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Appalachian State’s Edwards wins 2nd Payton Award

Biggest Upset Ever — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:38:04 +0000

Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Edwards became the first two-time winner of the Walter Payton Award

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Edwards became the first two-time winner of the Walter Payton Award, which goes to the top player in the Football Championship Subdivision.

The award, along with honors for best defensive player and coach, was announced Thursday night, a day before Montana (14-0) and Villanova (13-1) were slated to play in the FCS national title game in Chattanooga.

Edwards is the first quarterback in NCAA history to pass for more than 10,000 yards and rush for over 4,000 yards in his career. He won national championships in his first two seasons at Appalachian State and guided the Mountaineers to a victory at Michigan in 2007.

The 185-pound senior finished his career with 10,392 yards passing and 4,361 rushing. His 14,753 yards of total offense ranks him second all-time behind the late Steve McNair, who played at Alcorn State and was honored during the awards banquet.
Edwards led Appalachian State to its fifth consecutive Southern Conference title and an NCAA playoff berth this year. He finished this season with 3,291 yards passing and 12 touchdown passes. He ran for 679 yards and 18 touchdowns.

The other finalists were Southern Illinois tailback Deji Karim and Elon receiver Terrell Hudgins.

James Madison defensive end Arthur Moats won the Buck Buchanan award honoring the top defensive player in the FCS. The 6-foot-2, 250-pound senior from Portsmouth, Va., led the nation with an 23 1/2 tackles for loss and was fourth with 11 sacks. He also piled up 90 tackles and returned a fumble for a 68-yard touchdown.

Prarie View A&M coach Henry Frazier III won the Eddie Robinson Award for top FCS coach after leading the Panthers to their third straight winning season. Frazier is the first coach from the Southwestern Atlantic Conference and first coach at a historically black college or university to win the award.

Mountaineers Take On No. 1 Montana Grizzlies, Loud Crowd in Semifinal

Biggest Upset Ever — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:59:32 +0000

The Mountaineers celebrate on the field after a game-winning touchdown pass at Richmond December 5. ASU travels to Montana for the semifinal playoff game this Saturday, December 12.

A black speaker sat on the 23-yard line Monday evening, a short Armanti Edwards pass away from where the Mountaineers offense worked on its game plan. For 20 minutes, that speaker, along with the Kidd Brewer Stadium PA system, blared crowd noise onto the field. The offense, though, worked through the racket… Read Full Article »

ASU Wins 35-31 Quarterfinal Thriller

Biggest Upset Ever — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:27:40 +0000

Matt Cline's touchdown catch with 10 seconds left was the difference in ASU's heart-stopping 35-31 win. Photo Courtesy: Dave Mayo (Appalachian, 1983)

RICHMOND, Va. – Armanti Edwards threw a four-yard touchdown pass to Matt Cline with 10 seconds remaining to give No. 5 Appalachian State University a heart-stopping 35-31 victory over fourth-seeded Richmond in the NCAA Division I Football Championship quarterfinal on Saturday evening at UR Stadium… Read Full Article on GoASU.com »

A Second-Round Rematch—Mountaineers Will Meet Spiders in Richmond Saturday

Biggest Upset Ever — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:44:40 +0000

The Mountaineers will take on the Spiders once again in the second round of the playoffs—this time in Richmond—on Saturday, December 5, at 7:00 p.m. Photo by James Fay

Jerry Moore spent Monday night in his office watching film of the Richmond Spiders. After all of this season’s games were viewed, the veteran ASU head coach came to a conclusion that is easily noted by looking at the Spiders’ scores… Read More »

Did He Just Do That?—Senior Quarterback Armanti Edwards Nears End of ASU Career

Biggest Upset Ever — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:19:59 +0000

Photo by James Fay

Third down is a time for players on the bench to find their helmets, grab some water or stretch their legs in preparation for going out to play defense or special teams.

If Armanti Edwards is in the shotgun, though, Mountaineer players sometimes forget those little details and focus on seeing something special. Read Full Article…

No. 7 ASU Pushes Past Chattanooga, 35-20

Biggest Upset Ever — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:07:11 +0000

Devon Moore rushed for 74 yards and scored three touchdowns in ASU's 35-20 win over Chattanooga. Photo Courtesy: Keith Cline

BOONE, N.C. – Appalachian State University football dominated the first and fourth quarters to overcome a shaky middle two periods and defeat Chattanooga, 35-20, on Saturday afternoon at Kidd Brewer Stadium… Read Full Article at GoASU.com »

Vitaris Solid from Long Range—ASU Football Back Home This Saturday

Biggest Upset Ever — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:06:14 +0000

ASU kicker Jason Vitaris is tied for fourth in the nation in two categories: 1.63 made field goals per game and 9.75 points per game. He has made all 39 of his extra point attempts this season. Photo by Dave Mayo/ASU Athletics

With three more long-distance field goals, ASU kicker Jason Vitaris will own a spot in the Mountaineer record book. [Read Full Article...]

Mountaineers Rout Furman, 52-27

Biggest Upset Ever — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:23:13 +0000

Armanti Edwards racked up 461 yards of total offense and accounted for six touchdowns in just three quarters of action during ASU's 52-27 triumph at Furman. Photo Courtesy: Dave Mayo (Appalachian, 1983)

Senior quarterback Armanti Edwards accounted for 461 yards of total offense and six touchdowns to lead No. 7/8 Appalachian State University to a 52-27 romp over Furman on Saturday afternoon at rain-soaked Paladin Stadium… [Read Full Article at GoASU.com]

Swarming the Ball—Mountaineer Defense Prepares for Black Saturday

Biggest Upset Ever — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:01:28 +0000

ASU defensive lineman Jabari Fletcher drags down a N.C. Central rusher during the Homecoming game. Fletcher and the defense are allowing 179.2 rushing yards per game, which is seventh out of nine Southern Conference teams. Photo by Keith Cline/ASU athletics

Play didn’t end during defensive drills on Monday afternoon until all 11 defenders were around the ball.

Ball-hawking. Swarming the football. Getting after the carrier.

Whatever you want to call it, the Mountaineers are trying to be more aggressive on defense as they prepare for the Black Saturday game against Georgia Southern.
[Read Full Article…]

Appalachian State wins shootout with Wofford, 44-34

Biggest Upset Ever — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 14:06:42 +0000

Appalachian State's Armanti Edwards (14) gives a stiff arm to Wofford's Preston Roseboro (24) on Saturday at Wofford. Photo by JOHN BYRUM/john.byrum@shj.com

After taking a two-touchdown lead to start the second half Saturday, Wofford’s football team must have felt like it was chasing the rabbit that made an unscheduled appearance on the Gibbs Stadium field… Read Full Article on GoUpstate.com»