Mountaineers to host Dukes in first round
By Steve Behr

sports@wataugademocrat.com

The road to Chattanooga may be a bit bumpier for Appalachian State this year.

The Mountaineers, seeded in the top two the previous two seasons, did not pick up a seed in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. Instead, the Mountaineers host James Madison in the first round of the playoffs Saturday at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

The Mountaineers (9-2) are the co-champions of the Southern Conference, while James Madison (8-3) finished second behind Richmond in the Colonial Athletic Association’s South Division. James Madison is one of five teams from CAA to reach the playoffs.

Mountaineers coach Jerry Moore said he was not bothered by not being seeded. In 2005, the Mountaineers were seeded second and in 2006, they were seeded No. 1. All of Appalachian State’s playoff games were at home during this two years.

Should the Mountaineers win, they’ll take on the winner of No. 2 seed McNeese State-Eastern Washington game.

“We’re like everybody else,” Moore said. “Everybody in that deal could make a story for them being seeded. All it is, is a bunch of excuses. We don’t lose those two ballgames we lose, we’re going to be a seed. We lost them. I’m just glad we’re in the 16.”

Appalachian State won the most recent matchup with the Dukes, having beaten them 21-10 back in 2006. The Dukes went into Kidd Brewer Stadium as the 2004 national champions, while the Mountaineers were the defending 2005 champs. Appalachian State repeated as national champs in 2006, giving them eight straight playoff victories.

But the game film from last year won’t mean much to the Mountaineers, since James Madison has gone to a version of Spread offense.

“I don’t know anything about James Madison,” Moore said. “They’re purple and gold and we haven’t seen them this year. I know they’re good. They’re one of the top 16 in the nation this year.”

James Madison opened its season with a 37-14 loss to North Carolina, but recovered to be fellow tournament participant New Hampshire 41-24. The Dukes rolled over Big South teams VMI and Coastal Carolina the following two weeks.

The Dukes have switched from a smashmouth style to the Spread offense, according to Moore. Quarterback Rodney Landers has thrown for 1,554 yards and 12 touchdowns. He’s thrown just four interceptions in 11 games.

Landers also leads the Dukes in rushing with 1,144 yards and 12 scores. Antoinne Bolton is second with 603 yards.

“They’re just like us,” Moore said. “They’ve got a terrific quarterback and they have a big kid who can run.”
Appalachian State’s defense has seen its share of Spread offenses this season. The Citadel, Georgia Southern, Elon, Western Carolina and to a lesser extent Wofford, run variations of the Spread.

According to safety Corey Lynch, the Dukes have the players to run that type of offense.

“I don’t know how much they have changed, but their athletes are really good,” ASU safety Corey Lynch said.

Appalachian State is one of two teams from the Southern Conference to make the tournament. Wofford, which won the league’s automatic bid, was sent west to play at No. 2 seeded Montana.

Delaware hosts Delaware State in the first game Friday at 1:30 p.m. Moore was happy to play Saturday instead of Friday, when Watauga hosts Purnell Swett in the third round of the state 4-A prep football playoffs.

“I didn’t want to bump heads with the high school game,” Moore said. “That would have been my concern. At first, I thought it was going to be an evening game. I would have done all I could do to get that game changed, because I did not want to bump heads with the high school game. There are many coaches I know who do not want to play Friday night...It’s tradition. Friday night is for high school football games.”

Tickets for the game, which are $20 for adults, $5 for youth and students, go on sale Monday either at the Holmes Center box office from 9 a.m., until 4 p.m., or online at goasu.com. The Holmes Center box office will be open Monday-Wednesday and Friday of this week.

FCS playoffs
The Football Championship Subdivision playoff field:
First round
Delaware State (10-1) at Delaware (8-3), 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 24
Fordham (8-3) at Massachusetts (9-2), Noon
Wofford (8-3) at Montana (11-0), 2 p.m.
New Hampshire (7-4) at Northern Iowa (11-0), 7:35 p.m.
James Madison (8-3) at Appalachian State (9-2), TBA
Eastern Illinois (8-3) at Southern Illinois (10-1), TBA
Eastern Washington (8-3) at McNeese State (11-0), TBA
Eastern Kentucky (9-2) at Richmond (9-2), TBA
Quarterfinals
Saturday, Dec. 1
Delaware State-Delaware winner vs. New Hampshire-Northern Iowa winner, TBA
Fordham-Massachusetts winner vs. Eastern Illinois-Southern Illinois winner, TBA
James Madison-Appalachian State winner vs. Eastern Washington-McNeese State winner, TBA
E. Kentucky-Richmond winner vs. Wofford-Montana winner, TBA
Semifinals
Friday Dec. 7 or Saturday, Dec. 8
TBD
Championship
Friday, Dec. 14
At Finley Stadium/Davenport Field
Chattanooga, Tenn.
TBD, 8 p.m.