Aaron Corp committed to a championship football program coming into college.

The quarterback should finish at a championship football program.

He'll just be 2600 miles away from his original destination.

Corp was officially introduced as the University of Richmond's latest addition Monday, his first day of class since departing the University of Southern California.

"I started digging around, searching for schools. After doing some research I took a trip out here, really loved the school, and it seemed like a good fit," Corp said of Richmond. "At Richmond you're going to compete every year. With the championship a couple years ago, that made [the decision] easy for me."

Touring campus with UR wide receiver Kevin Grayson his first day, Corp said he was getting acquainted with his new surroundings a continent away from the Los Angeles bustle.

"It's colder. That's something I'll have to get used to," Corp said with a chuckle, adding: "The classes are smaller [at UR than USC]. Other than that, the campus is awesome. It's easy to be here."

Corp is one of several departures from USC in recent weeks. Damian Williams and Joe McKnight both declared their entry in the 2010 National Football League last week, and most notable was former head coach Pete Carroll's leaving for the Seattle Seahawks.

Carroll accepted the Seahawks head coaching position Monday, something Corp said came as "a complete surprise," and "had nothing to do with" with Corp's decision to transfer.

His intention to leave USC came earlier, with the wheels set in motion in August. Named the Trojans' intended starting quarterback for the 2009 season last spring, Corp suffered a knee injury in mid-August that sidelined him for the season's opening weeks.

Freshman Matt Barkley took over the job while Corp recooperated.

"Just an unfortunate situation," Corp said of the injury. " I sat down with my family and discussed either staying or transferring, and came to the decision it would be better for me to transfer."

Some Football Bowl Subdivision programs made his short list, but NCAA rules grant a player immediate eligibility if he transfers from the FBS to a Football Championship Subdivision university.

"The opportunity to play right away attracted me to an FCS school," he said.

The quarterback begins strength and conditioning training immediately in preparation for spring practices under new Spider head coach LaTrell Scott. There, he will compete with John Laub from starting duties.

"The spring time is going to be open competition. I have to earn everything I get, so that's just more incentive to work hard," Corp said.

Laub appeared in five games spelling four-year starting quarterback Eric Ward. Ward leaves UR with over 10,000 career yards combined rushing and passing, appeared in three FCS Playoffs, won the 2008 Div. I National Championship and sets a high bar for his successor.

"If that means playing the way Eric did, or playing to my strengths, whatever the coaches ask of me I'll do," Corp said, adding that he'll incorporate lessons taken from USC into his play at UR.

"I had great position coaches at USC. I owe them a lot for my development. Learning from them, and their backgrounds, will only help me here."

NEWS AND NOTES

Appalachian State released its 2010 schedule today, with one very intriguing date popping out: Nov. 20, the Mountaineers travel to Gainesville to play Florida.

The match-up features programs that have won a combined five championships since 2005, with ASU's three NCAA titles (2005-2007) and Florida's two Bowl Championship Series crown (2006, 2008).

But more significant is it's another trek into BCS heavyweight territory for the Mountaineers, who in 2007 made history with their defeat of then-No. 2 Michigan.

* * * *

Villanova head coach Andy Talley was named the American Football Coaches Association Coach of the Year for the Championship Subdivision Tuesday. It's the second time Talley has been given the honor, the first coming in 1997.

PHOTO GALLERY

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The best of the Football Championship Subdivision 2009 were honored Thursday at the Chattanooga Convention Center.

A panel that included James Madison head coach Mickey Matthews, former National Football League greats Wayne Chrebet and Dexter Coakley, and Master of Ceremonies Brock Huard presented the Buck Buchanan (best defensive player), Eddie Robinson (top head coach) and Walter Payton (offensive MVP) Awards.

"When I was coming up and won the [Buck Buchanan] Award, it was nothing like this," said former two-time winner, NFL Pro Bowler and Appalachian State alumnus Coakley. "It feels like I'm getting the award again. To see these guys carrying the torch for FCS, it's a great pleasure.

