Terriers Upset No. 3 Appalachian State

The Wofford Terriers had revenge on the mind when No. 3 Appalachian State visited Spartanburg and won 28-14. The No. 6 Terriers jumped out early in the first quarter when Mitch Allen and Donovan Johnson each scored a touchdown to give Wofford a 14-0 lead. Johnson’s score came from 39 yards out in the first. DeAndre Presley would help App State answer back with a score but the Mountaineers couldn’t draw any closer before halftime, missing a field goal in the second quarter. Appalachian State kicker Sam Martin would miss three field goals on the day. Wofford recorded one possession late in the half that consumed ten minutes but ended in an interception in the endzone. Johnson and Eric Breitenstein helped Wofford rush for nearly 200 yards in the first half, after entering the game averaging 350 rushing yards per contest.

Breitenstein reached 100 yards in the second half early on as Wofford took the second half kickoff but the Terriers could not add any points to the scoreboard until later in the quarter.

Down two scores, Appalachian State tried to come back with Presley leading a scoring drive early in the fourth to cut the deficit to 21-14. Wofford though managed to hold the Mountaineers well under their season rushing average while denting the scoreboard for one more touchdown in the 28-14 victory. Breitenstein would finish with 173 yards, a season-high, on 33 tough, hard-fought carries. Wofford quarterback Mitch Allen would run the ball 18 times from under center in the triple-option attack for 48 yards and the early score.

Moving forward, Appalachian State needs to work on protecting Presley as he was not given much time in which to work against the Terriers. He could not find Brian Quick for the big-play often enough and most of the time it was because the Terriers were blowing through the offensive line.

Wofford’s defense meanwhile can thank the offense for eating up some much clock with seven minute drives. The Wofford option offense, when clicking, is nearly impossible to stop according to Breitenstein in his post-game interview on GPB-TV.

Wofford will next hit the road to face The Citadel next Saturday while Appalachian State has a week off to lick its wounds before traveling to Charleston, South Carolina, October 15 to square off with The Citadel in Southern Conference play.