Year Of The Mountaineer

Appalachian State ruled the roost in 2007

Dec. 15, 2007

By Charles Burton

Special to CSTV.com from College Sporting News

Appalachian State head football coach Jerry Moore told anyone who would listen on Thursday that the win over Michigan was nice - and nobody would ever forget that -  but every year, his Mountaineers were there to play for the chance at a national championship.

On Friday night, Moore had chance to enjoy a Gatorade shower for the third straight year as Appalachian State pounded Delaware 49-21, giving the Mountaineers their third straight FCS title in as many years. Kicking off the season with their shock win over Michigan of the FBS and finishing with their third-straight national championship means that 2007 is definitely the year of the Mountaineer.

In the process, Appalachian State became the first-ever FCS team to win three straight national titles.  To put this amazing achievement in perspective, the last college football teams to demonstrate that type of dominance were the Army teams from 1944, 1945 and 1946 that were voted No. 1 in the AP poll for three consecutive years.

It would end up being the most lopsided final since 2003, when (ironically) Delaware knocked off Colgate 40-0. It would also be in front of 23,010 fans - a neutral-site stadium record for NCAA Division I Championship game.

The crowd, the large majority of which was Appalachian State fans, never had to see their beloved Mountaineers trail in the game. 

After Delaware started the game with a punt, Appalachian State engaged in a bulldozing 6-play, 58-yard drive. Quarterback Armanti Edwards connected on a touchdown pass to Kevin Richardson to finish that drive and surge to an early 7-0 lead. The sophomore quarterback looked off his receiver on the right and found a wide-open Richardson on the left, who then squeezed through the Delaware linebacking unit before running over a Delaware defensive back to get the touchdown.

Delaware tried to respond on the ensuing drive. After a spectacular one-handed grab by Blue Hen wideout Aaron Love kept the drive alive, on second and goal, Delaware running back Omar Cuff seemed to have a touchdown on a 5-yard run to tie the game. But the replay booth said his knee was down on the 1-yard line, and Delaware couldn't punch the ball into the end zone on 3rd or 4th down.  

Delaware head coach K.C. Keeler's game plan couldn't have anticipated coming up empty on his first two offensive drives.

A minute later, Appalachian State made Delaware pay. 

Backup running back Devon Moore exploded through a hole the size of Chattanooga to get a 46-yard touchdown run and a 14-0 lead. The run would punctuate a 5-play, 99-yard drive.

Just like that, the rout was on.

After Delaware kicker Jon Striefsky missed a 35-yard field goal, Appalachian State, running its spread offense, drove right down the field once more. When the ball squirted out of running back Kevin Richardson's hands at the Delaware 1-yard line, it looked like Delaware might finally catch a break, but tight end Daniel Kilgore would wrestle the ball away from Delaware defensive end Matt Marcorelle for another Appalachian State touchdown.

Nothing seemed to bounce Delaware's way as Appalachian State scored on its first three drives and never let the game get closer than 14 points.

Even after Delaware scored its first touchdown - quarterback Joe Flacco threw a terrific 39-yard touchdown pass to wideout Mark Duncan to cut the deficit to 14 - Appalachian State responded.

On a play that was reminiscent of his touchdown catch that graced the cover of Sports Illustrated after their famous win over Michigan, Mountaineer wideout Dexter Jackson beat the defensive back on a 60-yard touchdown run that ended with him pointing up to the sky.

Maybe Sports Illustrated should prepare another cover for Jackson to sign.

Even backup quarterback Trey Elder got in on the fun. On his first play late in the 4th quarter, he zipped off the right tackle for a 53-yard touchdown run. The touchdown kicked off a celebration by Appalachian State fans, who circled the sidelines waiting to rush the field. 

The last four minutes of the game were tense, with the players surrounded by Appalachian State fans. After Duncan returned a kickoff for a touchdown to make the score 49-21, he chucked the ball in the crowd and got charged with a penalty.

But the rest of the game was without incident and the Appalachian State fans rushed to surround their three-peating national champions.

Edwards, who beat Richmond in the semifinals with his feet, killed the Blue Hens through the air with 198 yards passing and 3 touchdowns. One of those went to Richardson, who closed his college career with a fantastic performance: 118 yards rushing, 27 yards receiving and 2 touchdowns.

Defensively, senior all-American Corey Lynch had an incredible day. He led a physical Mountaineer secondary who doled out punishment to Blue Hen receivers. He finished with 8 tackles and 4 passes defensed on the night, while freshman linebacker D.J. Smith would also stand out with 10 hard tackles to lead the defense.

Flacco had a bittersweet night. Statistically, he had a banner outing, passing for 334 yards and a touchdown, but the Blue Hens were a disappointing 7 for 16 on third down conversions. Cuff added 125 all-purpose yards and a touchdown run, while Aaron Love had 7 receptions for 101 yards. Defensively, linebackers Walter Blair (11 tackles) and Erik Johnson (10 tackles) led the Delaware defense.