Bobcats Snowed Under by App State
12/2/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
The greater Boone area hasn’t received a significant snowfall yet this winter, but the Bobcats got a first-hand look at an avalanche on Saturday night.
Receiver Michael Jefferson threw an interception on an end-around pass on the first play of the fourth quarter with MSU trailing by seven points and threatening. That play proved pivotal, as Appalachian State responded with two touchdowns in succession leading to a 38-17 win over the Bobcats. That win extends App State’s home winning streak to 26 games, and moves the team into the Division I Playoffs semifinal round next weekend.
“We over-reached ourselves a little bit,” said Bobcat coach Mike Kramer. “Down by seven, start of the fourth quarter, where else do you want to be? We told Mike if it’s not open run it, dump it, don’t do that. But we called the play, and we don’t get it back.”
Montana State trailed 24-17 to start the fourth quarter, and worked from the Appalachian State 40 yard line. On a designed pass, Mike Jefferson took a pitch on an end-around. He was pushed deep into the backfield, and threw a floater downfield for Donell Wheaton. ASU All-America safety Cory Lynch read the play, picked off the underthrown pass, and returned the ball to near midfield.
“They made a great play, a great adjustment,” Jefferson said.
Quarterback Armanti Edwards moved the Mountaineers 51 yards for the game-clinching touchdown, the big play coming on a 17-yard Edwards run on second-and-long to set up a short Kevin Richardson touchdown run.
Richardson ran for 131 yards and four scores, providing much of ASU’s offensive juice. “He’s a great player,” Kramer said. “He’s not a post-season awards candidate for no reason. They ran the ball really effectively. They pounded us off the ball. Richardson is pretty good.”
Appalachian State jumped on the Bobcats early, and it started on defense. The Mountaineers held MSU to a loss of one yard on a three and out possession to start the game. The Mountaineers took over just inside its own territory, and moved 51 yards on eight plays to break on top 7-0.
After another three-and-out, spurred by Marques Murrell’s sack, Appalachian State blocked a Tyler Bolton punt then moved 18 yards in three plays to leap ahead 14-0. App State’s total offense edge after two possessions was 71 yards to one yard.
MSU earned its first defensive stop on Appalachian State’s third possession, and forced a fumble on ASU’s fourth possession. The ‘Cats turned that drive into a touchdown, Aaron Mason scoring on a four-yard run. The drive’s big play was a 15-yarder from Jack Rolovich to Donell Wheaton.
The fumble forced by Clive Lowe was the first of three consecutive possessions on which MSU took the ball away from App State with turnovers. In addition to Lowe’s fumble and recovery, Marcosus LeBlanc picked off an Armanti Edwards pass, and Bobby Daly sacked Edwards and forced a fumble that MSU recovered. MSU was able to turn the LeBlanc pick into a Jeff Hastings 32-yard field goal.
“We ran the ball at Murrell on purpose, to slow him down,” Kramer said. “We got settled down in the second quarter,” Kramer said. “We protected better and ran the ball better.”
With under three minutes remaining in the first half, and the ‘Cats facing a fourth-and-three near midfield, the Bobcats gambled. Jack Rolovich threw out of deep punt formation, but the ball was incomplete. App State finished the half with a field goal, to give the home team a 17-10 lead at the intermission. Appalachian State held MSU to just 89 first-half yards.
“I think Appalachian State and Montana look
Kramer said Saturday’s loss may be helpful in the long run. “I think this game sends a good message about how hard-minded you have to be, through the whole organization,” he said. “I’m proud of our guys, I’m proud of our coaches, and I’m looking forward to the future.”
Receiver Michael Jefferson threw an interception on an end-around pass on the first play of the fourth quarter with MSU trailing by seven points and threatening. That play proved pivotal, as Appalachian State responded with two touchdowns in succession leading to a 38-17 win over the Bobcats. That win extends App State’s home winning streak to 26 games, and moves the team into the Division I Playoffs semifinal round next weekend.
“We over-reached ourselves a little bit,” said Bobcat coach Mike Kramer. “Down by seven, start of the fourth quarter, where else do you want to be? We told Mike if it’s not open run it, dump it, don’t do that. But we called the play, and we don’t get it back.”
Montana State trailed 24-17 to start the fourth quarter, and worked from the Appalachian State 40 yard line. On a designed pass, Mike Jefferson took a pitch on an end-around. He was pushed deep into the backfield, and threw a floater downfield for Donell Wheaton. ASU All-America safety Cory Lynch read the play, picked off the underthrown pass, and returned the ball to near midfield.
“They made a great play, a great adjustment,” Jefferson said.
Quarterback Armanti Edwards moved the Mountaineers 51 yards for the game-clinching touchdown, the big play coming on a 17-yard Edwards run on second-and-long to set up a short Kevin Richardson touchdown run.
Richardson ran for 131 yards and four scores, providing much of ASU’s offensive juice. “He’s a great player,” Kramer said. “He’s not a post-season awards candidate for no reason. They ran the ball really effectively. They pounded us off the ball. Richardson is pretty good.”
Appalachian State jumped on the Bobcats early, and it started on defense. The Mountaineers held MSU to a loss of one yard on a three and out possession to start the game. The Mountaineers took over just inside its own territory, and moved 51 yards on eight plays to break on top 7-0.
After another three-and-out, spurred by Marques Murrell’s sack, Appalachian State blocked a Tyler Bolton punt then moved 18 yards in three plays to leap ahead 14-0. App State’s total offense edge after two possessions was 71 yards to one yard.
MSU earned its first defensive stop on Appalachian State’s third possession, and forced a fumble on ASU’s fourth possession. The ‘Cats turned that drive into a touchdown, Aaron Mason scoring on a four-yard run. The drive’s big play was a 15-yarder from Jack Rolovich to Donell Wheaton.
The fumble forced by Clive Lowe was the first of three consecutive possessions on which MSU took the ball away from App State with turnovers. In addition to Lowe’s fumble and recovery, Marcosus LeBlanc picked off an Armanti Edwards pass, and Bobby Daly sacked Edwards and forced a fumble that MSU recovered. MSU was able to turn the LeBlanc pick into a Jeff Hastings 32-yard field goal.
“We ran the ball at Murrell on purpose, to slow him down,” Kramer said. “We got settled down in the second quarter,” Kramer said. “We protected better and ran the ball better.”
With under three minutes remaining in the first half, and the ‘Cats facing a fourth-and-three near midfield, the Bobcats gambled. Jack Rolovich threw out of deep punt formation, but the ball was incomplete. App State finished the half with a field goal, to give the home team a 17-10 lead at the intermission. Appalachian State held MSU to just 89 first-half yards.
“I think Appalachian State and Montana look
Kramer said Saturday’s loss may be helpful in the long run. “I think this game sends a good message about how hard-minded you have to be, through the whole organization,” he said. “I’m proud of our guys, I’m proud of our coaches, and I’m looking forward to the future.”
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