BOONE, N.C. - No. 15/17 Coastal Carolina never got on track, as Appalachian State took control of the game early, as the Mountaineers won their home opener, 30-3, Sept. 17. With the win ASU moves to 2-1 on the season, while the Chanticleers fall to 2-1.
The Mountaineers got on the board first midway through the second quarter. On ASU's third possession, running back Kevin Richardson took the ball on the first play, cut back against the defense and scampered 59 yards for a 7-0 Appalachian State lead.
Appalachian struck again, this time on the defensive side. Quarterback Tyler Thigpen overthrew the Coastal receiver and Corey Lynch picked it off at the ASU 25. Lynch then returned it 41 yards, where he fumbled it but Jason Hunter recovered it and took it the final 25 yards for a Mountaineer score. The extra-point hit the right upright and Appalachian State led 13-0 with 10 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
ASU continued to move the ball in the second quarter and moved down to the Coastal one-yard line with a first down. However, the Chanticleer defense toughened and limited the Mountaineers to a 19-yard Julian Rauch field goal, and ASU led 16-0 with 8:06 left in the second quarter.
Richardson got in the end zone again for Appalachian, this time on an 18-yard touchdown run to put the Mountaineers up 23-0. The run capped a 10-play, 79-yard drive over 4:04, ending with 2:59 to go in the half. ASU took advantage of a 32-yard punt return to the Coastal 28-yard line. Quarterback Richie Williams connected with tight end Daniel Bettis on a 23-yard completion to the CCU 5, and Richardson took it in on the next play to give ASU a 30-0 halftime lead.
Coastal got the ball first in the second half and put together a sustained drive resulting in its first score of the game. Kicker Josh Hoke wrapped up the 11-play, 70-yard drive with a 27-yard field goal to cut the advantage to 30-3 with 10:23 left in the third quarter.
The Mountaineers dominated on both sides of the ball, outgaining the Chants 582-225. Richardson had 18 rushes for 178 yards and three touchdowns, while Williams was 13-of-25 for 185 yards and had nine carries for 85 yards.
In his first game at full strength, junior Aundres Perkins had eight carries for 53 yards. Another bright spot for the Chants was junior Ren McKinnon's 125 yards on five kick returns in his first game at that position.
Coastal returns home to host Delaware State of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, Sat., Sept. 24. Kickoff at Brooks Stadium is set for 7 p.m.
