Defending NCAA champion Appalachian State had five consecutive touchdown drives in the first half to race to a 35-0 halftime lead over Chattanooga and cruised to a 56-21 win at Finley Stadium Saturday night.
The Mountaineers (5-1, 2-0 Southern Conference) got 296 passing yards from freshman quarterback Armanti Edwards in the first half including touchdowns of seven and 79 yards. Edwards established new career-marks finished with 311 yards and 3 TD passes, both career-highs. Edwards’ previous high was 203 passing yards against Mars Hill on September 16.
The first half quieted the crowd of 8,887 which came to take in the homecoming festivities.
“I’m as disappointed as I have been in three years” said UTC head coach Rodney Allison. “I’m sure they (Appalachian State) had a lot to do with that.”
Chattanooga running back Eldra Buckley had his streak of 100 yard rushing performances stopped at eight games. Buckley had 58 yards on 18 carries. He added three catches for 70 yards, including a 53 yarder on a screen pass.
Senior quarterback Matt Lopez came off the Mocs’ bench to lead two second-half scoring drives. Lopez put the Mocs on the board with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Emmanuel Hassell with 4:34 remaining in the third quarter. The touchdown, which capped an eight-play, 80 yard drive, was Hassell’s first of the season.
Quintez Smith put Chattanooga on the board again with 1:08 remaining in the third, with a 59 yard interception return for a touchdown to cut the Appalachian lead to 49-14. The interception return was the Mocs’ first for a touchdown since Jeff Phillips’ against Tennessee Tech in September of 2005.
Lopez closed out the scoring with a 14-play, 86 yard drive punctuated with a 5-yard TD toss to Michael Johnson with 4:16 remaining in the contest. Lopez was 15-24 passing for 154 yards and two touchdowns.
Freshman Errol Wynn spelled Buckley late and gained 47 yards on eight carries.
Appalachian outgained Chattanooga 594 yards to 358. Kevin Richardson had 101 yards rushing for the Mountaineers on 10 carries.
Chattanooga (2-4, 1-2 SoCon) will travel to Western Carolina next Saturday.
Scoring Summary:
1st 08:07 ASU W. Mayfield 7 yd pass from Armanti Edwards (Julian Rauch kick) 6 plays, 72 yards, TOP 2:21 7 0
00:58 ASU K. Richardson 1 yd run (Julian Rauch kick) 6 plays, 89 yards, TOP 2:02 14 0
2nd 11:08 ASU Dexter Jackson 27 yd run (Julian Rauch kick) 7 plays, 57 yards, TOP 2:54 21 0
04:17 ASU Dexter Jackson 79 yd pass from Armanti Edwards (Julian Rauch kick) 3 plays, 76 yards, TOP 1:43 28 0
01:15 ASU K. Richardson 3 yd run (Julian Rauch kick) 4 plays, 73 yards, TOP 1:37 35 0
3rd 10:46 ASU W. Mayfield 15 yd pass from Armanti Edwards (Julian Rauch kick) 4 plays, 32 yards, TOP 1:22 42 0
08:23 ASU K. Richardson 71 yd run (Julian Rauch kick) 1 play, 71 yards, TOP 0:23 49 0
04:34 UTC Emanuel Hassell 14 yd pass from Matt Lopez (Esteban Lopez kick) 8 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:44 49 7
01:08 UTC Quintez Smith 59 yd interception return (Esteban Lopez kick) 49 14
4th 09:45 ASU Devon Moore 1 yd run (Julian Rauch kick) 7 plays, 42 yards, TOP 2:57 56 14
04:16 UTC Michael Johnson 5 yd pass from Matt Lopez (Esteban Lopez kick) 14 plays, 86 yards, TOP 5:20 56 21