2009 NCAA.com Division I Football Blog

Weekend Preview: Capital Cup Takes Center Stage

2009-11-20T21:42:22Z

A share of the Colonial Athletic Association championship is on the line Saturday when Richmond hosts William & Mary for the 119th installment of their rivalry -- and first installment of the Capital Cup.

This year's duel marks the first wherein the winner will receive the new trophy, a replacement of the former I-64 Trophy.

"A lot's riding on this," said Richmond cornerback Eric McBride. "This is a good way to measure our team. We're playing this like it's our first playoff game."

The winner claims not just a share of the CAA crown, but makes a statement to the selection committee on the eve of the playoff bracket release.

Sunday, the NCAA announces the field of 16 teams that will vie for an appearance in Chattanooga, Tenn. and the national championship game.

Villanova already has an inside track from the CAA. The Wildcats control their own destiny, boasting wins over both Richmond and W & M. If it defeats 25th ranked Delaware, Villanova will share the conference championship with the Capital Cup winner.

So with a select few at-large berths to be had, and three CAA teams in the top 10, does the loser of the Capital Cup get that call Sunday with two conference mates already potentially locked in?

"I would think so," said William & Mary quarterback RJ Archer. "Coming out of the CAA with a 9-2 record would be enough to get you into the playoffs.

"I think the CAA is the toughest [Championship Subdivision] conference. I feel like any of the 12 schools can beat each other on a given day," he said.

That is a benefit, said Archer.

"It's fun. You want to play the best teams in the country when you can."

There's no hyperbole when calling the cream of the CAA crop "best in the country." Richmond is the defending national champion and spent the season's first 10 weeks ranked No. 1. Three of the conference's squads -- UR, Villanova, and W & M -- have hovered in or around the top 5 throughout the campaign.

"This is a quality opponent that could very well end up deep in the playoffs," said UR quarterback Eric Ward. "[William & Mary] will get us prepared for what we're going to face the next few weeks."

The Tribe are indeed a team that stack up favorably with the likely playoff field. W & M boasts a defense that ranks fourth nationally in yards allowed, and an offense that averages 28 points per game.

McBride had high praise for the Tribe offense, particularly its multifaceted ground attack.

"They've got two great runners: a power guy and a speed guy [Terrence Riggins and Jonathan Grimes]. The quarterback likes to boot out. He's real athletic," McBride said.

Archer's 20 rushing yards per game make him the fourth player to average at least that figure on the ground. Grimes leads the squad at 92.2, Riggins averages 24.6, and Courtland Marriner is posting 40.9.

Conversely, the Spider defense is yielding just 70.7 rushing yards per game. Mustering yards and scoring opportunities against UR is a challenge, said Archer.

"Everybody does their jobs. There's really not any missed assignments, so it's going to be our job to exploit little things," he said.

Ward had a similar assessment of the Tribe's defense.

"They'll bring a lot of looks at you. Up front, all four of those guys [are experienced], and they have one of the best defensive ends with Adrian Tracy," he said.

Tracy has found his way into opposing backfields for 10 sacks on the campaign. He is one of 14 seniors looking to reach two milestones this week that no W & M team has since 2004. The first, reach the playoffs.

The second?

"We haven't beat Richmond since [the senior class has] been here. One of our goals was to beat [James Madison], and we did that. Richmond was the team we've never beat, so in that way it's a big game for us," Archer said. "There's added excitement: big rivalry game, two teams that are 9-1 You could say there's a little more incentive."

Watch the Spiders and Tribe tangle on Richmond All-Access or follow via Gametracker.

AROUND THE NATION

Central Connecticut State rallied for 20 fourth quarter points last week to top Monmouth and put itself in position to win the Northeast Conference. The Blue Devils can seal the championship and an automatic playoff bid went it travels to St. Francis.

Wagner can still stake a claim to the NEC title. It hosts Albany in a matchup of two of the top three NEC squads.

Northern Iowa dropped back-to-back close calls to South Dakota State and Southern Illinois, two of the nation's top 10 teams. The Panthers have themselves been near the top of the rankings all season though, and could snag an at-large bid. A win Saturday over Illinois State would be a step in that direction.

Eastern Illinois' loss last night to Tennessee State opens the door for Eastern Kentucky to slip into playoff contention -- or for Jacksonville State to claim the Ohio Valley championship.

JSU is not eligible for postseason play, but at 5-1 would have the league's best record should it defeat the visiting Colonels.

Montana locked up its 13th Big Sky championship in the last 16 seasons, and the only thing standing between it and a perfect regular season is rival Montana State. The two tussle in Missoula Saturday.

Boys of Summer

2009-11-19T22:13:15Z

Members of the 2009 William & Mary football team didn't spend their summer bumming it on the beach or holding lazy day cookouts.

"A camaraderie, a brotherhood was formed in the summertime. We pushed ourselves to the limit," said senior defensive end Adrian Tracy, a pre-season All-America selection and the Tribe's sack leader.

"When you look to your left and right and you see someone in the same position as you, having those extra sprints left to go or that extra weight to max-out, that motivates you to give your best effort.

"That's something you can't simulate without having everyone down here, week in and week out," he said.

Indeed, the summer months weren't about R & R for the Tribe - they were about Ws & Ls, as in increasing the former and lowering the latter.

Tracy and senior quarterback RJ Archer said those extra hours in the summer are paying off, and the numbers show it. W & M enters Saturday's season finale against Richmond 9-1 and the nation's fifth ranking.

"It's a testament to our hard work in the off-season," Archer said. "More guys stayed in the summer than ever to work out together."

Included in the team's daily regiment: "Running, lifting weights...the receivers and quarterbacks threw three times a week," Archer explained.

Not only has it translated into results on the scoreboard, but individual members of the Tribe have stuffed the stat sheet. Archer is completing 65 percent of his pass attempts for nearly 200 yards per game. He has also scored 14 passing touchdowns to just five interceptions, and tacked on another three rushing scores for good measure.

