Here we go with Week 11:

Western Carolina (1-8) @ #7 Appalachian State (7-2)
11/10/07

Time: 3:30pm

TV: ESPNU Tape Delay

Kidd Brewer Stadium

Surface: FieldTurf
Capacity: 16,650

Jeff Sagarin ratings:

ASU:     71.77

WCU:    44.85

Home advantage: 2.47 points

ASU is favored to win by 29 points

Series: ASU leads 52-18-1

Last Meeting: ASU 31, WCU 9

Finally in the mountains of Boone, NC, the weather has turned cooler and it will feel like football weather for the first this year, just in time for The Battle for the Old Mountain Jug which will be renewed for the 72^nd time. Seems like each time the weather turns brisker, the race for the Southern Conference crown heats up. There is still a chance that four teams can lay claim to the title of 2007 Southern Conference Football Champions. One of those teams is Appalachian State. Since falling to Georgia Southern, ASU went a perfect 2-0 in its toughest road stretch of the season and in doing so jumped right back into the conference race. Western Carolina has been out of it since the season started. Their lone win was against Presbyterian and since have had five straight losses, all to conference opponents. We all know the cliché though: “Throw out the records when these teams play”. It still rings true, because this is more than just another team trying to knock off the two time defending national champions. These are teams that are trying to beat each other for bragging rights. They are trying to beat each other to tell their grandchildren that they won. They are trying to beat each other, because after its over, both teams want the same thing. When the game is over, they want the Old Mountain Jug.

Western has been preparing for the Appalachian game for a long time. It will have been over two weeks since Western last played, when they had a thrilling second half comeback fall short against Wofford. Western was down by 34 points at halftime and everything that could go wrong did for the Catamounts on that Thursday night. Before that game, Western was 6-0 all time on Thursday night games. Western scored 41 second half points before losing 47-44. Western shower serious signs of life in that game. It was as if they forgot they were playing another team. They ran circles around the Terrier defense. Western quarterbacks accounted for five touchdown passes and no interceptions.

The quarterback I fear the most from Western’s stable is Adam Hearns. Why do I fear Adam Hearns? It is the same reason every defense in the nation fears Armanti Edwards. Hearns has a tremendous ability to use his feet in the pocket in order to convert first downs. If you look at his numbers, he has gained 346 yards on the ground. He has lost 162 of those yards due to sacks though. He had a 4 game stretch before the Wofford game where he lost all but one of those yards. Take away yards lost due to sacks, and the guy is averaging 4.5 yards per carry. Against Wofford, Hearns was very efficient with 10 carries for 53 yards. Against Elon, Hearns threw for a career high 310 yards with three touchdowns. Todd Spitzer has been very consistent while filling in for Hearns. Spitzer has completed 58% of his passes for 1021 yards and seven touchdowns. Spitzer’s three interceptions all came in one game against Eastern Kentucky. When Spitzer is in the game, he is not running, chances are that he’ll be in there to throw. It does not matter who is in a quarterback for the Catamounts. Both quarterbacks will throw the ball to Eddie Cohen who averages 6 catches a game for 107 yards receiving.

Appalachian showed against the Citadel that they are still the team to beat. ASU ran up 439 yards rushing the ball showing the team speed can be unmatched in the Southern Conference. Armanti Edwards showed he is still the most dangerous quarterback in the division with his school record 291 yards rushing and four total touchdowns. Edwards became just the sixth Mountaineer to accumulate over 5,000 yards for a career in just his 20^th career game. Edwards also became ASU’s leading rusher by a quarterback for a career. It would be scary to think about what Edwards would have been able to accomplish this year if he was healthy. Oh yeah, he is just a sophomore.

Defensively for the Mountaineers they were lead by true freshman DJ Smith, who highly resembles Mountaineer Hall of Famer Dexter Coakley. Smith carried the Apps with a team high 13 solo tackles which also included an interception return for a touchdown and half of a sack. Quietly, the Mountaineer defense has been coming around the last couple weeks and they lead the conference in points allowed. In the third quarter against The Citadel, the Bulldogs drove into Mountaineer territory 3 times, ran 30 plays,  and only came away with 10 points.