"Hopefully these guys will get the chance to play at the next level and continue making their universities proud," he said.

"THE WOW FACTOR"

 What Armanti Edwards brought to the Appalachian State program was described thusly by ASU head coach Jerry Moore.

Huard commended Edwards for his 9,000 career passing and over 4,000 rushing yards.

And the Sports Network honored Edwards with his second Walter Payton Award, making him the first two-time recipient of the honor.

It seems only fitting given how many other milestones and firsts Edwards achieved throughout his career. The resume reads like a very long laundry lists: 64 ASU records, two national championships, star of college football's greatest upset.

"It's an honor to be mentioned in the same breath as Walter Payton and sit here with these guys [Karim and Hudgins], who worked their butts off all season," he said.  

But the road to a second Payton Award wasn't a smooth one. Edwards missed the beginning of the season with a foot injury sustained during an off-season lawn mower accident. The two games he missed were the Mountaineers' only regular season defeats.  

Edwards returned strong to score 30 touchdowns -- 18 by ground, 12 by air -- and pass for just below 3300 yards.

Beyond his statistics, Edwards was a leader by example for his ASU comrades.

"He's a great ambassador," fellow Mountaineer Coakley said. "To be able to graduate in three-and-a-half years, and graduate with honors -- that says enough right there.

"He sets an example for kids that 'I can be an athlete and get my degree at the same time,'" Coakley added.  

"You can't ask for more than this. You've got to take your hats off to the coaches...and the other guys on the team, who were breaking a sweat just like I was," Edwards said.

Other finalists for the award were Elon wide receiver Terrell Hudgins and Southern Illinois tailback Deji Karim. Their respective coaches, Pete Lembo and Dale Lennon, introduced the players before the banquet.

Karim battled back from a devastating knee injury that sidelined him late in 2007 and all of 2008, and almost ended his playing career. But rehabilitation brought Karim back better than ever.

He averaged 7.1 yards per rush, finishing the season with a shade below 1700 total yards on the ground, and more than 2,000 all purpose yards.

 "Words can't describe it. Last year at this time I was down in the dumps," Karim said. "I couldn't imagine being where I'm at today. It's a big thing, and I feel it's a team award. I couldn't be where I'm at without my team."

Hudgins helped Elon reach its first postseason since the program's NAIA days. And in doing so, he surpassed names like Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens in the record books.

The receiver finished the campaign with over 1600 yards receiving, placing him over 5200 for his career.  

Edwards said that if he had a vote, it would be for Hudgins.

"This man had 1,000 receiving after five games," Edwards pointed out.

Hudgins said he plans to find an agent and begin working out in preparation for the spring's NFL Draft Combine.   

ALL WORK...AND ALL PLAY

Matthews had the opportunity to present the Buck Buchanan Award to his own player, as defensive end Arthur Moats received the honor.

Moats was a backfield terror, leading the Dukes with 11 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss. He also finished as the team's leading overall tackler, a feat almost unheard of coming from a line player. He had 90.

Matthews regaled those the awards banquet crowd with a story about his recruiting trip to visit Moats. After hours spent playing with his family, Moats suited up for his high school's varsity basketball team -- and from there clocked in at his part-time job at a fast food restaurant.

That same kind of hard work carried over into Moats' gridiron work ethic, as his Herculean stat line proves. Working toward a degree he hopes to put to use as a member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Moats should have career options.

At 6'2 and over 250 pounds, NFL teams could come calling on Draft Day.

Moats was all smiles throughout the ceremony, including when he accepted the award and acknowledged his JMU coaches and teammates for helping elevate his game.  

"HE SHOULD WIN COACH OF THE CENTURY"

The above were the words of Matthews, describing Eddie Robinson Award winner Henry Frazier III. The Prairie View A&M sideline general led the Panthers to their first Southwest Athletic Conference championship since 1964, a feat that's impression is compounded when one considers just a decade ago, PVAMU was famous only for its 80-game losing streak.