Tracy has flourished on the other end of the ball with 10 sacks, and last week earned national recognition from The Sporting News.

Such team and individual marks are the culmination not just of a summer spent on the field and in the weight room, but of a steady progression the W & M seniors saw begin in 2006.

That's the season Tracy and Archer were freshmen, and the Tribe finished 3-8 with just a single conference win. Those tallies bumped up to 4-7, 2-6 respectively in 2007.

In 2008, William & Mary was above the .500 mark both in conference play (5-3) and overall (7-4) for the first time since 2004 - a season in which the Tribe finished 11-4 and reached the national semifinals.

W & M had experienced winning, and its players were hungry for more.

"It dated back to last season," Tracy said of this season's success. "We had some really great captains: Jake Phillips, Derek Cox, Josh Rutter and Elliott Mack. Those guys came to the some of the upperclassmen and said 'continue to build on what we have so far, that formula for success and make sure you instill that next year.'

"'Every team has different strengths, different weaknesses, and it's [the captains'] job to know what those are,'" Tracy continued. "That's something the five captains this year have taken -- keep the team focused throughout the season," he said.

The lessons passed on from the '08 captains to this year's group has helped W & M on its designs for a finish not seen since that '04 campaign.

In Richmond, William & Mary faces not just a rival, not just competition for a share of the CAA crown, but the defending national champion.

The Spiders were ranked No. 1 and unbeaten until two weeks ago, when they lost a fourth quarter heartbreaker to Villanova -- the same Villanova team to hand W & M its only defeat.

"The feeling you have after losing a football game, it's not much fun," Archer said of the Oct. 3 Villanova defeat. "It's not like other sports where you get 30, 40 games a season. You get 11 games in the regular season, so you want make each one count.

"The way we felt after that game, we don't want to have that feeling like we left something on the field ever again," he said, citing that as a chief motivator heading into Saturday's Capital Cup.

With nearly 70 underclassmen still in the Tribe program after Archer, Tracy and Co. depart, it might not be a feeling William & Mary football will have to feel much for years to come.

Saturday Rewind: Six Punch Their Tickets

2009-11-17T17:47:47Z

At least six of the 16 available Championship Subdivision Playoff berths were filled Saturday.

Appalachian State won its fifth consecutive Southern Conference title in a win over a game Elon team. The Mountaineers jumped ahead of the Phoenix early, scoring 21 of their 27 points in the first half. Elon failed to get on the board in that time.

Making a case for a second straight Walter Payton Award, ASU quarterback Armanti Edwards scored each of the Mountaineers' three touchdowns, all on rushes.

Postseason aspirations weren't snuffed out for Elon, however. A top 10 team with one of the best scoring defenses in college football, the Phoenix can finish 9-2 with a victory over Samford this week.

With its rout of Missouri State, Southern Illinois finished the Missouri Valley slate undefeated and as conference champions.

The Salukis navigated their schedule with just one loss, that coming at Marshall 31-28 in Week 1. Since, only one team has even been within single digits of SIU.

SIU tailback Dijon Karim had what one could call an OK Saturday - three touchdowns, including a 73-yarder.

Holy Cross escaped a Lafayette rally to knock off the Leopards 28-26, and take the Patriot League crown. UL scored two touchdowns in the first quarter, but a pair of failed point-after attempts would come back to haunt the homestanding Leopards.

As he has all year, HC quarterback Dominic Randolph powered the Crusader offense. He was involved in all four HC touchdowns through the second and third quarters, one rushing and three passing.

Meanwhile, the Crusader defense overcame a scoreless final period, holding Lafayette to a single touchdown - enough to preserve the win and conference championship.

South Carolina State's 37-13 romp of Morgan State, combined with Florida A&M's 25-0 loss to Hampton sealed the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship for SCSU. Bulldog quarterback Malcolm Long threw for four touchdown passes in the SCSU win.

By virtue of its seven straight Big Sky win and a Northern Arizona loss at Weber State, Montana is again conference champions. For those keeping score, that's a share of 14 out of the last 16 and a 12th straight Big Sky title for the Grizzlies.

The Northeastern Conference became the (Blue) Devils' Workshop when leader Wagner suffered a 37-10 setback against Robert Morris. The two had been even at 10, but 27 unanswered Robert Morris points in the second half made the difference.

That loss allowed Central Connecticut State to jump back into first, and ultimately the championship, with its frantic comeback vs. Monmouth.

All 20 of the Blue Devils' points came in the second half, the final six on an Aubrey Lewis touchdown pass to Josue Paul.

While other league championships won't be doled out until this upcoming final week, the races certainly became interesting.

William & Mary put on a clinic against New Hampshire. It was UNH's second Colonial Athletic Association loss, putting them behind W & M, Richmond and Villanova, all of which have just one loss.

Two of those squads - Richmond and W & M - meet Saturday in the newly renamed Capital Cup. The winner will have a stake in the CAA crown, but only earn the conference's automatic playoff bid with a Villanova loss.

Villanova earned wins over both the Tribe and Spiders to control its own destiny.

Josh Lewis' 28-yard field goal gave McNeese State a road win over Texas State, and put the Cowboys in position to claim a share of the Southland Conference championship.

However, MSU might be scoreboard watching in its finale vs. Central Arkansas. The Cowboys' lone Southland defeat came to Stephen F. Austin, the team that shares the league lead.

Texas State defensive coordinator Fred Bleil said earlier this season he believed the Southland would be a one-bid conference. If those words prove prophetic, the Cowboys need to defeat the Bears and hope for a Lumberjack loss at Northwestern State.

Weekend Preview: Elon Looks to Complete Worst-to-First Transition

2009-11-14T07:40:19Z

Appalachian State won the first of its unprecedented three consecutive national championships in 2005 -- which was the same season Elon finished 0-7, last place in the Southern Conference.

Four years later ASU is battling for another SoCon title. Some things don't change.

In the Mountaineers' way? The Elon Phoenix. Some things do change.

