Halloween Special: Appalachian State Vs. Wofford

For those of you who aren't aware of that lil' group of teams called the Football Championship Subdivision (you know, the part of Div. I football that actually holds a playoff), there's a special treat (or tricks!) in store tonight:

Wofford (4-0 Southern Conference, 6-1 overall)

at

Appalachian State (4-0 Southern Conference, 6-2 overall)

ESPN2, 8:00 pm Eastern, 7:00 pm Central

No doubt some of you are rolling your eyes about now. Fine, you can stick with the shiny sparkly FBS product you consume weekly, that overly-carbonated (fizzy hype) beverage that leaves a cloying aftertaste and also leaves you thirsty even after drinking it.

Appalachian State and Wofford are fierce Southern Conference rivals.

For those of you who don't know your football history, the Southern Conference is the grand-daddy of both the SEC and the ACC; it predates them, and those two conferences were created out of its membership, as they sought bigger pastures.

Tonight is a battle for first place in the Southern Conference, and thus an inside track to an automatic berth in the FCS playoffs (I did tell you about the playoffs, right?) as conference champion.

Wofford's one loss is to "cupcake" South Carolina, while Appalachian State suffered an opening-game letdown vs. fellow champion (haha) LSU. The Mountaineers' second loss was to CAA member (and playoff nemesis) James Madison.

Appy State still features wonder-QB Armanti Edwards (pictured, in last season's FCS Championship Game vs. Delaware, which ASU won 49-21 for their third straight FCS title).

So far this season, Edwards is 103/174 for 1456 yards and 15 TDs in the air; but also is the rushing leader, with 131 carries for 561 yards (4.3 ypc) and eight TDs.

For 2007, Edwards' passing numbers were 148/222, 1948 yards, 17 TDs; his rushing numbers were 237 carries for 1588 (!) yards (6.7 ypc) and 21 TDs.

However, the Terriers won last season's regular-season matchup, 42-31, largely by containing Edwards' rushing (11 carries for 37 yards (3.4 ypc) and one TD) and forcing three turnovers. Edwards aggravated a shoulder injury and left early in the second half.

Wofford thus snapped the Mountaineers' 17-game winning streak and ended their unbeaten Southern Conference record dating back to 2003.

Obviously, there is extra motivation for Appy State to get revenge this season and establish supremacy in the Southern Conference.

For its part, Wofford will seek to pull off the upset on the road behind running back Dane Romero, who has 103 carries for 518 yards (5.0 ypc) and 11 TDs, as well as have their defense contain a healthy Armanti Edwards.

Easier said than done...

So, will it be a trick (Wofford win) or a treat (Appy State win)?

Happy Halloween!

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