But with a new attitude and dedication, the Panthers lost just once on the campaign, that coming to Bowl Subdivision participant New Mexico State, en route to a perfect SWAC slate.

"I'm very humbled by this award," Frazier said. "Eddie Robinson, Walter Payton, Buck Buchanan all came from the Southwest Athletic Conference, so to be the first coach from a [Historically Black College & University] to receive this award is incredibly humbling."

A coach who Jerry Moore introduced as someone who truly exemplified what the profession is about, Frazier was quick to point the work of those around him in the Panthers' rise from the gutter.  

"They say it takes a village to raise a kid -- it took a village to turn this around. It wasn't just me. Great assistant coaches, great student athletes and a committed administration -- that's a recipe for success."  

One is the model of consistency, a perennial fixture in the Playoff scene. The other has more national championships this decade than any other program, Bowl or Championship Subdivision.

And come Saturday in Missoula, Mont., Appalachian State and Montana face with more than bragging rights on the line. The winner earns a berth in the 2009 National Championship game.

Both the Mountaineers and Grizzlies have made themselves postseason regulars -- in fact, UM hasn't missed a share of the Big Sky Conference title since 1997 or a playoff since 1992. So it may come as a surprise that the last time these two met in the Playoffs, Bill Clinton was finishing his second presidential term.

"The past four or five years, they've been on top. So we're looking forward to getting them in our house," said Montana linebacker Tyler Hobbs.

The overall No. 1 seed Grizzlies are after their second straight trip to the title game, the program's first national championship since 2001, and a milestone no other team in UM's illustrious history has accomplished.

Should UM reach and win the championship game, it would be the first wire-to-wire unbeaten.

Should Saturday's game play out like their last playoff meeting -- also a semifinal -- that national broadcast audience will be in for a wild ride. The Grizzlies won a 19-16 overtime encounter to reach the 2000 championship game.

The key to the 2009 installment of UM-ASU is Armanti Edwards - for the Mountaineers, that means their all-world quarterback doing what he does best, which is essentially everything but catch passes.

For Montana, it means doing what it can to slow the multitalented, 2008 Walter Payton Award winner.

"That guy runs the show," Hobbs said. "We've seen no one like him. He keeps plays going most other quarterbacks can't, and he always gives his receivers the chance to catch the ball."

It's fitting then that ASU reached the semifinals thanks in large part to Edwards, whose touchdown pass in the final 10 seconds last week at Richmond put the Mountaineers over the top against the defending national champions.

The coming weeks are big for Edwards, who is not only chasing another national championship; not simply a finalist for his second Walter Payton Award; but this week, earned his degree after just seven semesters.

"That's what you go to school for, to get that degree," Edwards said in his weekly teleconference. "I take pride in [graduating in three-and-a-half years]. I hate not succeeding in anything I do."

And that mentality has translated to the gridiron, where he's succeeded to win nearly 50 games in his career. Another victory Saturday, and he'll be tied for the winningest postseason quarterback in Div. I history.

Reaching that milestone will have to come against a defense that in the last six quarters has held opponents scoreless. Since falling behind by 27 points in the first round against South Dakota State, Montana outscored SDSU and last week's victim Stephen F. Austin 91-0.

"Their defense plays every snap hard. It's hard nosed, they flock to the ball every play," Edwards said.

UM forced an SFA offense that came into the match-up No. 1 nationally in scoring offense into 10 turnovers.

And the Grizzly offense doesn't slouch, either.

UM is averaging a whopping 56 points per game through two playoff outings. Last week, quarterback Andrew Selle outdueled the Lumberjacks' gunslinger Jeremy Moses by scoring three touchdowns with no giveaways and finishing with 281 yards.

"Everyone is making big plays," Selle said. "Marc [Mariani] and the receivers are making great catches, the line is doing great.

"The defense forcing 10 turnovers makes it real easier, with us playing on a short field."

Selle added that the 91 consecutive points have given the Grizzlies "a lot of momentum," but was quick to point out: "That means nothing against Appalachian State.

"We want to ride that momentum, but our coaches are really big on playing one game at a time."