"We came from the bottom. [Head] coach [Frank] Lembo came and now we're near the top," said sophomore linebacker Joshua Jones. "Now we just need to get over the hump and win this game."

Jones is the leading tackler of a defense yielding a Championship Subdivision best 12 points per game.

Wide receiver Terrell Hudgins was a freshman the season after Elon's last placed finish, and in helping the Phoenix become a SoCon contender has shattered countless individual records.

According to him though, no accomplishment could stack up to a conference title.

"The records and those things are great, but it's more about winning. Getting the conference championship...that would be a great way to close the book," he said, adding: "It would be the biggest win in the history of Elon."

Given how these programs reached this point, Hudgins' assessment doesn't seem at all hyperbolic.

ASU has won at least a share of each of the last four SoCon titles, building a dynasty while Elon just built.

A catalyst for some of that recent Appalachian State will be on the field Saturday, and is someone Jones called "one of the best players in all of college football."

That player is do-everything quarterback Armanti Edwards, winner of the 2008 Walter Payton Award.

"It's always a challenge facing a dual threat quarterback, especially one as high caliber as he is," Jones said. "Sometimes you've just got to pick your poison."

Edwards' ability to effectively pass and rush the ball has helped ASU in scoring five-plus touchdowns in each of its last five games. Conversely, the Mountaineer defense has contained conference opponents, allowing more than 21 points just three times.

"They're one of the best teams we'll play all season, but we're not scared," Hudgins said. "We have guys in our locker room just as good as some of their guys.

"We're not going to back down," he said.

Another conference championship is on the line Saturday when Lafayette faces Holy Cross for the Patriot League crown. The two squads salvaged perfect marks last week to set up the showdown.

In its win, UL posted 56 points -- 42 of which quarterback Rob Curley accounted for with seven touchdown passes.

"Winning the conference championship is one of the goals, year in and year out," Curley said.

Curley and HC quarterback Dominic Randolph have been the Patriot League's most prolific passers. Curley acknowledged Randolph's standout play for the 8-1 Crusaders.

"You go into every game trying to outduel the other team, but especially against Randolph we know we're going to have to bring everything we've got," he said.

And according to Curley, UL is looking prepared to bring just that.

"This week's practice has been the most intense in the entire time I've been [at Lafayette]," Curley said.

The Leopards and Crusaders' championship showdown is broadcast live online via Lafayette All-Access.

Other big match-ups in the season's penultimate weekend include:

McNeese State at Texas State
Northern Arizona at Weber State
Tennessee Tech at Jacksonville State
New Hampshire at William & Mary

Saturday Rewind: Great Grab Powers Villanova

2009-11-09T22:51:30Z

"The middle of the field was open. I saw that, so I had to get off the first defender who was covering me and get to the middle."

This is Villanova wide receiver Brandyn Harvey describing the game winning play for his Wildcats Saturday against top ranked Richmond.

"I had a post route. I had to make a move at the line because one of the [defensive backs] was pressing me," he said. "I went up to catch the ball, but there was another safety going for the interception.

"But he didn't - so everything worked out."

And how.

The Wildcats' 21-20 victory ended a 393-day, 17-game unbeaten streak for Richmond and forced a tie atop the Colonial Athletic Association South Division. Villanova, Richmond and William & Mary all have one loss with two weeks remaining in the regular season.

The Spiders and Wildcats were locked in a back-and-forth struggle wherein host UR led 20-14. Richmond had failed to convert the point-after on its previous touchdown, and a kickoff gaffe gave visiting Villanova the ball at its own 41-yard line.

"We were confident we were going to score," Harvey said. "It was two minutes left, but we only had to go 60 yards."

That game-winning grab couldn't have come without proper delivery, which is what quarterback Chris Whitney provided.

"I saw that they were bringing everybody and basically playing Cover-0 behind [the line]. They were blitzing everybody like they had the past three downs, and they were having success with that."

The Wildcats moved into Spider territory, but Richmond's defense buckled down to force a must-convert fourth down.

With the Spiders bringing the house, Whitney saw a cutting Harvey in the end zone and struck.

"I knew if I put it up, [Harvey] would come down with it," Whitney said.

Harvey used his 6-foot-4 frame to come down with the ball, his sixth reception on the afternoon.

"In the second half...they were switching up what they were doing, blitzing a lot and playing some man [defense]," Whitney said. "[Harvey] was just beating the corner[back]."

Villanova now holds tiebreakers over both UR and William & Mary. The Wildcats defeated the Tribe Oct. 3, 28-17.

Appalachian State and Elon each handled their respective duties to set up a Southern Conference championship game Nov. 14.

Each extended its league mark to 6-0 this past weekend. Chattanooga has had its most successful season of recent years, but couldn't stop an ASU offense now clicking on all cylinders. The Mountaineers poured on 35 points, marking their fifth straight game with five or more touchdowns.

Meanwhile Elon's signature defense flexed its muscles against Western Carolina, and the offense added on with 42 points as the Phoenix remained perfect.

The Patriot League set the stage for a championship showdown when conference undefeateds Holy Cross and Lafayette won.

Lafayette quarterback Rob Curley had a video game sort of day: seven touchdowns off 373 yards passing.

That's no typo - the Leopard quarterback's half-dozen-plus-one scoring strikes smashed the program record.

HC marched 81 yards in the final stanza to top Lehigh in a 24-20 final. Quarterback Dominic Randolph completed the drive on a four-yard scoring strike to Freddie Santana with just over a minute remaining.

Butler kept Dayton at arm's distance in its Pioneer League win, which sets up a Bulldog showdown for the title. Butler jumped ahead 13-0 and never trailed despite a furious Flyer rally that included a Steve Valentino touchdown pass and two point conversion in the game's final minute-and-a-half.

If Drake and Butler win Saturday against Dayton and Jacksonville respectively, the two will be perfect in the Pioneer League come Nov. 21 when they square off.

Saturday's Stars

Shawn Leonard, Rhode Island
Though his Rhode Island Rams fell short against New Hampshire, Shawn Leonard had an amazing Saturday. He hauled in 275 yards' worth of receptions including four touchdowns in the 55-42 scoreboard-igniting contest.

