Box Score Oct. 10, 2009
Final Stats
BOONE, N.C. - North Carolina Central University silenced a sellout homecoming crowd with a seven-point lead at the end of the first quarter, but the ninth-ranked Mountaineers of Appalachian State University scored 27 unanswered points over the next two quarters to cruise to a 55-21 victory inside Kidd Brewer Stadium on Saturday (Oct. 10).
After ASU running back Devon Moore raced 73 yards for the first score of the game at 10:14 of the opening stanza, NCCU junior linebacker Calvin Hillie stepped in front of a pass from Armanti Edwards and returned the interception 35 yards to the Mountaineer 11-yard line.
Two plays later, Tim Shankle took advantage of Edwards' first interception of the season with a two-yard touchdown scamper to tie the game at 7-7 at the 5:57 mark of the first quarter.
On Appalachian's next offensive play, Hillie recovered a fumble at the ASU 24-yard line to set up a two-yard touchdown pass from Michael Johnson to tight end Earthan Ward. Frankie Cardelle's extra-point kick gave the visiting Eagles a 14-7 lead with 34 seconds remaining in the opening 15 minutes of play.
The second quarter was a different story. After NCCU held the nationally-ranked Mountaineers to just 70 total yards and two first downs in the first quarter, Appalachian exploded for 208 yards and 12 first downs in the second stanza. ASU scored two touchdowns and a field goal to take a 24-14 cushion into the locker room at intermission.
The Mountaineers posted a field goal and another touchdown in the third quarter, before NCCU struck again with a 44-yard touchdown catch by Andrew Johnson to make the deficit 34-21 with 14:28 left in the contest.
ASU pulled away with three more touchdowns, including a three-yard rush with only 13 seconds remaining.
ASU amassed 644 yards of total offense, more than any other opponent in NCCU history. The Mountaineers held an impressive 407-to-5 advantage in the ground game, topped by Moore's 124-yard, 2-touchdown performance.
Edwards, a three-time All-American and winner of the 2008 Walter Payton Award, recorded 334 total yards (237 passing, 97 rushing) and accounted for three touchdowns (2 rushing, 1 passing).
Johnson completed 16-of-23 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns to pace the Eagles.
The NCCU defense was led by senior safety Derek Harvey with a career-high 11 tackles (6 solo), while corner back Rashad Fox added eight stops for the Eagles.
After five of the last six contests on the road, including two against nationally-ranked teams and one versus a Bowl Subdivision foe, NCCU will return home next Saturday (Oct. 17) to face Central Methodist at 1:30 p.m.