He said that the implications of Saturday's game are only magnified given the opponent.

"Appalachian State has a lot of tradition and has really been on the national stage with the championships and the win over Michigan," Selle said.

ASU's Sept. 2007 win over then-second ranked Michigan in the Big House remains something of a calling card for the Mountaineer program, and specifically Edwards.

That victory made ASU football a household name, and garnered the Mountaineers votes in the Associated Press Top 25.

For Edwards, it the trek to Ann Arbor was his first trip via airplane. The team will take to the air to reach Missoula for Saturday.

"I still hate it," Edwards said of air travel.

The rubber match went the way of the Mountaineers -- and what a match it was.

Meeting for the third consecutive postseason, Appalachian State and Richmond capped off the 2009 NCAA Playoffs quarterfinals with an instant classic. The programs accounting for the last four national championships exchanged leads throughout the second half, but it was the visiting Mountaineers who prevailed.

"It's called Armanti Edwards. He's a terrific player," said Richmond head coach Mike London in the post-game press conference.

Edwards scored two of ASU's three fourth quarters, including the difference-making four-yard pass to Matt Cline with 10 seconds on the clock. The strike put ASU ahead 35-31, where it would remain when time expired.

Three minutes earlier, Richmond had regained the lead Edwards earlier took away with a touchdown rush when Eric McBride returned a loose ball to the end zone.

Billed "Clash of the Titans" on the Richmond athletic website RichmondSpiders.com, Saturday's nightcap lived up to its lofty billing on a day when other Playoff match-ups ended in lopsided scores.

Two of the Championship Subdivision's top quarterbacks were lined up under center at UR Stadium, and one was guaranteed to end his collegiate career. That was Richmond's Eric Ward, who last week surpassed 10,000 yards of total offense for his tenure.

ASU's senior quarterback Edwards plays on, one win away from his third national championship game and with a second straight Walter Payton Award in his sights. Edwards is one of three finalists for this year's award with Southern Illinois running back Deji Karim and Elon wide receiver Terrell Hudgins.

For Edwards to reach that Dec. 18 championship game in Chattanooga, Tenn., his Mountaineers will have to do something no team has this season -- beat the Montana Grizzlies.

The overall No. 1 seed extended its unanswered point total to a mind-boggling 91 by racking up 51 against Southland Conference co-champion Stephen F. Austin.

The Grizzlies had reeled off 40 straight in the opening round to rally against South Dakota State, 61-48.

Montana welcomes ASU to Missoula Saturday, where a raucous crowd and 17-game home win streak await. The Grizzlies last lost at home Nov. 24, 2007 in a playoff game with Wofford.

The winner of the Montana - ASU game is assured a Colonial Athletic Association foe in the National Chamionship game. Villanova avenged its only loss of the season in spectacular fashion, routing New Hampshire 46-7.

Villanova dealt with snowy weather by taking to the ground -- and what a strategy it proved to be. Angelo Babbaro went off for 148 yards and three touchdowns to pace the Wildcats' romp.

William & Mary went on the road to topple the coaches' poll No. 1 Southern Illions, 24-3. Defensive end Adrian Tracy tied the program record with his 12th sack in the win, and running back Jonathan Grimes exploded for three scores.

The Tribe and Wildcats met Oct. 3 in Philadelphia, a 28-17 Villanova win. The two are scheduled to meet Friday, back at Villanova, and for the second time will be broadcast on national television.

Their October encounter was aired nationally on Versus, and Friday's game is scheduled for ESPN2.

View the Interactive Bracket

There's a myriad ways to define the contrasting styles on display Saturday when Southern Illinois hosts William & Mary in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Playoffs.

But W & M cornerback David Caldwell's description might be most fitting.

"Something has to give."

On one side is the nation's fourth best rushing attack. SIU has won 11 straight thanks to it, boasting one of college football's premier running backs and a versatile quarterback in Deji Karim and Chris Dieker, respectively.