Toddrick Pendland, McNeese State
Cowboy tailback Toddrick Pendland made good use of his rushes in a 63-42 MSU romp of Sam Houston State - 20 percent of them were for scores.

Pendland finished with four touchdowns and 171 yards rushing on 20 carries as MSU kept pace with Texas State and Stephen F. Austin atop the Southland Conference.

Duane Brooks, Stephen F. Austin
Duane Brooks snared the game-winning score to secure a Lumberjack come-from-behind victory over Nicholls State. The touchdown was quarterback Jeremy Moses' third of the day, and the connection with Brooks keeps SFA in contention for the Southland title.

Andrew Cialino, Holy Cross
Linebacker Andrew Cialino had 15 tackles in the Crusaders' road defeat of Lehigh. His performance helped the Crusader defense as it held Lehigh to just a field goal in the final quarter, setting up the offense's game-winning drive.

Weekend Preview: Judgment Saturday

2009-11-07T00:26:36Z

Five conference championships could be decided in crucial tilts tomorrow, rendering this Judgment Saturday.

No. 1 Richmond puts its unblemished record and 17-game win streak on the line against No. 4 Villanova in the Colonial Athletic Association.

"Our goal is to make them a one dimensional, passing offense," said UR defensive end Martin Parker. Parker has four sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss to help anchor a Spider defense ranked 11th nationally in points yielded (15.4).

Parker and his teammates will have a full plate as they try to a stop one of the nation's premiere rushing games.

Villanova's found success with a balanced attack, showing opposing defenses shotgun spread option and Wildcat sets. Tailback Aaron Ball, wide receiver Matt Szczur, and quarterback Chris Whitney combine for over 170 of the Wildcats' 223 rushing yards a game.

And according to Parker, those Villanova rushers have plenty of opportunities thanks to the team's work in the trenches.

Villanova QB Chris Whitney

"That's a very veteran offensive line -- very big, very well coached. That's the No. 1 key to their rushing game. If our defensive line can stop their offensive line, that's going to be a big key to us stopping their rushing game."

UR has a match in the Villanova defense, which has held opponents below 17 points per game. Included on the Wildcats' defensive resume is holding Temple freshman sensation Bernard Pierce to 44 yards, his second lowest output and stifling fifth ranked William & Mary to 17 points.

This pairing of Top 5 foes is the culmination of Richmond's Homecoming Week.

Follow it online via Gametracker, and streaming live through Richmond All-Access .

Defenses take center stage in the Missouri Valley when Southern Illinois travels to South Dakota State. The Salukis and Jackrabbits both boast perfect MVFC records, and top 10 ranked defenses.

And for SDSU, a program that joined Division I ranks in 2004, it's a showdown that linebacker Derek Domino called "the biggest in program history.

"This could put us on the map. Hopefully we can show we're here, and we're here to stay."

Southern Illinois ILB Brandin Jordan

"Stop the run, put pressure on the quarterback, cause some turnovers, try to force them to make mistakes," SIU senior linebacker Brandin Jordan said of the Salukis' gameplan vs. SDSU.

Through eight games the Salukis have hit those goals. SIU opponents are averaging just 14.1 points per game and forced into 19 turnovers. Jordan has done his share with 47 tackles and three sacks.

But if there's any defense that has equaled SIU, it's the Jackrabbits'. In fact, SDSU is tied with Elon for the stingiest scoring defense in the Championship Subdivision.

"We always go in with the mindset, 'they can't score, they can't win,'" said Domino.

Chief among the Jackrabbits' challenges against a potent SIU squad: stopping tailback Deji Karim, the MVFC leading rusher with 139 yards per game.

"[Karim]'s a great running back. He's having an All-America type season," Domino said. "When he gets out on the edge, there's no one in the country that can catch him.

"Hopefully we can just contain him -- not let him get out on the edge, keep him in the box with limited space to move," he said.

Follow the action via SDSU Live Stats.

Dayton quarterback Steve Valentino said tomorrow's Flyer match-up with Butler is "one of the games, if not the game, that's going to decide the [Pioneer] League championship."

UD claimed the 2008 crown, and is gunning for a second. But the visiting Bulldogs are unbeaten on the campaign and tomorrow are seeking a measure of retribution.

"It's an unbelievable chance to play a championship game in November," said Butler quarterback Andrew Huck.

The Bulldogs had a similar opportunity a season ago, but dropped a late season road contest to this same Dayton bunch.

In that vein, Huck said Butler has "focused on finishing all week in practice."

"Butler's always a tough game, and last year I'm sure they think they should have won it," Valentino said.

The 2008 game featured a Butler rally from a two-touchdown deficit. That gap was bridged with less than a minute remaining in regulation, forcing an overtime wherein Dayton persevered.

This time around the teams have new starters under center, but the implications remain the same. And as for Huck and Valentino, the two have registered almost identical numbers: 256.5 yards per game of total offense and 21 touchdowns for Huck; 255.6 total yards and 16 touchdowns for Valentino.

Similarly, the Bulldogs and Flyers boast lofty point differentials of plus-15.3 and plus-12.2 respectively.

According to Huck, that total could be higher for the undefeated Bulldogs.

Dayton QB Steve Valentino

"We've been able to get down in the red zone, but we haven't been able to get the points equivalent to the yards we're making," he said.

The ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities is vital for Butler against a UD defense giving up just 12 points per game.

"Our defense has carried us all year. We have one of the best defenses in the entire league," Valentino said.

Dayton has the game covered via Gametracker and All Access

The Keystone State is home to two key match-ups in the Patriot League. A week after pulling ahead of Colgate, Holy Cross travels to Lehigh with a chance to stay atop the conference. But fellow pace setter Lafayette takes on an 8-1 Colgate squad that just suffered its first loss.

