s defense proved it can make an 18-point lead hold up.

The Mountaineers took an 18-point halftime lead and then held off James Madison in their 21-10 victory in front 23,814, the largest opening-game crowd in Appalachian State history. It was also the fifth-largest crowd to watch a game at Kidd Brewer Stadium. What they saw was Appalachian State build a 21-3 halftime advantage and then allow just a 47-yard touchdown pass from James Madison quarterback Justin Rascati to L.C. Baker.

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Passing game a work in progress

Trey Elder could not get up after he was hit by James Madison’s Phil Minafield. It was a pass play that Elder had already thrown the ball and Minafield was called for roughing the passer.  Elder was helped off the field. With the penalty yards and the 12-yard completion to Kevin Richardson on the play, the ball was moved to the James Madison 7-yard line.  One play later, Armanti Edwards, Elder’s freshman backup, scored on a keeper, giving the Mountaineers a 7-3 lead with the extra point.

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WHS dumps Cavs

TAYLORSVILLE — For two years, Watauga’s volleyball team has finished second to Alexander Central in the Northwestern 4-A Conference standings.  Last Thursday, the Pioneers took a big step towards replacing the Cougars at the NWC top by knocking off Alexander Central 3-0. Watauga won 25-17, 25-19, 25-21.

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ASU blanks Mocs

An extremely strong second-half performance was the difference in Appalachian’s 2-0 win over Chattanooga in women’s soccer Sunday afternoon in the Southern Conference opener for both teams.

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Pioneers ground Eagles

WILKESBORO — Once again, Watauga got off to a slow start, this time against Wilkes Central.  Once again, Watauga had a commanding lead by halftime and had put its 41-18 victory over the Eagles away by the beginning of the fourth quarter.

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Pioneers fall twice at Mellow Mushroom

Raleigh Broughton beat Watauga 5-1 in the second game of the Mellow Mushroom Invitational soccer tournament Friday.  The following day, Watauga fell to New Hanover 2-1, leaving the Pioneers without a victory in the two day event. T.C. Roberson won the Invitational with its win over New Hanover Friday night and its victory over Broughton Saturday.

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Wilkes Central stuns Pioneers

For the first 46 minutes and 33 seconds, Wilkes Central’s jayvee team led Watauga at Jack Groce Stadium Thursday night. Suddenly, Watauga took the lead for the first time and seemed ready to win its first game of the season. It took Wilkes Central just 38 seconds to get it back.

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Was it interference or a good play?

Did he or didn’t he?  Did Appalachian State linebacker Pierre Banks interfere with James Madison’s receiver during a play that ended in a Jeremy Wiggins interception in the second quarter? Or did Banks merely provide outstanding coverage and James Madison quarterback James Rascati telegraph his pass?

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