Add in Lucien Walker and Paul McIntosh to the backfield, and the result is a Saluki offense registering nearly 37 points and 231 rushing yards per game.

W & M conversely has made its bones with the top rushing defense. A linebacker corps of Jake Trantin (79 tackles, 7.5 for loss, 2.5 sacks), Evan Francks (79 tackles, and the Adrian Tracy (68 tackles, 20 for loss, 11 sacks) anchored line have yielded only 50.3 rushing yards a game and less than two yards an attempt.

Players from each quarterfinalist team were complimentary of one another.

"William & Mary is really athletic. That's a great defensive line," Karim said.

Likewise, Tribe tackle Sean Lissemore acknowledged Walter Payton Award finalist Karim's abilities.

"We're going to have to play at the absolute top of our game," Lissemore said. "We welcome the challenge."

"It's going to be a big challenge for the secondary," added Caldwell. "There will probably be a lot of open field tackles."

Caldwell had an additional thought on Karim, too.

"Honestly, I'd say Jonathan Grimes," he cited as a comparison for Karim. "They're both athletic, both around the same size."

Tribe running back Grimes has led a multifaceted ground attack with over 1100 yards on the season and six touchdowns.

Another contrast between these two opponents is their postseason history. This is SIU's seventh consecutive playoff appearance. For members of W & M's roster, this is their first experience.

"It's an adjustment. Usually I'd be planning my itinerary to go home for the holidays," Caldwell said. The Tribe's last venture to the playoffs came in 2004.

In addition to the approaching holiday vacation, the playoffs come with the end of the semester and thus final exams.

While according to Lissemore, coaches and professors have the athletes prepared for their classroom duties, Saturday is all about those 60 minutes in SIU's McAndrew Stadium.

"Everyone's on a mission," Karim said. "We have chemistry...it's big. No one is bigger than the team."

Follow the Tribe and Salukis on Gametracker or via ESPN360.

Richmond vs. Appalachian State
Gametracker | Audio | ESPN360.com

It's an encounter being dubbed on RichmondSpiders.com "Clash of the Titans."

There's no Zeus or Poseidon at UR Stadium, but there are two of the nation's quarterbacks and the programs accounting for the last four NCAA Championships.

UR's Eric Ward and 2008 Walter Payton Award winner Armanti Edwards of ASU lead their respective teams in a rematch of a 2008 quarterfinal. In that match-up, the Spiders capitalized on seven Mountaineer turnovers to come out 33-13 victors.

The 2008 encounter evened the score between the programs. ASU won a 2007 semifinal showdown 55-35 en route to the program's third straight title.

A second straight playoff defeat of the most dominant Championship Subdivision program this decade could solidify Richmond as one of the nation's premier programs, something UR head coach Mike London alluded to in a press conference Wednesday.

"What we're trying to build is when you talk about FCS powers, hopefully you talk about Richmond in that mix," he said.

In the interim, the 2005, 2006, and 2007 champions ASU remain the FCS forerunner.

"Appalachian State is one of the best, most historic programs in college football," London said. "It's an honor to play the best."

The sentiment was one that seemed to be shared based on ASU head coach Jerry Moore's comments during his press conference Tuesday.

"That is a tough, veteran football team," he said.

Montana vs. Stephen F. Austin
ESPN360.com

Stephen F. Austin led the nation in points per game and passing offense, so there's no question the Lumberjacks can score. The same can be said for a Montana team that last week posted 40 points in a quarter-and-a-half against one of nation's top defenses.

Montana defensive end Severin Campbell said the Grizzlies' second half success against South Dakota State was the result of "turning them into a passing team."

The opposite is going to have be true Saturday against an SFA offense that relies most heavily on that aspect of its game.

"We're going to have to pressure the quarterback," Campbell said, who referenced Big Sky opponents citing Montana's success against the pass this campaign.

Villanova vs. New Hampshire
Gametracker | ESPN360.com

CAA rivals meet in Philadelphia, almost two months after their back-and-forth conference tussle. The New Hamsphire Wildcats bested their Villanova counterparts 28-24 that day. Read more about the encounter.

