Box Score
Statistics

BOONE, N.C. – Appalachian State University, the top-ranked team on the Division I-FCS level, amassed 524 total yards and scored on eight of its first 10 possessions to cruise to a 44-16 victory over the visiting Eagles of North Carolina Central University in front of 29,218 fans at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone, N.C.

Appalachian (3-0) used a dominating ground game to score the first four times the Mountaineers touched the pigskin. After a 34-yard field goal by Jason Vitaris on the opening drive, ASU running back Devon Moore ran for back-to-back touchdowns, followed by a 52-yard scoring scamper by Travaris Cadet to provide the home team with the first 24 points of the contest.

NCCU sophomore Arthur Goforth then made school history with a 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown at 12:18 of the second quarter. Combined with his 97-yard kickoff return last week, Goforth is the first Eagle to post a pair of returns of 92 yards or more in a career, and he accomplished the feat in consecutive weeks.

The NCCU defense than forced two punts before Vitaris added a 24-yard field goal with 5:25 left in the first half to give ASU a 27-7 cushion heading into the locker room.

The Mountaineers wasted little time coming out of the break, as quarterback DeAndre Presley capped a five-play, 66-yard drive with a 2-yard dash into the end zone less than two minutes into the third quarter. Four minutes later, back-up signal caller Jamal Jackson found Tony Washington streaking down the sideline for a 35-yard touchdown reception to put ASU up 41-7.

NCCU showed a spark with an 11-play, 74-yard drive that ended with a 2-yard touchdown run by senior Tim Shankle at 2:12 of the third quarter. Frankie Cardelle’s extra-point kick was blocked to keep the score at 41-13.

The only scores in the fourth quarter were field goals of 29 yards by Vitaris and 42 yards by Cardelle.

Of Appalachian’s 524 yards of total offense, 328 came on the ground, including 233 rushing yards in the first half. Cadet led the way for the Mountaineers with 149 rushing yards on just eight carries, all coming in the first half.

NCCU (1-2) managed 330 yards of total offense, including 194 yards through the air. Junior quarterback Michael Johnson completed 23-of-41 passes for 174 yards with two interceptions. Red-shirt freshman quarterback Jordan Reid completed half of his six pass attempts for 20 yards, while also rushing for 23 yards. Twelve Eagles caught at least one pass, topped by Corey Harris with five receptions for 43 yards and Geovonie Irvine with five catches for 35 yards.

Shankle led a balanced NCCU rushing attack with 57 yards and a score, followed by Goforth with 37 ground yards and Tony McCord with 24 yards.

NCCU junior linebacker Roger Stewart collected 10 tackles, including 2.0 stops behind the line of scrimmage to pace the Eagles defense. Safety #Ja’Quez Canty# recorded eight takedowns, while linebacker Kenneth Campbell contributed six tackles with a sack and a pass break-up.

The Eagles look to snap a two-game losing skid next week against rival North Carolina A&T. Kickoff at NCCU’s O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium is slated for 6 p.m.