FCS championship game:

Appalachian State Vs. Delaware
Richardson saves best

performances

for title games
By Steve Behr
sports@wataugademocrat.com

It’s no secret that Appalachian State running back Kevin Richardson knows where the end zone is. During his record-setting career as a Mountaineer, Richardson has reached the end zone 69 times, 65 of them rushing the football.

He certainly knows where the end zone is at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, Tenn., site of the Football Championship Subdivision championship game Friday night. He’s been there six times in Appalachian State’s past two games there.

He’ll look to add to his total Friday night when the Mountaineers play Delaware. Kickoff is at 8 p.m., and the game will be televised on ESPN.

Richardson has turned the championship game into his personal showcase. He scored two touchdowns in the Mountaineers’ 21-16 victory over Northern Iowa in 2005, but the play he is known for the most was a 10-yard run on a third-and-eight that sealed the victory.

“We called an inside zone and I just wanted the ball at the time,” Richardson said. “I don’t know why. It was just something I wanted. All of the coaches that believed in me and the linemen said ‘You can get it, you can get it.’ I had everything on the line on that one play, so I came out and made it happen.”

Richardson added four touchdowns in the Mountaineers’ 28-17 win over Massachusetts. He gained 179 yard in that game and carried the load on a game-clinching drive that took nearly seven minutes off the fourth quarter clock. Richardson capped the 80-yard, 14-play drive with a 2-yard touchdown run.

Richardson’s 179 yards were the most Massachusetts had given up since 2002.

“That was fun,” Richardson said. “That’s what you play running back for, drive the ball down the field and pounding it against people, first down after first down.”

Mountaineers coach Jerry Moore would like to see Richardson play his best game in his final game. A senior, Richardson has the rare chance to win a third-straight championship with the Mountaineers.

“I hope he saves the best for last again,” Moore said. “He came here as a walkon player and his sophomore year over there, he had a great football game. He made a key run for a first down and then his second year there, he scored four touchdowns and had quite a night. In playing Delaware, it should be a great football game.”

This season, Richardson set a new career rushing record of 4,686 yards, surpassing John Settle for total rushing yards. Richardson also holds the Appalachian State record for touchdowns.

However, he has some help when it comes to running the football this season. Not only has his offensive line healed from nagging injuries suffered over the course of the season, quarterback Armanti Edwards has emerged as a dangerous threat to run the football.

Edwards set a record for most yards gained by a quarterback in an FCS/I-AA playoff game with 313 in the Mountaineers’ 55-35 win over Richmond last Friday. Richardson, still nursing a sore ankle, finished with 76 yards on 15 carries and scored on a 3-yard touchdown run.

Edwards provides another option that defenses have to stop, which should open things for Richardson.
“It should make it easier,” Richardson said. “Armanti’s going to do what he’s going to do and he’s put us on his shoulders. From what he’s done the last few weeks, everybody’s going to try to stop Armanti.”

Richardson also likes the fact that the Appalachian State offensive line, which consists of tackles Brad Coley and Jonathan Bieschke, guards Kerry Brown and Jon Holt and center Scott Suttle, are healthy and blocking as well as they have all season.

“It’s starting to look like it used to look like in the days,” Richardson said. “We’ve got everybody ready and got everyone just about healthy and got everybody right where we need them at the right time.”

Even with the stakes as high as they are, Richardson said his routine has not changed. He was held out of Monday’s practice, but will play Friday night.

“I approach this game like any other game,” Richardson said. “But this game has a lot more at stake on the line. “It’s my last one here, ever, and it’s what you play for, you can say.”