HC quarterback Dominic Randolph has been among the nation's most prolific passers, but in Lehigh faces a passing defense that has ranked fifth in FCS. The cross-state contest features a similar angle, with Colgate's offense scoring just shy of 30 points per game but Lafayette yielding only 15.9 points.

Last but certainly not least in the Judgment Saturday lineup is a Northeast Conference bout featuring Central Connecticut State and Wagner, the league's two unbeaten leaders. CCSU has made a habit of winning nailbiters. Five of the Blue Devils' seven victories are by single digits, and the two most recent were by a field goal -- combined.

Wagner has won in similar heartstopping fashion, tallying three of its five conference wins by fewer than 10 points.

The formula could make for another classic as the two pursue an NEC title.

An Historic Legacy at Appalachian State

2009-11-04T23:28:50Z


Season	Passing Yards	Passing TDs	Completion Pct.	Rushing Yards	Rushing TDs
2006	2251	15	60.9	1153	15
2007	1948	17	66.7	1588	21
2008	2902	30	64.1	941	11
2009*	2083	10	72.1	450	12
= Through eight games*

It's been quite a career for Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Edwards: two national championships, a Walter Payton Award, at the center of one of college football's greatest ever upsets.

Last week, Edwards reached another milestone in his tenure when against Furman he surpassed 9,000 passing yards, making him the only player in Division I history with over 9,000 passing and 4,000 rushing yards.

"That I've accomplished so many things, I have to thank my coaches and teammates," Edwards said.

The bar is set high in Boone, N.C. Edwards' individual accomplishments are numerous and impressive.

There is the Walter Payton Award, given to the top Championship Subdivision offensive performer, which he garnered after a junior season of 2902 yards passing and 30 touchdowns. He also rushed for another 900-plus yards, breaking the Southern Conferece's career record for total yards en route to its Offensive Player of the Year honor.

Over the summer, he was the only FCS player selected to the 21-quarterback list of Johnny Unitas Award candidates.

"Everybody's done their part. Without those 10 other guys it's hard to get all those yards."

It should then come as no surprise Edwards said two very specific landmarks top his laundry list of college accomplishments.

"There are a lot of great memories, but the definitely championships are one and two," he said.

Edwards stepped in as starting quarterback his freshman season, on the heels of an ASU championship -- a high benchmark for any first-time starter.

His response was to lead the Mountaineers to two more in 2006 and 2007.

He gained national headlines Sept. 1, 2007 when his three touchdowns helped power the Mountaineers to a 34-32 defeat of fifth ranked Michigan, and ASU made history as the first FCS team to receive votes in the Associated Press Top 25.

ASU fell short of winning an unprecedented fourth consecutive national championship, losing to eventual champion Richmond. The Mountaineers returned though with 17 All-SoCon pre-season selections looking primed for another championship run.

But the team dropped its first two games to begin the campaign: the first, a 29-24 defeat against East Carolina and the second, a 40-35 home loss to McNeese State.

Since then, ASU has rattled off six straight including decisions of 25, 34 and 36 points.

"We're jumping on teams quick in the first half, that's given us some breathing room," Edwards said of recent Mountaineer routs.

In the process, ASU has compiled a perfect SoCon record and Edwards has amassed 10 passing and 12 rushing touchdowns, and just shy of 2600 total yards.

With the team rolling and ASU in the top 10, thoughts of a third national championship to cap off his career could be at the forefront of Edwards' mind, but he said first and foremost is securing the SoCon crown.

Currently, ASU is tied with Elon for the league lead. The two meet Nov. 14 in a likely SoCon title game.

Regardless of the final score that day, Edwards will leave Boone with an historic legacy. And beyond?

"I just hope I can continue to play football at the next level," he said.

Saturday Rewind: The Weekend's Best in Review

2009-11-03T19:23:03Z

Defensive players for the Texas State Bobcats knew they would need an outstanding effort Saturday against then-11th ranked Stephen F. Austin.

The Lumberjacks' spread offense came into the tilt averaging better than six touchdowns a game, best in the nation, and according to Texas State defensive coordinator Fred Bleil the Bobcats had heard criticism of their defense against such sets.

"We had performed better against running teams than against spread offense. The kids were tired of hearing we weren't playing well against spread offenses after Southeast Louisiana had done so well against us," he said.

Texas State answered those criticisms authoritatively, holding SFA 37 points below its season average and in the process, catapulting itself into the thick of the Southland Conference title chase.

"It's the best effort through all four quarters. We've shown what we can do, just not for four quarters," said linebacker Marcus Clark. Clark finished the day with 16 tackles and recovered a Lumberjack fumble with SFA driving, one of a few key stops Texas State made in the red zone.

"We've been a good red zone D throughout the year, so we were just trying to keep that going," he said.

SFA finished the day with 416 total yards, and while the Lumberjacks moved the ball effectively, there's one place the Bobcats kept them from where it mattered most -- the end zone.

"Bend not break," is how linebacker Joe Bell described the Bobcats' red zone defensive mindset. Bell finished the day with 15 tackles and a sack.

Bending for Texas State case meant forcing Lumberjack turnovers -- three to be exact, including the fumble Bell caused at the Texas State 11-yard line.

"We got breaks, but that's what you've got to do: work hard, and take those breaks," said Texas State defensive coordinator Fred Bleil.

Getting breaks -- or causing them in the red zone has been a hallmark of this Bobcat defense, he added.

"We've not been a good yardage defense, but we've been a good red zone defense," Bleil said. "We may not have the speed in the back end, but once we get down there in those close spaces we can make some plays."

And showing what it was capable of was a motivator for this unit, Clark said.

"Keeping them to seven...that was a statement that we're a defense that can play against anybody."

Bell added that the Lumberjacks' ranking coming in and challenge they posed to the Bobcat defense was just icing on the proverbial cake, as this is a game Texas State marks on its calendar yearly.

"One of our goals that we make every year is to beat SFA and Sam Houston," he said.

The Bobcats are halfway to that goal. Sam Houston is Texas State's finale, Nov. 21 at home, and another important test in the conference race.