Western Carolina has certainly had their struggles and part of those struggles can be blamed on a very young defense. Western has allowed every team that has beaten them to score at least 38 points. Western is giving up nearly 41.5 points per game and that is not going to get it done anywhere. Western gives up 217 yards rushing a game and 423 yards total, which puts them 98^th best defense in the country.

This game still scares me despite how both teams seasons have gone. Some have mentioned how this game reminds them of the 0-10 VMI team that beat ASU in overtime in Kidd Brewer Stadium. I think this is totally different though. This Western team probably played their best football while making their comeback against Wofford. ASU is arguably playing its best football of the season right now after being beat up for most of the season. It does make a difference when a team is unhealthy, but eventually someone has to play. Although ASU has been worn down in the earlier parts of the season, I see something similar to a rebirth. I think it happened in the fourth quarter of the Georgia Southern game. I don’t know what it was, but whatever it was, it worked. ASU’s offense is looking darn near close to the offense that blasted every team in their way during the 2006 playoffs. As for the defense, Jerry Moore would say that it’s the tenth game of the year, you are not freshman anymore. I think ASU needs to play with their foot stuck to the accelerator. I am not asking for them to run up the score like some have suggested, but more importantly, play for sixty minutes. Western has shown that they are not going to give up and they certainly will not have any quit in them with the Old Mountain Jug on the line. Western’s coaches may have their jobs on the line this week. In Cullowhee, nothing screams job security like beating Appalachian State. Western has nothing to lose. Their season is almost over, and like most years, they will be at home for Thanksgiving. In Cullowhee, the turkey tastes ten times better when you have beaten Appalachian State. I’ve never eaten turkey in Cullowhee, but I think everyone follows me here. Western can’t stop the run and I have a feeling ASU knows how to run the football a little bit. In his career, Kevin Richardson has run for 198 yards and 3 touchdowns in two games against Western Carolina. Richardson is only 242 yards away from John Settle’s record. That total is high, but its not out of reach this weekend against the nation’s 107^th ranked rushing defense.

The First Pick:

Yosef’s Jug                       45

Cherokee Boy’s Club         25

Here we go with Week 12:
#2 Appalachian State (9-2, 7-0 1^st) @ Western Carolina (3-8, 1-6 8^th)
11/22/08
Time: 3:00pm
TV: SportSouth
Stadium: Whitmire Stadium
Surface: Gameday Grass
Capacity: 13,742
Jeff Sagarin Rankings:
ASU: 74.63
WCU: 45.72
Home advantage: 2.92 points
ASU is favored by the Sagarin rankings by 26 points (rounded).
Series: ASU leads 53-18-1
Last Meeting: ASU 79, WCU 35; November 10^th 2007

Mountaineer fans will always have a special memory when thinking about playing Western Carolina. It has nothing to do with the fact that this series has been dominated by Appalachian since its inception. It has nothing to do with the “Old Mountain Jug” that sits at Owens Field House, year after year. The 2004 game in which Appalachian squandered a late fourth quarter lead and gave one the Catamounts will be the game Appalachian fans will remember most. It was the next day that folks were calling for our head coach to resign. At the same time, Jerry Moore decided there was time for a change. The Appalachian offensive scheme was changed from a pass heavy no huddle offense, to the offense they have to this day, the run heavy no huddle spread attack. Since that fateful November night in 2004, Appalachian has won 48 of its last 56 football games, including three national championships. Western Carolina decided to make a change the day after the most lopsided loss to Appalachian in the “Old Mountain Jug” era. They fired the entire coaching staff after the 79-35 thrashing. During the offseason, they hired Dennis Wagner for one reason: Beat Appalachian. Wagner has improved the Catamounts. They did break their oblivious SoCon losing streak by defeating Chattanooga and have won three games this season and lost a tough game at home to Georgia Southern. The tide is turning in Cullowhee and Dennis Wagner will face one the main objectives in his job description. Can the Cats play the spoiler like 1998 when Appalachian was all but assured the No. 2 seed in the playoffs? Or, will the Apps take care of business like usual?

For the most part of the season, the Catamounts were employing a dual headed quarterback system. The rotation has been between and Zach Jaynes and Adam Horn. Jaynes has been the guy under center in the last three games, losses to Elon and Georgia Southern and a win over Chattanooga. Jaynes has thrown for 1100 yards and ten touchdowns on the season, with four interceptions. Horn, who last received significant playing time in the loss to Wofford, has thrown for 1074 yards and seven touchdowns and only one interception.