HIGHLIGHTS 

William & Mary vs. Weber State | Southern Illinois vs. Eastern Illinois |

The overall No. 1 seed and the most well represented conference in the NCAA Div. I Football Playoffs certainly proved their respective standings in opening round play.

Montana battled from a four-touchdowns-and-three-extra-points deficit to top South Dakota State, and all four Colonial Athletic Association playoff participants advanced.

Montana's win was the result of a whirlwind 20 minutes and change. Trailing by 27 with a little under six minutes to go in the third quarter, the top seeded Grizzlies' championship fate was in good hands.

Marc Mariani's hands, that is.

He scored the first of his three touchdowns at that juncture, a 98-yard kick return, and sparked Montana's 40-0 explosion against the nation's top scoring defense.

A very game South Dakota State came into Missoula, Mont. yielding just over 13 points per game, tied for Elon as the nation's stingiest defense.

The Jackrabbit triad of quarterback Thomas O'Brien, wideout Colin Cochart and running back Kyle Minnet set the pace with five combined touchdowns through the early third quarter.

The cushion wasn't enough to hold off the Championship Subdivision's only unbeaten. Montana's head-spinning rally puts it at 12-0 and into the second round, when it will host Stephen F. Austin.

The CAA's own brand of "unbeaten" came in the form of 4-0 -- as in the conference's record through first round play. Exactly half of the quarterfinal field is made up of CAA representatives with Richmond, Villanova, William & Mary and New Hampshire all advancing.

The defending national champion UR Spiders needed every point it could muster against the powerful Elon defense. Senior quarterback Eric Ward eclipsed 10,000 yards of total offense on his career with a game that included over 100 yards rushing and passing.

The Phoenix attempted a long field goal in the game's waning seconds, trying to force overtime, but the try was unsuccessful. That sets up a showdown of the last four combined national champions, with Richmond and Appalachian State squaring off in the next round.

The Mountaineers, champions from 2005 to 2007, got a late touchdown to pull ahead of South Carolina State in a 20-13 victory.

Villanova doubled up Holy Cross in the first half, and that proved enough for the Wildcats to ride to victory 38-28. The Villanova offense used a balanced attack with five different players accounting for touchdowns.

Villanova now has the rare opportunity to avenge its lone regular defeat. CAA mate and the only team to knock off Villanova, New Hampshire, cruised past McNeese State with five unanswered touchdowns.

William & Mary had a similarly pain-free win in its opening round game, blanking Weber State 38-0. Once the Tribe got its offensive motor humming after a scoreless first quarter, it never looked back.

Southern Illinois had to play catch-up against Eastern Illinois -- in the first quarter. After trailing 7-0 though, it was all Salukis. The Missouri Valley champions and annual Playoff entrant Southern Illinois scored the next 48 points to advance. William & Mary come to Carbondale, Ill. for the second round.

STARS OF SATURDAY

• Jeremy Moses, Stephen F. Austin

Moses was the nation's leading passer throughout the regular season, and the Playoffs proved no different. He completed a ridiculous 75 percent of his attempts en route to 432 yards and four scores -- more than enough to offset his three turnovers.
• Marc Mariani, Montana

His 98-yard score in the late third quarter was the first of three touchdowns during the Grizzlies' 40-0, gamebreaking run.
• RJ Toman, New Hampshire

One out of nearly every five Toman pass attempts was good for a touchdown in the Wildcats' road romp of McNeese State. He went 17-for-25 with three scores and 240 yards.

At least six of the 16 available Championship Subdivision Playoff berths were filled Saturday.

Appalachian State won its fifth consecutive Southern Conference title in a win over a game Elon team. The Mountaineers jumped ahead of the Phoenix early, scoring 21 of their 27 points in the first half. Elon failed to get on the board in that time.

Making a case for a second straight Walter Payton Award, ASU quarterback Armanti Edwards scored each of the Mountaineers' three touchdowns, all on rushes.

