Edwards wins despite

playing through injuries
By Steve Behr
 
Someday, the medical history of Armanti Edwards may make a good plot for an episode of “House.”

It's not such a good plot for Appalachian State football.

The Mountaineers’ quarterback has seen his share of injuries during his first three seasons in college football.

Just last year, Edwards missed one game and played hurt in two playoff games because of a knee injury and a hip-pointer, both suffered in the second-to-last regular season game, a win against Elon.

Edwards missed the following game against Western Carolina, but played in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. He led Appalachian State to a 37-21 win over South Carolina State in the first round, but threw five interceptions (though he completed 26-of-42 passes for 323 yards and a TD) in a 33-13 loss to eventual national champion Richmond.

Edwards is not one to lean on excuses, saying that the interceptions were his fault even though a receiver fell down on one pick and another receiver let an Edwards offering go through his hands.

However, Edwards admitted that his knee bothered him enough that he could not effectively run on it against Richmond, which limited his ability to run downfield or get away from the Spiders’ heavy pass rush. Even with that, he said it’s up to him to play well, even if it is in pain.

“I could have done a lot of different stuff,” Edwards said of the Richmond game. “I’ve got to learn to play with injuries. Against Richmond, I had five interceptions. It doesn’t matter if a receiver fell or if it’s a dropped ball, it’s my fault.”

Some may question if Edwards was healthy enough to play that game. However, few, if anybody, question his toughness. It was not the first time he had played with an injury. Edwards played with a sore shoulder suffered in practice the week before the Mountaineers' historical 34-32 win over Michigan in 2007.

Then he aggravated that shoulder against the Wolverines. After sitting out two games, he re-injured it in a loss to Wofford.

He was back on the field three weeks later in a loss to Georgia Southern. As the season went on, Edwards’ shoulder became an afterthought and by the time the Mountaineers made the playoffs, Edwards was at his best. His 313 yards rushing in a 55-35 win over Richmond in the semifinals set a playoff record for rushing yards in one game for quarterbacks.

Edwards keep the Mountaineers’ offense rolling into the national championship game, a 49-21 thumping of current Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco and the Delaware Blue Hens.

“What probably surprises me the most is how tough he is and how physical he is,” Georgia Southern coach Chris Hatcher said. “He’s not that imposing without pads, but he’s one of the best players I’ve ever coached against. I hope it’s a long time before we face anybody as dominating as him.”

Despite his injuries, Edwards won the Walter Payton Award, given to the top player in the FCS. He passed for 2,902 yards and 30 touchdowns, while rushing for another 941 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Before the Richmond game, Edwards tossed just two interceptions, was second in the nation with a pass efficiency of 170.19, and his 3,843 yards in total offense was seventh nationally.

Edwards is also nominated to win his second Walter Payton Award and is one of 21 players to be nominated for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, which is given to the top senior quarterback in the nation.

He’s achieved all that despite not playing a complete season.

“You’ve got to remember that he carries the load for us,” Mountaineers coach Jerry Moore said. “He's a running back playing quarterback. You don't find guys who can physically do what he does for us for 14 or 15 games. Somewhere along the line he's going to be beaten up and bruised. You've got to find a game when you can rest him, but in our league, it's hard to find that time.”

Edwards knows that quarterbacks who run the football are going to get hit and accepts the fact that he's going to get banged up.

“If you play football, if you’re not getting banged up, you’re really not on the field,” Edwards said. “Everybdy on the field gets dinged and banged up along the way. Unfortunately, I’ve been banged up more than most.”

It doesn’t mean that Edwards isn’t curious to see how good he can be if he spent the 2009 season completely healthy.

“Of course. I want to seehow far I can push myself to go there and stay healthy,” he said.

As for motivation for the upcoming season, the loss to Richmond is motivation enough for Edwards.

“It’s just more motivation for myself and my team,” Edwards said. “We’re already motivated. The loss is still on my mind, so I’m going to take that on the field.”