Championship Subdivision Football | FCS Football | Stadiums | Blogs | Forums

GAME NOTES: Two of FCS' most successful programs in Appalachian State and Montana meet for the first time since 2000 in the semifinal round of the 2009 FCS playoffs.

Montana took down the Mountaineers in the 2000 semifinals in overtime, 19-16, after ASU rallied from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to tie it at 13-all. A 15-yard fade pattern from Drew Miller to Jimmy Farris lifted the Grizzlies into the title game that year.

This is Appalachian State's fifth semifinals appearance since 2000 and sixth overall, including three straight national titles in 2005, 2006 and 2007. The Mountaineers also lost in the semifinals in 1987, 24-10, to Marshall.

For Montana, its the Grizzlies' second straight semifinal appearance and sixth since 2000. The Grizzlies have been in nine previous semifinals, winning five.

ASU is coming off of a 35-31 comeback win at defending champion-Richmond, scoring three touchdowns in the final nine minutes of the game.

The 2008 Walter Payton Award winner and 2009 finalist, quarterback Armanti Edwards (2,938 yards of total offense, 30 TDs, six interceptions) was brilliant late in the game, accounting for the final two scores to take down the Spiders. Edwards finished the game with 267 yards of total offense and three touchdowns.

http://www.wlwt.com/cfoot/21899910/detail.html

In the article, it states that Appalachians defense has been more tested?

How exactly do they come up with that statement? I never knew SCSU and UR were considered offensive powers that "test" defenses.

No smack on APP, just curious how that sort of a statement winds up in an article. If that was posted here, we would ask for proof, and that is what I am hoping someone can provide.

SeattleGriz wrote:In the article, it states that Appalachians defense has been more tested?

How exactly do they come up with that statement? I never knew SCSU and UR were considered offensive powers that "test" defenses.

No smack on APP, just curious how that sort of a statement winds up in an article. If that was posted here, we would ask for proof, and that is what I am hoping someone can provide.

Maybe some reference to either ECU, McNeese or Elon.

The defense is really improved. The defense struggled early in the season but has played huge down the stretch in the SoCon and in the playoffs. We're going to need another great effort from those guys Saturday. My gut feeling is McDuffie or LeGree will need a big play against the Griz.

AppStateAlumQC wrote:The defense is really improved. The defense struggled early in the season but has played huge down the stretch in the SoCon and in the playoffs. We're going to need another great effort from those guys Saturday. My gut feeling is McDuffie or LeGree will need a big play against the Griz.

Your defense has improved, but I think the statement that your defense is more "tested" is sort of ridiculous. The Big Sky tends to be a pretty pass happy, offense heavy conference. As well as the SDSU comeback, and the 51-0 shutout of SFA. We haven't played against the greatest defenses, save MSU, and SDSU, but our defense has played against some pretty prolific offenses, and we are still undefeated.

AppStateAlumQC wrote:The defense is really improved. The defense struggled early in the season but has played huge down the stretch in the SoCon and in the playoffs. We're going to need another great effort from those guys Saturday. My gut feeling is McDuffie or LeGree will need a big play against the Griz.

Funny, because your description of ASU's defense could easily be applied to the Griz. They were giving up a boatload of yards (especially passing) and points early on, but have gotten stingier of late (keep in mind that many of SDSU's 48 points were on short fields due to turnovers). Obviously, whichever Griz defender draws the assignment of spying on AE is going to have his hands full. They had a great scheme to defend the SFA passing attack last week. Hopefully, they can come up with something to at least slow down AE this week. Should be a classic.

ASUG8 wrote:

SeattleGriz wrote:In the article, it states that Appalachians defense has been more tested?

How exactly do they come up with that statement? I never knew SCSU and UR were considered offensive powers that "test" defenses.

No smack on APP, just curious how that sort of a statement winds up in an article. If that was posted here, we would ask for proof, and that is what I am hoping someone can provide.

Maybe some reference to either ECU, McNeese or Elon.

Realized he may just mean that Appalachian's D might have seem more game time over their careers. Do you have a lot of seniors on D?

SeattleGriz wrote:

ASUG8 wrote:
Maybe some reference to either ECU, McNeese or Elon.

Realized he may just mean that Appalachian's D might have seem more game time over their careers. Do you have a lot of seniors on D?

just looking at our roster, we have the following Sr.'s on D:
4 DL's
1 DB
1 LB

Maybe he means they are more tested because they have given up more points

Gonzo wrote:Maybe he means they are more tested because they have given up more points

And Gonzo with a first post Zinger!!

Gonzo wrote:Maybe he means they are more tested because they have given up more points

Yeah. I'm trying to give him the benefit of the doubt, but it's not going so well.

SeattleGriz wrote:In the article, it states that Appalachians defense has been more tested?

How exactly do they come up with that statement? I never knew SCSU and UR were considered offensive powers that "test" defenses.

No smack on APP, just curious how that sort of a statement winds up in an article. If that was posted here, we would ask for proof, and that is what I am hoping someone can provide.

That's an easy answer. It was written by east coast biased TSN.

APP scores 35 points for sure...
Perhaps more maybe 45.. that you can take to the bank, they are going to score some points..!!!

The question for me is: Will the Griz score 50+
If the Griz score 35 I think they lose this game
If they drop a 50+ on APP they win

I know that sounds like a "No sh!t shirlock"
but I really believe the Griz defense will give up loads of points
It's a matter of what the APP Defense does - that's the story in my book

Chizzang wrote:APP scores 35 points for sure...
Perhaps more maybe 45.. that you can take to the bank, they are going to score some points..!!!