Postseason aspirations weren't snuffed out for Elon, however. A top 10 team with one of the best scoring defenses in college football, the Phoenix can finish 9-2 with a victory over Samford this week.

With its rout of Missouri State, Southern Illinois finished the Missouri Valley slate undefeated and as conference champions.

The Salukis navigated their schedule with just one loss, that coming at Marshall 31-28 in Week 1. Since, only one team has even been within single digits of SIU.

SIU tailback Deji Karim had what one could call an OK Saturday - three touchdowns, including a 73-yarder.

Holy Cross escaped a Lafayette rally to knock off the Leopards 28-26, and take the Patriot League crown. UL scored two touchdowns in the first quarter, but a pair of failed point-after attempts would come back to haunt the homestanding Leopards.

As he has all year, HC quarterback Dominic Randolph powered the Crusader offense. He was involved in all four HC touchdowns through the second and third quarters, one rushing and three passing.

Meanwhile, the Crusader defense overcame a scoreless final period, holding Lafayette to a single touchdown - enough to preserve the win and conference championship.

South Carolina State's 37-13 romp of Morgan State, combined with Florida A&M's 25-0 loss to Hampton sealed the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship for SCSU. Bulldog quarterback Malcolm Long threw for four touchdown passes in the SCSU win.

By virtue of its seven straight Big Sky win and a Northern Arizona loss at Weber State, Montana is again conference champions. For those keeping score, that's a share of 14 out of the last 16 and a 12th straight Big Sky title for the Grizzlies.

The Northeastern Conference became the (Blue) Devils' Workshop when leader Wagner suffered a 37-10 setback against Robert Morris. The two had been even at 10, but 27 unanswered Robert Morris points in the second half made the difference.

That loss allowed Central Connecticut State to jump back into first, and ultimately the championship, with its frantic comeback vs. Monmouth.

All 20 of the Blue Devils' points came in the second half, the final six on an Aubrey Lewis touchdown pass to Josue Paul.

While other league championships won't be doled out until this upcoming final week, the races certainly became interesting.

William & Mary put on a clinic against New Hampshire. It was UNH's second Colonial Athletic Association loss, putting them behind W & M, Richmond and Villanova, all of which have just one loss.

Two of those squads - Richmond and W & M - meet Saturday in the newly renamed Capital Cup. The winner will have a stake in the CAA crown, but only earn the conference's automatic playoff bid with a Villanova loss.

Villanova earned wins over both the Tribe and Spiders to control its own destiny.

Josh Lewis' 28-yard field goal gave McNeese State a road win over Texas State, and put the Cowboys in position to claim a share of the Southland Conference championship.

However, MSU might be scoreboard watching in its finale vs. Central Arkansas. The Cowboys' lone Southland defeat came to Stephen F. Austin, the team that shares the league lead.

Texas State defensive coordinator Fred Bleil said earlier this season he believed the Southland would be a one-bid conference. If those words prove prophetic, the Cowboys need to defeat the Bears and hope for a Lumberjack loss at Northwestern State.  

Appalachian State won the first of its unprecedented three consecutive national championships in 2005 -- which was the same season Elon finished 0-7, last place in the Southern Conference.

Four years later ASU is battling for another SoCon title. Some things don't change.

In the Mountaineers' way? The Elon Phoenix. Some things do change.

"We came from the bottom. [Head] coach [Pete] Lembo came and now we're near the top," said sophomore linebacker Joshua Jones. "Now we just need to get over the hump and win this game."

Jones is the leading tackler of a defense yielding a Championship Subdivision best 12 points per game.

Wide receiver Terrell Hudgins was a freshman the season after Elon's last placed finish, and in helping the Phoenix become a SoCon contender has shattered countless individual records.

According to him though, no accomplishment could stack up to a conference title.

"The records and those things are great, but it's more about winning. Getting the conference championship...that would be a great way to close the book," he said, adding: "It would be the biggest win in the history of Elon."

Given how these programs reached this point, Hudgins' assessment doesn't seem at all hyperbolic.