Receiver Adam Hearnes is Western’s “CoCo Hillary”. The former quarterback in high school has now become the Catamount’s leading receiver with 47 catches for 415 yards and three touchdowns and has also seen some time under center with 100 yards passing and one touchdown. Also leading the Western receivers are Marquel Pittman with 39 catches for 561 yards and four touchdowns and Donald James with31 catches 319 yards and two touchdowns. The Western rushing attack is led by Quan Warley who has rushed for 644 yards and two touchdowns. Warley makes up for 52% of the total rushing yards for Western on the season. Sadly, for the Catamounts, Pittman, James, and Warley are considered doubtful for this weekend’s game.

The Mountaineers know all too well about how injuries can affect a football team. It seems as the Mountaineers have not a full stable of running backs since the beginning of the season. Devon Moore, injured in the James Madison game, is likely seeking a medical redshirt. Devin Radford has been in and out of the lineup with a shoulder injury. Robert Whelton has had a bum ankle for weeks, but continues to grind it out. All of those injuries have forced Josh Jackson and Matt Cline into the spotlight and they have filled in admirably. Armanti Edwards has also taken a hit as well, as he has been expected to get more carries with all of the hurt running backs. Edwards suffered two different injuries last week: a bruised knee and a hip pointer. The knee is supposedly ok. The hip is causing a few more problems but Coach Moore expects him to play. Regardless of how hurt Armanti is or is not, the key to the spread offense is to have a quarterback that is 100% healthy. A quarterback who is hurt is an extreme disadvantage. I would much rather have DeAndre Pressley in than Armanti hurt, despite the implications.

Every two years, this is the game that worries me the most. Playing at Western is a little creepier than playing in Boone. Western’s last two wins in the series have been in Cullowhee. It has been since 1984 that the Catamounts last won in Boone. Just stating facts, Western’s football program has been at the bottom of the conference for several years now. More often that not, this game means to the Catamount faithful more than any other single game. It is usually the last game of the year and the Catamounts have nothing to play for other than pride. Meanwhile, for the past three years, for Appalachian, it is a game that you want to get out of with no injuries, pick up the win, and get ready for the playoffs. That is the exact same situation we have in 2008 as well. A win by Western Carolina would be an upset, which would be no different from the norm. I am sure there are some Catamount seniors that would love to forget the 79 points that was on the scoreboard after last years win in Boone. Most likely, 79 points might be the total points for both teams this year, considering how young both teams are and the injury situation. Western likes to control the ball, and will use a short passing game to move the chains and run the ball to keep the defense honest. They average over 33 minutes of possession per game. Despite the ball hogging, it has not resulted in a lot of points. Western is averaging 18.3 points per contest. On the other hand, the Mountaineer defense has been stifling in the last four games, giving up only 15.25 points per contest, against some of the better offenses in the conference. Western leads the conference in pass defense, a statistic that is very misleading. Their rush defense has been giving up 197 yards per contest, something that Appalachian will surely attack. Teams have not needed to pass on Western when they are having so much ease running the ball. On paper it just doesn’t make any sense. With or without a healthy Armanti Edwards, the Mountaineers should take this game with ease. The Jug will ride to Cullowhee for a visit and then return to rightful resting place in Owens Field House.
The First Pick:
Kitty Kat 13
Big Bad Apps 35

Here we go with Week 11:

Western Carolina (2-8, 1-6 8^th) @ #6 Appalachian State (8-2, 7-0 1st)
11/21/09

Time: 3:30pm

TV: SportSouth
Stadium: Kidd Brewer Stadium
Surface: FieldTurf

Capacity: 21,650
Jeff Sagarin Rankings:
ASU:     65.00
WCU:    41.06

Home advantage: 3.06 points

Appalachian is favored by the Sagarin rankings by 27 points (rounded).

