ASU's Edwards is the difference

QB passes for school-record 433 yards

BOONE -- South Carolina State coach Buddy Pough had already turned away from the play. His Bulldogs had stopped Appalachian State again.

Except they hadn't.

Pough had his back to the field, trying to line up his punt-block team for fourth down.

He had seen Appalachian quarterback Armanti Edwards' protection break down on third-and-12, and Edwards sprinting desperately toward the left sideline inside his own 10 as S.C. State's Terrance Smith grasped at his jersey.

Pough didn't see the rest.

Somehow, Edwards got rid of the ball. Somehow, receiver T.J. Courman caught it, on the left sideline out past the 25. Somehow, Courman broke one tackle, spun inside and broke another, finally crashing down at the 36.

First down by a yard. Appalachian State drove on to a touchdown. And, eventually, a 37-21 victory in the first round of the NCAA's Football Championship Subdivision playoffs Saturday.

The Mountaineers move on, with a streak of 13 straight playoff victories and the chance for a fourth straight national title still alive. ASU hosts Richmond next Saturday at a time to be announced today.

In a game full of big plays, Edwards' scrambling completion was the difference.

"It was kind of devastating," Pough said. "I could see a little wind going out of us at that point."

The play, Edwards said, was simply a "go route" for his wide receivers; he would pick the open one. With his protection crumbling, and it appeared that Edwards would be sacked.

He threw just before he crashed out of bounds, seemingly tossing the ball away to escape the sack.

Courman had broken off his route and sprinted to the left sideline.

You know what happened next.

The catch led to a 12-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. And ASU's fragile three-point lead was 10 midway through the fourth quarter. All of the Mountaineers' momentum that had been washed away by the rain at Kidd Brewer Stadium and the stubborn play of the Bulldogs was back.

The pivotal play was just part of Edwards' day. With S.C. State geared to stop the run, Edwards picked the Bulldogs apart, shaking off two first-half interceptions to finish with 29 completions in 41 throws for 433 yards, the most passing yards in school history.

ASU needed Edwards at his best because the Bulldogs, built around running back William Ford (117 rushing yards) started fast. The Mountaineers turned the ball over on their first two possessions, and led just 17-14 at the half.

Appalachian State's defense stiffened in the final two quarters, allowing 113 of S.C. State's 325 yards.