Appalachian gives ball away eight times in two games

By Steve Behr

sports@wataugademocrat.com

Appalachian State has rolled up big scores during games this season.

But turnovers have been costly the last two weeks. In Appalachian State’s 27-20 double overtime victory over Georgia Southern last Saturday, two of the Mountaineers’ four turnovers led to 14 points. It helped the Eagles keep pace with the Mountaineers and forge a 17-17 tie after four quarters.

“We can correct all of the mistakes,” Mountaineers quarterback Armanti Edwards said. “It was just us being careless on our part.”

“We’re just not focused at times,” added running back Kevin Richardson. “This week, we’ve practiced on it real hard because with Furman — if you turn the ball over on them four or five times, you’re not going to win it. It’s something we’ve got to take care of this week.”

The Mountaineers have struggled with holding on to the ball. Georgia Southern forced three fumbles, one that was returned 17 yards for an Eagles touchdown, and intercepted an Edwards pass.

The previous week, Appalachian State turned the ball over four times in its 14-7 victory over Wofford. An Edwards fumble stopped a potential scoring drive.

Mountaineers coach Jerry Moore said that although there is concern about the recent rash of turnovers, panic has not set in.

“We’re not going to run up a flag over it,” Moore said. “Sure, we’re concerned. You don’t turn a head to it. You’ve got to have an issue with it and get it corrected. It could have very easily cost us a ballgame Saturday.”

Edwards said it was just a matter of focusing on taking care of the ball.

“Just concentrate more on the little things,” Edwards said.

The saving grace for the Mountaineers has been their defense. Appalachian State allowed Wofford just 237 total yards, three more than what the Terriers were averaging rushing the ball going into that game.

Appalachian held Wofford to 145 net rushing yards. The Terriers’ put together an 11-play, 80-yard drive, but Georgia Southern was not so fortunate. The Eagles’ longest touchdown drive went 40 yards, which was set up by an interception.

“They’re disciplined, they play hard and they pride themselves on keeping people from getting into the end zone,” Richardson said of the ASU defense.

The Eagles added a 26-yard field goal by Patrick Bolen after driving 49 yards in seven plays. Appalachian State outgained Georgia Southern 419-266 in total yards and held Eagles quarterback Travis Clark to 95 yards passing on 14-of-36 accuracy.

“If it wasn’t for them, we would have lost the last two games,” Edwards said of the Appalachian defense.

It doesn’t hurt to have an offense that can make big plays. Following Wiggins’ touchdown, Edwards hit William Mayfield for a 65-yard touchdown that tied the game 17-17.

“Everything was going bad and we were just trying to make a play,” Edwards said. “And he was going to make it.”

Despite all of the miscues, Appalachian State is still 7-1 overall, 4-0 in the SoCon and ranked No. 1 in the nation. The Mountaineers take on No. 8 Furman (6-2, 4-0) looking to win their 22nd straight game at Kidd Brewer Stadium this Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

And if Richardson happens to turn the ball over, he knows that his teammates will try to pick up his spirits instead of criticizing him.

“It’s just saying that we’ve got heart,” Richardson said. “We have a lot of heart and we stick by each other. When somebody turns the ball over, we don’t get down on him and talk bad to him. We tell him to forget about it because we’ve got another play.”