Bleil said he believes winning the conference title is essential to earning a postseason berth. The next challenge in that quest comes this weekend against Central Arkansas.

The Bears are not eligible for postseason play until 2010 as a provisional member of the Southland, but have made themselves at home in the conference. UCA is 5-3 on the season, with a win over a Bowl Subdivision opponent (Western Kentucky) and a four-game win streak earlier this season to its credit.

Blue Devil Magic
Central Connecticut State continues to find ways to win games late. One week after defeating Bryant by a point in the final stanza, the Blue Devils rallied for 20 second half points to topple Albany, 31-29. The win keeps CCSU atop the Northeast Conference at 5-0, 7-1 overall.

Sioux Fight
North Dakota blanked a prolific Cal Poly offense through the entire second half to down the visiting Mustangs, 31-17. UND forced three Mustang turnovers in the second half after battling back from a double-digit point deficit to move to 4-4 on the season.

Dukes Break Through
James Madison met some struggles through October, racking up losses to Colonial Athletic Association leaders Villanova and William & Mary. But JMU closed the month strong with a 20-6 defeat of 18th ranked Delaware, its first conference victory of the campaign.

Quarterback Justin Thorpe earned CAA Offensive Player of the Week honors for his 262 yards passing, 42 yards rushing and two touchdowns in the Dukes' win.

An Honor for the Spiders
As Richmond chases down its second straight national championship, attention continues to come the Spiders' way. After defeating Towson 42-14, UR joined Appalachian State (2007) and Northern Iowa (2009) as the only teams in Championship Subdivision history to garner votes in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. The Spiders were a vote behind 7-2 Idaho and two behind the Southeastern Conference's Tennessee.

Latest Top 25

Rank	Team (1st Place Votes)	Record	Points	Prev.
1	Richmond (28)	8-0	700	1
2	Montana	8-0	667	2
3	Southern Ill.	7-1	646	3
4	Villanova	7-1	614	4
5	William & Mary	7-1	580	5
6	Elon	7-1	552	6
7	New Hampshire	7-1	510	7
8	Appalachian St.	6-2	508	8
9	South Dakota St.	7-1	475	9
10	South Carolina St.	7-1	453	10
11	McNeese St.	6-2	419	11
12	UNI	5-3	374	14
13	Eastern Ill.	7-2	323	19
14	Holy Cross	7-1	317	17
15	Jacksonville St.	5-3	273	20
16	Eastern Wash.	6-3	225	21
17	Liberty	6-2	201	24
18	Stephen F. Austin	6-2	200	15
19	Central Ark.	5-3	181	12
20	Colgate	8-1	161	25
21	Weber St.	5-4	149	13
22	Prairie View	5-1	116	25
23	Florida A&M	6-2	81	NR
24	Lafayette	7-1	74	NR
25	Delaware	5-3	71	18

Weekend Preview: Appalachian State Travels to Furman

2009-10-30T21:44:22Z

A colorful Southern Conference match-up in Greenville, S.C. headlines Saturday's slate.

Furman is hosting a "White Out" in the pivotal meeting with Appalachian State. The visiting Mountaineers, meanwhile, will be sporting gold, altnerate jerseys.

The Paladins need a win to remain in the SoCon hunt after dropping a 38-28 decision last week to The Citadel. First order of business for Furman will be cooling an ASU offense that is averaging

"We're going to work on spreading their linebackers out of the slot," said ASU leading rusher and tailback Devon Moore. Moore is notching a hair below 100 yards, leading a Mountaineer offense averaging over 230 per game. A week ago, ASU piled up 345 yards on the ground against Georgia Southern.

"We passed the ball well last week, and [the running game] kept the linebackers in the tackle box," Moore said.

The 52-16 win was Appalachian State's fifth consecutive since starting the season 0-2, and third straight scoring 44 or more points.

Moore said the ground attack's role is vital, with ASU looking to open the field for quarterback Armanti Edwards. Furman has struggled against the pass with opponents averaging over 260 yards per game.

But on the opposite end of the ball, ASU faces an offense almost as balanced as its own in Furman. The Paladins are averaging 27.7 points and nearly 400 yards of total offense per game: 237 passing from quarterback Jordan Sorrells, and 147 rushing with three players averaging 32 or more.

ASU leading tackler DJ Smith said, "They have two really great rushers [Jerry Williams and Tersoo Uhaa] and they run a lot of different calls. We have to have a commitment to stopping big plays."

Two weeks ago, big plays tested the Mountaineer defense when Wofford averaged 7.5 yards per rush en route to 388 yards.

"The coaches really hammered [stopping the rush] home after the Wofford game," Smith said.

The team's response was limiting Georgia Southern to just 78 total rushing yards and a 0.6 yards per carry average.

The 2006 and 2007 FCS national championship Mountaineers have little margin for error. ASU remains tied with Elon atop the SoCon. The Phoenix are on the road against 2-5 Wofford.

Follow the Paladins and Mountaineers via Gametracker or Streaming Online courtesy of FurmanPaladins.com

Texas Tussle

Stephen F. Austin's nation leading scoring offense rolls into San Marcos against a Texas State Bobcat team one game behind the Lumberjacks in the Southland Conference standings. SFA is putting up over 44 points per game, more than a touchdown more than its closest competitor.

Texas State hasn't slouched in its own right, averaging just below 35 PPG. Quarterbacks Brad George of Texas State and SFA's Jeremy Moses should light up the scoreboard.

Follow these two explosive offenses via Gametracker, Streaming Online Video or Streaming Online Audio via TxStateBobcats.com.

Big Sky Battle

Perennial Championship Subdivision powerhouse Montana is unbeaten and once again leading the Big Sky Conference. With an overtime win over second place Northern Arizona already to the Grizzlies' credit, UM has taken major strides toward its 14th conference championship in the last 16 seasons. One program that might have something to say is Weber State, which a season ago split the crown with the Grizzlies.