The question for me is: Will the Griz score 50+
If the Griz score 35 I think they lose this game
If they drop a 50+ on APP they win

I know that sounds like a "No sh!t shirlock"
but I really believe the Griz defense will give up loads of points
It's a matter of what the APP Defense does - that's the story in my book

I agree with this.

And, I think if we don't give them points on special teams or turnovers we can hold them under 30.

Chizzang wrote:APP scores 35 points for sure...
Perhaps more maybe 45.. that you can take to the bank, they are going to score some points..!!!

The question for me is: Will the Griz score 50+
If the Griz score 35 I think they lose this game
If they drop a 50+ on APP they win

I know that sounds like a "No sh!t shirlock"
but I really believe the Griz defense will give up loads of points
It's a matter of what the APP Defense does - that's the story in my book

I want some of what you're smokin'. There ain't no fuckin' WAY Appy score 45. The Griz D has given up 3 sustained TD drives in 8 quarters of football. I don't foresee another game with 4-5 turnovers by the Griz and, absent that, I see a game in the 30-27 range.

If the Griz give up 35, they deserve to lose. Period.

AZGrizFan wrote:

Chizzang wrote:APP scores 35 points for sure...
Perhaps more maybe 45.. that you can take to the bank, they are going to score some points..!!!

The question for me is: Will the Griz score 50+
If the Griz score 35 I think they lose this game
If they drop a 50+ on APP they win

I know that sounds like a "No sh!t shirlock"
but I really believe the Griz defense will give up loads of points
It's a matter of what the APP Defense does - that's the story in my book

I want some of what you're smokin'. There ain't no fuckin' WAY Appy score 45. The Griz D has given up 3 sustained TD drives in 8 quarters of football. I don't foresee another game with 4-5 turnovers by the Griz and, absent that, I see a game in the 30-27 range.

If the Griz give up 35, they deserve to lose. Period.

Let's put it this way: I say if the Griz don't score more than 35 they lose...

I highly doubt that we hold them under 30 because they run a tough, tough offense to stop and they do it with a great deal of applomb, integrity, and the worst trait of all...heart. That's the thing that worries me the most about App is the heart they've shown when being down. They match us in that respect and that is a scary thought.

I think we will be running a lot of plays to the TE's and the RB's in order to keep the scoring down but I still think App gets their points.

APP: 38
MONT: 41

I know it was almost two weeks ago, but has everyone already forgotten that App were held to 20 points, at home, against a MEAC team?? I'm not saying that game has any effect on this one, but I'm not sure where all of this "they can't be held under 30 points" business is coming from.

Grizalltheway wrote:I know it was almost two weeks ago, but has everyone already forgotten that App were held to 20 points, at home, against a MEAC team?? I'm not saying that game has any effect on this one, but I'm not sure where all of this "they can't be held under 30 points" business is coming from.

I'm guessing that statement assumes Appy doesn't turn the ball over like they did against said MEAC team. Or like SFA did.

Grizalltheway wrote:I know it was almost two weeks ago, but has everyone already forgotten that App were held to 20 points, at home, against a MEAC team?? I'm not saying that game has any effect on this one, but I'm not sure where all of this "they can't be held under 30 points" business is coming from.

I do not bank on single efforts as that is a fools game. I look at their body of work and what they can achieve. On offense they offer us a real problem...bank on it. If we mix our defense right we can give up yds. and not points but I don't expect them to have another game like they did a cuple of weeks ago. I hope I am wrong.

Grizalltheway wrote:I know it was almost two weeks ago, but has everyone already forgotten that App were held to 20 points, at home, against a MEAC team?? I'm not saying that game has any effect on this one, but I'm not sure where all of this "they can't be held under 30 points" business is coming from.

Did you watch that game? Just wondering.

If Armanti is told to stay in the pocket and avoid scrambling... and if we dont' call a single running play to him y'all WILL hold us to 20 points as well.

People that are expecting App to score a lot of points are assuming that wont' happen. This will be the healthiest he has been since the first half of the Elon game.

Montana certainly can hold us to under 30. But I doubt it.

Ursus A. Horribilis wrote:

Grizalltheway wrote:I know it was almost two weeks ago, but has everyone already forgotten that App were held to 20 points, at home, against a MEAC team?? I'm not saying that game has any effect on this one, but I'm not sure where all of this "they can't be held under 30 points" business is coming from.

I do not bank on single efforts as that is a fools game. I look at their body of work and what they can achieve. On offense they offer us a real problem...bank on it. If we mix our defense right we can give up yds. and not points but I don't expect them to have another game like they did a cuple of weeks ago. I hope I am wrong.

Troof, but Paulson is a great DC, and I think now that this defense is really gelling I think he'll be able to come up with something to at least contain them on O, if not shut them down. And, like I said in another thread, I like our chances to be able to control the line of scrimmage on offense and keep Armanti where we know he can't hurt us.

Montana has given up 30 or more points 4 times this season.

Appalachian has scored 30 or more points 8 times this season.

I like our odds.

Skjellyfetti wrote:Montana has given up 30 or more points 4 times this season.

Appalachian has scored 30 or more points 8 times this season.

I like our odds.

Montana has scored 30 or more 11 times this season.
Montana has score 40 or more 6 times this season.

I like our odds.