Boone, N.C.—Alan Atwater set a program rookie single-game rushing record with 208 yards on 25 carries, including a 28-yard touchdown run, while sophomore Michael Metcalf gained 101 yards on 14 carries to lead Appalachian State University to a 47-7 Southern Conference victory over Chattanooga.
Appalachian listed a pair of 100-yard rushers for the first time since a 52-0 win over VMI on Nov. 4, 2000, when Jerry Beard and Jimmy Watkins both eclipsed the century mark.
A team that has come from behind all season, the Mountaineers turned over a new leaf by staking an early lead on the opening play of the game. Jon Chasteen forced a fumble on the opening kickoff and Daniel Traylor picked up the loose ball and dashed 16 yards for a score to give the opportunistic Mountaineers a 7-0 lead 10 seconds into the game.
DaVon Fowlkes gave Appalachian (5-4, 4-2 SoCon) a 14-0 advantage with 3:12 left in the first quarter when Richie Williams found him open on a crossing route. Fowlkes bounced off of a tackler and snuck up the left sideline for a 21-yard touchdown catch.
Atwater, who rushed for 190 yards against East Tennessee State earlier this season, burst through the line for a 28-yard run to the end zone with 6:47 remaining in the second period to make the Appalachian lead 21-0. The Middlesex, N.C. product surpassed Chip Hooks’ 12-year old mark rookie rushing mark of 200 yards.
Incognito for much of the season, tight end Andrew Stamey caught a rare pass thrown his way for a one-yard touchdown from Williams with 26 seconds left in the first half to make the lead 28-0 after the point after by Zach Oller. Fowlkes set up the opportunity by turning a catch up the middle of the field into a 45 yard play down to the Chattanooga 2.
The Mountaineers put the game away late with scores on four consecutive possessions to take a 47-0 advantage.
After Patrick Shutters’ 49-yard punt gave Appalachian the ball at its own 31, Atwater scampered 68 yards before being steered out of bounds at the Chattanooga 1. After Atwater was stopped on three straight carries, Oller converted his first career field goal from 32 yards away to make it a 31-0 game.
On Chattanooga’s (2-7, 2-3 SoCon) next offensive play, Vinnie Miroth threw an errant pass and Corey Lynch intercepted the ball and returned it 31 yards to the UTC 3. On third down and goal from the 2, Eric Elsener found Stamey for his second career catch and second touchdown of the day to put the home team in front 38-0.
Metcalf carried the ball eight times for 54 yards on the drive, capped by a 10-yard touchdown run with 13:13 left in the final frame. Nate McKinney’s PAT kick was blocked to keep the score at 44-0.
Zach Oller finished the scoring for the Mountaineers with a 20-yard field goal to make the score 47-0 with 5:34 to play.
Chattanooga completed its only scoring drive of the day, an 11-play, 77-yard march, when Kyle Oden barreled his way six yards to the end zone with 1:22 to set the final count at 47-7.
With three catches for 83 yards, Fowlkes finished as the Mountaineers’ top receiver for the third consecutive week. Williams ended the afternoon 9-of-12 passing for 118 yards and two touchdowns.
Kicking in place of Erik Rockhold, Oller converted 5-of-5 PAT kicks and a pair of field goal tries of 32 and 20 yards.
One week after accumulating 37 yards on the ground, the Mountaineers rushed for 344 yards on 55 carries.
Chattanooga’s Miroth completed 19-of-30 pass attempts for 133 yards. Sacked four times, the junior signal caller tossed a pair of interceptions.
Listed seventh in the nation coming into the game with 7.25 receptions per contest, Alonzo Nix snagged seven receptions for 41 yards to lead the Mocs. Jeremy Grier caught five passes for 51 yards.
Oden led the Mocs’ offensive attack with 108 yards of total offense. The freshman from Atlanta, totaled 81 yards rushing on nine carries and made five catches for 27 yards.
Appalachian’s Derrick Black registered an interception in the win to equal Lynch for the team lead with four pick-offs.
Chattanooga returns home next week to entertain The Citadel. Start time at Finley Stadium is slated for 6 p.m. A perfect 4-0 at home, Appalachian takes to the road next week when it heads to Elon. Kickoff from Rhodes Stadium is set for 2 p.m.
Scoring Summary:
1st 14:50 ASU Daniel Traylor 16 yd fumble recovery (Zach Oller kick)
1st UTC 0 ASU 7
1st 03:12 ASU Davon Fowlkes 21 yd pass from Richie Williams (Zach Oller kick)
1st 11 plays, 68 yards, TOP 6:15, UTC 0 ASU 14
2nd 06:47 ASU Alan Atwater 28 yd run (Zach Oller kick)
2nd 5 plays, 47 yards, TOP 2:43, UTC 0 ASU 21
2nd 00:26 ASU Andrew Stamey 1 yd pass from Richie Williams (Zach Oller kick)
2nd 10 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:17, UTC 0 ASU 28
3rd 06:44 ASU Zach Oller 32 yd field goal
3rd 5 plays, 53 yards, TOP 2:14, UTC 0 ASU 31
3rd 05:13 ASU Andrew Stamey 2 yd pass from Eric Elsener (Zach Oller kick)
3rd 3 plays, 3 yards, TOP 1:11, UTC 0 ASU 38
4th 13:13 ASU Michael Metcalf 10 yd run (Nate McKinney kick blockd)
4th 11 plays, 59 yards, TOP 5:30, UTC 0 ASU 44
4th 05:34 ASU Zach Oller 20 yd field goal
4th 10 plays, 50 yards, TOP 5:27, UTC 0 ASU 47
4th 01:22 UTC Kyle Oden 6 yd run (P. Shutters kick)
4th 11 plays, 77 yards, TOP 4:03, UTC 7 ASU 47
OFFICIAL FOOTBALL BOX SCORE
FIRST DOWNS 12 21
RUSHES-YARDS (NET) 24-68 55-344
PASSING YDS (NET) 133 120
Passes Att-Comp-Int 31-19-2 14-10-0
TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS 55-201 69-464
Fumble Returns-Yards 0-0 1-16
Punt Returns-Yards 0-0 5-38
Kickoff Returns-Yards 7-128 2-19
Interception Returns-Yards 0-0 2-25
Punts (Number-Avg) 6-42.5 2-44.0
Fumbles-Lost 3-1 2-1
Penalties-Yards 6-50 6-50
Possession Time 24:22 35:38
Third-Down Conversions 6 of 13 11 of 16
Fourth-Down Conversions 0 of 1 0 of 0
Red-Zone Scores-Chances 1-1 5-5