Weber State senior running Trevyn Smith has been one of the nation's most effective rushers. He racked up 103 yards and scored in a touchdown in the teams' meeting last December. UM has held opponents to 10 yards fewer total than Smith is averaging individually.

Feature: Indiana State

2009-10-28T18:53:37Z

Indiana State snapped a 33-game, over three-year losing streak Oct. 24 vs. Western Illinois. The win is one members of the Sycamore program hope marks the beginning of a new era. Read the details here.

Saturday Rewind: The Weekend's Best and Brightest

2009-10-26T18:15:47Z

The special teams play of Eastern Illinois' Lorence Ricks was certainly special. He scored on an 87-yard punt return, forced a fumble on a Jacksonville State return and blocked a punt attempt in EIU's 28-20 win over JSU.

It was the Gamecocks' first Ohio Valley loss of 2009, and forced a tie atop the OVC. For his efforts, Ricks garnered conference Specialist of the Week honors.

While one league became deadlocked, another broke its tie at the top. Holy Cross jumped two touchdowns ahead of Colgate early in a battle of Patriot League unbeateans. All four of the Crusaders' first half scores were the result of quarterback Dominic Randolph.

South Dakota State maintained its perfect Missouri Valley mark and handed Northern Iowa its second consecutive loss. The Jackrabbits' stingy defense yielded just 14 points, almost 26 fewer than the Panthers' season average entering the game.

The Jackrabbits' win helps them keep pace with Southern Illinois, which employed its own brand of stifling defense in a 27-8 defeat of Youngstown State. The Salukis did not surrender a score until the final stanza.

While the Jackrabbits and Salukis jockeyed for MVFC positioning, conference mate Indiana State made its own noteworthy moves. The Sycamores topped Western Illinois 16-14 for the program's first win under head coach Trent Miles - and the first ISU win since October 2006.

William & Mary maintained pace in the Colonial Athletic Association with a 24-3 drubbing of James Madison. The Tribe attacked the Dukes primarily from the ground, registering 258 yards rushing on the day.

W&M trails league-leader Richmond, which easily handled UMass. 34-12. Villanova remains in a tie for second with W&M, though the Wildcats hold the tiebreaker thanks to their head-to-head victory Oct. 3. The Wildcats trounced Rhode Island 36-7.

Another team battling for playoff consideration and conference title aspirations, McNeese State, needed a dramatic fourth quarter comeback to battle past Southeastern Louisiana. The Southland Conference showdown was an instant classic that featured over 800 yards of combined, total offense.

MSU's Derrick Fourroux threw a five-yard touchdown pass to Richard Conner with 40 seconds left to put the Cowboys ahead. McNeese State needed two touchdowns and a defensively perfect fourth quarter to hand SELA its first Southland defeat.

More late game heroics were needed for Central Connecticut State. The Blue Devils topped Bryant on the road, 24-23, when James Mallory punched in a one-yard rush with 47 seconds to go. CCSU remains atop the Northeast Conference at 4-0 (6-1 overall). Newcomer Bryant is not eligible for postseason play due to transition rules. The Bulldogs have, however, been a threat in the NEC with two conference wins.

INDIVIDUAL STARS

Jeremy Moses, Stephen F. Austin Moses led a 42-3 Lumberjack rout of conference rival Sam Houston State with five touchdown passes and 372 yards through the air.

Dominic Randolph, Holy Cross The HC quarterback threw for 288 yards, rushed for another 116, and scored four touchdowns in the Crusaders' Patriot League win over Colgate.

Lorence Ricks, Eastern Illinois His forced fumble, blocked punt and punt return for a touchdown were integral in Eastern Illinois' road win over Jacksonville State.

Ryan Roberts, Indiana State Converted to quarterback this season as a measure to plug holes, Roberts answered his coach Miles' call with two critical touchdowns in the Sycamores' first win since October 2006: one a 91-yard rush, the other a four yarder in the fourth quarter.

Justin Rogers, Richmond Top ranked Richmond held UMass to 12 points in a Spider win, and doing his part was CAA Defensive Player of the Week Rogers. He had an interception and a recovered fumble in the decision.

Weekend Preview for Oct. 24

2009-10-23T18:15:35Z

No surprise that again the Colonial Athletic Association is home to this Saturday's crown jewel match-up. Defending national champion, top ranked and unbeaten Richmond heads North for a showdown with 14th ranked Massachusetts. The Minutemen have some experience ending undefeated starts -- last week, they handed fellow CAA team New Hampshire its lone loss of the season.

UMass boasts a well-rounded offensive attack: quarterback Kyle Havens' 242.7 passing yards per game and eight touchdowns have helped supplement the multidimensional ground game of Jon Hernandez (408 yards, six touchdowns) and Tony Nelson (377 yards, two touchdowns). In total, this has translated to 30.8 points per game for the Minutemen.

Mirroring that balanced attack, Richmond employs an offensive scheme reliant as much on the rush as the pass. Quarterback Eric Ward is averaging better than 202 yards through the air and has spread the ball around the field -- three receivers have caught for 250 yards or more.

This dandy is available via Gametracker and streaming live on UMass All-Access. Both UMass and UR offer live audio.

Another CAA clash could determine one participant's entire season. It's do-or-die time for the Dukes. James Madison started the season ranked in the top 10, took 2008 Bowl Subdivision postseason qualifier Maryland to overtime and boasted a strong lineup. But proving the CAA's prowess, the Dukes have struggled to an 0-3 start in league play.

Their road gets no easier Saturday, when JMU faces in-state rival William & Mary. The Tribe regrouped from a setback Oct. 3 at Villanova with a three-touchdown victory over Northeastern.

W&M should show the Dukes a healthy dose of running, as four different Tribe rushers are combining for nearly 200 yards per game. Opponents are averaging 146 yards per game against JMU, but the Dukes have had their own success running the ball at 180 yards per. Follow this critical CAA battle online.

The Patriot League race will take shape when ranked foes clash. Undefeated Colgate plays host to Holy Cross with both sporting perfect conference marks and the League's two most prolific offenses. The Crusaders are averaging just shy of five touchdowns-plus-PATs a game at 34.3, and the Raiders are boasting a 29.9 per game average.

