ASU Defense Shines Against Elon
Appalachian State’s offense, ranked first in total yards among Football Championship Subdivision teams, and Elon’s defense, at the top in fewest yards allowed, were most heralded going into Saturday’s Southern Conference showdown.
Not far behind was Elon’s offense, ranked fifth nationally.
But it was Appalachian’s defense, ranked No. 54, that stole the show.
The Mountaineers held the Phoenix to 270 yards – less than half its season average – on the way to a 27-10 victory.
Quarterback Scott Riddle of Elon was sacked five times and intercepted three times. The Phoenix wound up with 58 yards rushing and was 3 of 11 on third-down conversion attempts.
Two interceptions by safety Mark LeGree, one of which was set up by coverage of cornerback Cortez Gilbert on receiver Terrell Hudgins, and one by Ed Gainey led to three ASU touchdowns and a 21-0 lead.
“We felt going in that this was the most talented secondary, probably comparable to Wake Forest,” Coach Pete Lembo of Elon said. “The corners have excellent size in addition to great hips and speed. And their safeties can cover. There are a lot of teams in this league that just don’t have safeties that can cover the way these kids can…. It’s a very athletic secondary. It’s a very experienced secondary.”
A couple of the sacks could be traced to pass coverage.
LeGree grinned when it was suggested that the sacks were “coverage sacks.” Anthony Williams, a defensive tackle who had two of the sacks, smiled as well. He said: “Those guys are giving me three, four, five seconds. And I appreciate it. Sometimes it doesn’t happen too quickly, but we get there.”
Appalachian scored three touchdowns right off the bat, after interceptions, but then struggled to get points despite driving the ball well and totaling 486 yards. The Mountaineers missed two field goals, failed on a fourth down inside the 10 and settled for two field goals. The total: just six points in five trips into the red zone.
Jason Vitaris missed two field-goal attempts in a game for the first time.
“He’s like me on the driving range,” Coach Jerry Moore said. “He kicked that ball as good all week in practice as you can kick it. He made one 61 or 62 yards in practice…then he goes and misses two (in the game). He pulled one and he pushed one.”
With Saturday’s victory, Armanti Edwards became the first player in Southern Conference history to be the starting quarterback for four championship teams.