In a dramatic comeback with highs and lows on both sidelines, No. 3 Appalachian State scored 28, fourth quarter points to defeat Tennessee at Chattanooga, 42-41, in the season opener for both Southern Conference teams Saturday at Finley Stadium.

On a sun-splashed afternoon, the UTC Mocs raced to a 28-7 first half lead before 15,235 and a regional television audience only to see the Mountaineers rally for the win.

ASU, which has now won 21 straight SoCon games dating back to a 2007 home loss to Georgia Southern (38-35), pulled within 28-14 at 1:17 of the third quarter on a 14-yard DeAndre Presley to Ben Jordan scoring toss.

ASU then scored four times in nine minutes of the fourth to take a 42-35 lead.

"Those guys haven't won 21 straight conference games without knowing how to win in a variety of situations," said UTC coach Russ Huesman.

"I doubt they were panicing in the locker room at halftime when they trailed 28-7."

The Mocs then drove 86 yards in 11 plays capped by B.J. Coleman's second rushing touchdown with 51 seconds remaining, but the two-point conversion pass attempt was incomplete and the visitors ran out the clock after recovering the ensuing kickoff.

Stats: In a game with a combined 978 total yards and was statistically even, the Mocs led in passing yards (349-340), while ASU led on the ground (146-143).

The Mocs lost three fumbles, all in the second half, while ASU put two on the carpet in the opening 30 minutes.

Momentum Swing: The Mocs took a 35-14 lead on a Coleman to Garrett Hughes 16-yard scoring pass play, only to have Presley and App State move 77 yards in three plays as Baker scored on a 3-yard run to make it 35-21.

The Mountaineers then capitalized on two Moc miscues and tied the game at 35-35 in less than a 90 second span.

"They got the momentum back early in the fourth quarter and it is unacceptable for our defense to not be able to stop them," Huesman stated.

"I am part of coaching the defense so I take some of the blame."

First, the Mountaineers' Karl Anderson recovered the Mocs Buster Skrine fumble on the Mocs 33 on the kickoff after ASU pulled to within 35-21.

Three plays later, Presley ran three yards for his second rushing touchdown and it was 35-28.

On the next Mocs series, ASU's defensive end Jabari Fletcher caused a Coleman fumble on a sack and also recovered the fumble.

"The momentum really changed in our favor when we started to be on the receiving end of some turnovers," said ASU coach Jerry Moore after he had watched his team lose a pair of fumbles in the first half which led to nine Mocs points.

Baker scored from seven yards out after the Fletcher recovery and the game was tied at 35-35.

"We were dead on defense and we need more depth up front," said the Mocs coach.

The second year Mocs coach also noted that the Mocs needed to give ASU more different looks.

"Presley can throw it well and can hurt you running the ball as he is difficult to defend."

ASU took its only lead as Presley recovered a fumble and ran 33 yards for the final Mountaineer scors for a 42-35 advantage.

"We bottled them up well in the first half, but didn't stop them much in the second half," stated Huesman.

Coleman then directed the final Moc scoring drive.

"We came in knowing we could win and we had our shot," Huesman stated. "I am proud of our guys and just have to keep working to get to where Appy is."

Mocs First Half: The Mocs J.D. Dothard recovered a Travaris Cadet fumble and returned it 26 yards to the ASU 25.

Mike Hammons then converted that miscue with his 29-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead.

Coleman and the Mocs struck quickly through the air twice for a 16-7 lead on scoring tosses to Chris Pitchford (53 yards) and Joel Bradford (36 yards).

After the Mocs Chris Lewis-Harris recovered a Cedric Baker fumble at the ASU 47, Coleman scored on a one yard run three plays later.

The Mocs fourth score (5:15 in the 2nd Q) came on a nine yard halfback pass from Chris Awuah to a wide open Marlon Anthony in the back of the end zone on a 3-play, 67 yard drive.

Awuah's left-handed td pass at 5:15 prior to halftime was shades of Tennessee 1960s halfback Walter Chadwick (also tossing lefty) to tight end Austin Denny on Shields-Watkins Field in Neyland Stadium.

ASU quarterback Presley was the star of the comeback as he was 22 of 29 passing for 340 yards overall and two scores and also ran for two scores.

The Mocs were led by Coleman who was 23 of 37 for 340 yards and three scoring passes and also ran for two touchdowns.

Coleman's top receiver was tight end Garrett Hughes with six catches for 78 yards and one score. Joel Bradford had five catches for 85 yards and one score.

Brian Sutherland led the Mocs in rushing with 97 yards on for carries.

Mocs Injuries: Defensive lineman Las'Nard Carr left the game with a concussion and cornerback Buster Skrine suffered a disocated elbow.

Moc Notes:
Receiver Joel Bradford had his first touchdown reception since his senior year at McCallie (2006) when he was on the receiving end of scoring passes from Coleman ...

This was Coleman's second career, 300-plus yard passing game (340)...

Good Punting: Mike Hammons had two punts land inside the ASU 20 and now has 21 for a career ...

App State 42, UTC 41
App State 7-0-7-28=42
UTC 16-12-0-13=41

UTC - Mike Hammons 29 field goal, 3-0
UTC - Chris Pitchford 53 pass from B.J. Coleman (kick failed), 9-0
ASU - DeAndre Presley 2 run (Jason Vitaris kick), 9-7
UTC - Joel Bradford 36 pass from Coleman (Hammons kick), 16-7
UTC - Coleman 1 run (kick failed), 22-7
UTC - Marlon Anthony 9 pass from Chris Awuah (kick failed), 28-7
ASU - Ben Jorden 14 pass from Presley (Vitaris kick), 28-14
UTC - Garrett Hughes 16 pass from Coleman (Nick Pollard kick), 35-14
ASU - Cedric Baker 3 run (Vitaris kick), 35-21
ASU - Presley 4 run (Vitaris kick), 35-28
ASU - Baker 7 run (Vitaris kick), 35-35
ASU - Presley 33 pass from Presley (Vitaris kick), 42-35
UTC - Coleman 3 run (Coleman passs failed), 42-41
Records: Appalachian State (1-0, 1-0)
UTC (0-1, 0-1)

contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net

UTC quarterback B.J. Coleman (19) looks over the Appalachian State defense. Coleman was 23 of 37 for 340 yards, a pair of touchdown passes and ran for two other scores.
- Photo2 by Dennis Norwood