Key guys

make key plays
By Steve Behr
sports@wataugademocrat.com

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — To win in the playoffs, key players must have big games. Kevin Richardson and Armanti Edwards delivered for Appalachian State.

The Mountaineers (12-3) had a season that will go down as one for the ages. It started with a 34-32 victory over Michigan, which was ranked No. 5 in the nation at the time and looking to play for the BCS championship in January.

The Appalachian State offense was nearly unstoppable over the course of the season, averaging 42.3 points per game going into the championship showdown with Delaware. They stuck 79 points on Western Carolina, 55 points in their 55-35 semifinal victory over Richmond and scored less than 30 points just once, a 28-27 win over James Madison in the first round of the playoffs.

Yet it was the defense that came up big against the Blue Hens in the finals. They allowed just two touchdowns with another coming on a kickoff return.

Still, the plan was to help the defense by controlling the ball offensively, according to Mountaineers coach Jerry Moore.

“Our defense has gradually gotten better through the playoffs,” Moore said. “Tonight, we felt that it was key if we could keep Delaware’s offense off the field and that was by running the football. We didn’t come into the game being hardheaded, planning to run no matter what, but we decided that was the best approach.”

The Mountaineers’ offense stuck to the gameplan by rushing for 358 yards on 51 carries. Kevin Richardson, who has made championship games his personal showcase, rushed for 118 yards and a touchdown. He also caught two touchdown passes, giving him three for the night and 13 touchdowns in three national championship games.

He’s also rushed for 348 rushing yards and 423 yards of total offense in three championship games.
“We knew we had to stop their run,” Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Edwards said. “We talked about it in practice this week, so we were prepared and we knew what had to be done.”

If the championship game has been Richardson’s stage, then the 2007 playoffs were Edwards’ showcase.

Edwards finished the postseason completing 49-of-71 passes for 722 yards. He completed seven touchdown passes and did not toss an interception.

He also gained 660 yards rushing, including 313 in the semifinals against Delaware, and was responsible for 15 of Appalachian State’s 22 touchdowns. Overall, Edwards piled up 1,382 total yards of offense.

He also helped the Mountaineers take a 35-7 lead that Delaware could not match. Edwards completed 9-of-15 passes to seven different receivers for 198 yards and three touchdowns.

“We didn’t put up too many points tonight,” Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco said. “It’s tough to fight back when you get down so early in the game.”

Other Mountaineers had big games. Devon Moore, Richardson’s backup, scored on a 46-yard run to give the Mountaineers a 14-0 lead.

And the Mountaineers’ offensive line allowed just one sack and provided enough blocking to allow Appalachian to gain 556 in total yards.

“We have faced great defensive linemen all year,” All-American guard Kerry Brown said. “But our size is not a problem. This is the grittiest group of guys that I have ever been a part of.”