Appalachian State Continues Offensive Success, Steamrolls Furman

Edwards was able to connect on 26-of-35 passes for 355 yards and and rushed for 106 yards and four TDs on the afternoon, averaging 8.2 yards-per-carry, to help the Mountaineers roll up 554 yards of total offense on a day, which never saw the Paladins get closer than 14 points.

Edwards’ strong day was capped off by becoming the first quarterback in NCAA Division I football history (FBS or FCS) to pass for over 9,000 yards and rush for over 4,000 yards in the lopsided win. He did so with a 14-yard completion to CoCo Hillary midway through the second quarter.

Furman began what would become a peculiar afternoon in a rivalry decided by an average of 4.4 points over the last decade, with an on-sides kick, which resulted in an illegal touching penalty, gave the Apps the ball in good field position from the outset.

Using only five plays, the Mountaineers took a quick 7-0 lead, when Edwards found tight end Ben Jorden an a 16-yard pass play to get the scoring underway for the Mountaineers early.

Furman, which benefitted from a couple of personal foul penalties on the ensuing kickoff to move the ball inside the ASU 20, looked as if it might even the contest in a swift manner, however, senior Paladin quarterback Jordan Sorrells was picked off by ASU defensive back Dominique McDuffie forced Furman transfer wide receiver Tyler Maples (Tennessee) to fumble, ending the Paladins’ threat.

On perhaps its most impressive drive of an afternoon filled with offensive fireworks for the Mountaineers, the Black and Gold did everything it could to further dampen the spirits of the Furman defense. Using 13 plays, the Mountaineers got in the end zone courtesy of Edwards’ first of four rushing scores on the day, with a three-yard scamper, which gave the Apps a 14-0 lead late in the opening quarter of play.

The Mountaineers found the end zone on three of their final five possessions of the first half and seven of their next nine series overall. They led by as many as 29 points on two occasions and rested the majority of their starters after Jason Vitaris’ 25-yard field goal made it 52-27 with 1:29 to go in the third quarter.

The Mountaineers did a majority of their damage in the first three quarters of play, gaining 489 of its total 554 yards offensive yards in the first three quarters of play. Despite falling short of the 600-yard plateau for the first time in four weeks, ASU broke the 50-point barrier for the third time in four games.

The victory marked the 17th consecutive SoCon win for Appalachian State -- the longest in the league since West Virginia reeled off 30 straight conference wins from 1952-59.

For Furman, it was its third loss in the last four games, including two in a row. For the second-straight season against the Mountaineers, it was a Furman offense that was led by the tough running of sophomore Tersoo Uhaa, who gained a career-high 114 yards and scored a TD in the setback.

Sorrells, who split time with sophomore UCLA transfer Chris Forcier, connected on 10-of-17 passes for 165 yards and a couple of scores, while Forcier rushed the ball four times for 41 yards, including his first TD as a Paladin-a 25-yard run late in the third quarter.

Trailing 21-0, Furman would finally get on the board for the first time on the dreary afternoon, with a four-yard scoring run at the 9:39 mark of the second quarter, but ASU answered with a 10-play, 71-yard drive capped by Edwards’ fourth touchdown responsibility of the first half, a 1-yard plunge with 5:43 to go.

The two teams traded scores before the half to send the Mountaineers into the locker room with a 35-13 lead. Appalachian State’s onslaught continued on its first possession of the third quarter when Edwards scored on a 5-yard keeper to make it 42-13.

Edwards completed his stellar performance with a 21-yard touchdown pass to CoCo Hillary midway through the third period, putting the Mountaineers ahead 49-20.

Appalachian State senior wide receiver Matt Cline had a career day, hauling in eight passes for 122 yards for the Black and Gold, while junior Palmetto State native CoCo Hillary (Edgefield, S.C.) hauled in six catches for 83 yards and a TD.

Furman’s receiving efforts were led by junior wideout Adam Mims, who hauled in five passes for 102 yards, including a career-long 72-yard scoring play in the third quarter.