Series: Appalachian leads 54-18-1
Last Meeting: Appalachian 35, Western Carolina 10, November 22, 2008

In most college football rivalries, you have a pair of teams that exchange victories back and forth each year. That is why they are called what they are. In some of the best rivalries, they play for trophy that has some type of meaning between the two schools, whether it’s a cup, a bucket or a bell. The rivalry between Western Carolina and Appalachian was once named by Sports Illustrated the “best football rivalry you’ve never heard of”. Luckily, for Western Carolina fans, most people have not heard. In recent years the series has not been much of a rivalry. Western has not taken the jug home from Boone since 1984. Whenever Western has won the jug, it has been Appalachian bringing it to Cullowhee. Appalachian has won 22 of the last 24 meetings overall in the series and has defeated Western by an average score of 45-15 since 2004, the last time Western put their hands on the “Old Mountain Jug”. History looks to repeat itself in 2009 as Western and Appalachian are once again heading in different directions. Western Carolina players will be home for Thanksgiving while the Mountaineers will prepare for a playoff opponent. Can the Catamounts force the Mountaineers to travel in the first round?

As has been documented, Western Carolina continues to rebuild its program, but has had little success. Year Two under coach Dennis Wagner appeared to be promising before the start of the season but the good feelings lasted as long as the home opener. Western lost to Gardner Webb at home and never seemed to recover until mid-October when they defeated a lethargic Citadel team on Homecoming. Several more losses followed until a surprising road win last week against Eastern Kentucky, who despite their 5-4 record, had an outside shot of winning the Ohio Valley Conference. That win makes this weekend’s game against Appalachian all the more interesting. Did the Catamounts finally find a groove and will that momentum follow them to Boone and springboard them into the 2010 season?

On paper, Western Carolina looks very boring to a Mountaineer fan. Their numbers look below average at best. The offense has averaged only 14.1 points per game and ranks 90^th or worse in the nation in every offensive category. Their highest scoring output this year was a 26 point effort in a loss to Wofford.  Zach Jaynes is the leader for the Cats. He has thrown for 1624 yards and eight touchdowns. Three of those touchdown passes came last week. Jaynes has also thrown ten interceptions and has been sacked 21 times. Five of Jaynes touchdown passes have been thrown to junior wide receiver Marquel Pittman, who has 48 catches for 607 yards. Three of Pittman’s touchdown receptions also came in the last two weeks.

Appalachian showed last week that they are still the kings of the Southern Conference and plan to be that way for years to come. The Mountaineers exposed the nation’s top ranked defense for nearly 500 yards of total offense, more than double what Elon had been giving up. The defense held the potent Elon offense to only 10 points and forced Scott Riddle into questionable throws as he was intercepted three times. That forced the Elon coaching staff to a more conservative attack as they started to run the ball. Elon was flattened in the first quarter with heads hanging low after the Mountaineers jumped to a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter and cruised to a fifth straight title.

The Mountaineer attack was led by three rushing touchdowns by Armanti Edwards, whose status for Saturday’s game is still in doubt. Edwards spread the ball all over the field and the Elon defense was guessing all afternoon. Edwards passed for 281 yards and connected on 87% of his passes. Devon Moore and Devin Radford carried 23 times for 75 yards to keep the Elon offense off the field.

In trying to find some ways that Western has an advantage over Appalachian, I could not find many. The Catamounts will be loose and have everything to gain from a win. This will be their last game of the season, so they can let it all out and hope for an upset. Coach Wagner said it best in his teleconference: Western Carolina will have to play a perfect game to win. They will need to hope that Armanti Edwards does not play in order to have the best chance. Regardless of who is playing quarterback for the Mountaineers, they will need to keep Appalachian off the field. The Cats will have to hope that the Mountaineers are looking ahead to the playoffs. They will need to test the Mountaineers with the deep ball and hope its finds their receivers hands. Appalachian leads the conference with 14 interceptions. They will also need to force some turnovers. Once again, play keep away from Appalachian’s explosive offense. The only thing that has stopped Appalachian this season has been themselves. When the Mountaineers get in a rhythm, they are tough to contain. The last time these two schools tangled in Boone, it resulted in the firing of the entire Western coaching staff. Even if Western played its best game, I still don’t think it would be enough. Going undefeated in the Southern Conference is a tough task and the Mountaineers are on the verge of doing it for the second straight year. I think the Mountaineer defense is up to the task of shutting down Western Carolina, especially with the uncertainty under center. I think you might see 400 rushing yards for the Mountaineers in a game that will get away from the Catamounts in the second half.

The First Pick:

Can’t Amount           13

Mountaineers           37