But offensive fireworks are no guarantee -- No. 17 Colgate has a stingy defense to go with its potent offense. The Raiders have held opponents to 16.3 points per game. Holy Cross doesn't slouch on that end either, with a 19.5 points per game allowed average.

Video and Audio are both available, as well as Live Stats.

Northern Iowa suffered a heartbreaking defeat against Southern Illinois last week, 27-20. The Panthers have no time to lick their proverbial wounds however, this Saturday traveling to face South Dakota State. The Jackrabbits bounced into the Missouri Valley Conference lead thanks to the Salukis' defeat of UNI, and SDSU will look to stay there.

SDSU's defense is tops among Championship Subdivision programs with 12.4 points allowed per. Senior defensive end Danny Batten has been a menace in opponent backfields, a sure challenge to UNI quarterback Pat Grace. Watch the game live online.

Jacksonville State can give itself some separation in the Ohio Valley. The Gamecocks host Eastern Illinois, with JSU holding a one-game advantage over the second place Panthers. EIU held off Tennessee Tech a week ago on a day that former quarterback Tony Romo had his number retired.

JSU quarterback Ryan Perrilloux is the most efficient quarterback in all FCS. He has 17 touchdowns, is throwing for a shade below 12 yards an attempt, has 1284 yards and a ridiculous 195 QB rating. He should test a Panther defense allowing nearly 11 yards per completion. Watch it unfold online.

SWAC Match-up Kicks Off Weekend

2009-10-22T19:55:42Z

Kicking off the weekend's action is a nationally televised tilt between Southwest Athletic Conference foes.

League unbeaten Prairie View A&M travels to Southern for a match-up on ESPNU, pitting the SWAC's top defense (PVAMU at 14 points allowed per game, seventh best in the nation) vs. the top offense(Southern's 37.5 points per game, third best nationally).

This is a crucial game in the conference's Western Division, with the Panthers out to an early 3-0 start and everyone else carrying one loss -- Southern included. The winner of each SWAC division earns a berth in the Dec. 12 Championship Game in Birmingham, Ala.

The league does not participate in the Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs. On display are some of the SWAC's top offensive performers.

Each of the top two passers line up under center, with Southern's Bryant Lee (229.3 yards per game, 14 touchdowns) and PVAMU's KJ Black (215.2 yards, seven touchdowns) on opposite sides. The running game is also well represented: Brian Threat and Gary Hollimon of Southern have combined for 102 yards rushing per outing and nine touchdowns, while PVAMU's Donald Barbers is registering 70 YPG with three touchdowns.

Beyond maintaining its unblemished conference mark, a win tonight could propel the Panthers in the Top 25. PVAMU finished 28th in last week's voting, 36 ballot points behind No. 25 Eastern Illinois. Additionally, a Panther victory would be No. 5, and step closer to the program's second winning season in the last three after a 31-year stretch without a winning mark.

The game is broadcast online here.

Feature on Eric Ward

2009-10-21T20:47:32Z

Featured on NCAA.com is Richmond quarterback Eric Ward. Ward, a four-year starter, has taken wins over gaudy stats. Read more about Ward here.

Weekend Preview: Vann Trucking to Scores for FAMU

2009-10-16T19:25:58Z

Fireworks can, and probably will happen whenever LeRoy Vann takes a punt. The Florida A&M defensive back leads all of Div. I, either Championship or Bowl Subdivision in punts returned for a touchdown. In fact, his four are twice as many as his nearest competitors.

All four of Vann's end zone jaunts came in two games. Last month, the Rattler had consecutive outings with multiple returns for touchdowns including a 92-yarder. In those outings, both FAMU wins, he accumulated 182 and 117 special teams yards.

So what makes Vann so electric in special teams?

"I just look for my holes, but I don't look to cut," Vann explained. "I'm running full speed. I don't hesitate."

Vann said the moment he has the ball, he's scanning the field for creases in the defense. He credits his fellow Rattlers for widening those creases.

"My blockers have done a good job staying with their blocks. They've given me lanes to run through."

In addition to using the opportunities his teammates have given him, Vann said he's put forth extra hours to hone his game.

"You've got to stay longer after practice if that's what it takes, work hard on your craft."

On the defensive end, Vann has 53 tackles (eight for loss), two sacks and an interception. He said he carries over the same outlook from his play on that side of the ball to his punt returning.

"I'm a physical guy, so I really don't get intimidated by anybody."

When asked what player Vann would compare his return style to, he said: "Maurice Jones-Drew. He runs fearless, and I run fearless, so that would be the closest [comparison] to me."

Vann's game-changing special teams play could prove integral this week, as the Rattlers travel to South Carolina State in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference contest with huge ramifications.

Both FAMU and SCSU are unbeaten in the MEAC. Both are ranked in the top 25. Each has a 4-1 record with their lone, respective losses coming to ranked FBS foes. The winner of this one will have a decided edge in the conference title race.

MORE TO WATCH SATURDAY

Defending national champions and No. 1 Richmond takes its perfect record on the road to Colonial Athletic Association foe Maine. The Black Bears trail New Hampshire in the conference's North Division and are tied with Massachusetts. An upset of the Spiders would guarantee Maine either second place alone, or a share of first as UNH and UMass square off Saturday.

Fans can follow both Richmond vs. Maine and New Hampshire vs. Massachusetts . UMass is also offering a live broadcast via All Access .

Another showdown of ranked squads highlights the Missouri Valley Conference. When No. 2 Northern Iowa plays hosts to No.5 Southern Illinois it will mark the third consecutive week two top five teams have met (William & Mary at Villanova Oct. 3, Villanova at New Hampshire Oct. 10).

The SIU defense is allowing opponents just 17 points per game, but UNI quarterback Pat Grace (featured this week on NCAA.com) has helped the Panthers post a second-best nationally 41.8 points an outing. Follow the Salukis and Panthers on .