ASU has won at least a share of each of the last four SoCon titles, building a dynasty while Elon just built.

A catalyst for some of that recent Appalachian State will be on the field Saturday, and is someone Jones called "one of the best players in all of college football."

That player is do-everything quarterback Armanti Edwards, winner of the 2008 Walter Payton Award.

"It's always a challenge facing a dual threat quarterback, especially one as high caliber as he is," Jones said. "Sometimes you've just got to pick your poison."

Edwards' ability to effectively pass and rush the ball has helped ASU in scoring five-plus touchdowns in each of its last five games. Conversely, the Mountaineer defense has contained conference opponents, allowing more than 21 points just three times.

"They're one of the best teams we'll play all season, but we're not scared," Hudgins said. "We have guys in our locker room just as good as some of their guys.

"We're not going to back down," he said.

Another conference championship is on the line Saturday when Lafayette faces Holy Cross for the Patriot League crown. The two squads salvaged perfect marks last week to set up the showdown.

In its win, UL posted 56 points -- 42 of which quarterback Rob Curley accounted for with seven touchdown passes.

"Winning the conference championship is one of the goals, year in and year out," Curley said.

Curley and HC quarterback Dominic Randolph have been the Patriot League's most prolific passers. Curley acknowledged Randolph's standout play for the 8-1 Crusaders.

"You go into every game trying to outduel the other team, but especially against Randolph we know we're going to have to bring everything we've got," he said.

And according to Curley, UL is looking prepared to bring just that.

"This week's practice has been the most intense in the entire time I've been [at Lafayette]," Curley said.

The Leopards and Crusaders' championship showdown is broadcast live online via Lafayette All-Access.

Other big match-ups in the season's penultimate weekend include:

• McNeese State at Texas State

• Northern Arizona at Weber State

• Tennessee Tech at Jacksonville State

• New Hampshire at William & Mary

"The middle of the field was open. I saw that, so I had to get off the first defender who was covering me and get to the middle."

This is Villanova wide receiver Brandyn Harvey describing the game winning play for his Wildcats Saturday against top ranked Richmond.

"I had a post route. I had to make a move at the line because one of the [defensive backs] was pressing me," he said. "I went up to catch the ball, but there was another safety going for the interception.

"But he didn't - so everything worked out."

And how.

The Wildcats' 21-20 victory ended a 393-day, 17-game unbeaten streak for Richmond and forced a tie atop the Colonial Athletic Association South Division. Villanova, Richmond and William & Mary all have one loss with two weeks remaining in the regular season.

 The Spiders and Wildcats were locked in a back-and-forth struggle wherein host UR led 20-14. Richmond had failed to convert the point-after on its previous touchdown, and a kickoff gaffe gave visiting Villanova the ball at its own 41-yard line.

"We were confident we were going to score," Harvey said. "It was two minutes left, but we only had to go 60 yards."

That game-winning grab couldn't have come without proper delivery, which is what quarterback Chris Whitney provided.

"I saw that they were bringing everybody and basically playing Cover-0 behind [the line]. They were blitzing everybody like they had the past three downs, and they were having success with that."

The Wildcats moved into Spider territory, but Richmond's defense buckled down to force a must-convert fourth down.

With the Spiders bringing the house, Whitney saw a cutting Harvey in the end zone and struck.

"I knew if I put it up, [Harvey] would come down with it," Whitney said.

Harvey used his 6-foot-4 frame to come down with the ball, his sixth reception on the afternoon.

"In the second half...they were switching up what they were doing, blitzing a lot and playing some man [defense]," Whitney said. "[Harvey] was just beating the corner[back]."

Villanova now holds tiebreakers over both UR and William & Mary. The Wildcats defeated the Tribe Oct. 3, 28-17.

Appalachian State and Elon each handled their respective duties to set up a Southern Conference championship game Nov. 14.

Each extended its league mark to 6-0 this past weekend. Chattanooga has had its most successful season of recent years, but couldn't stop an ASU offense now clicking on all cylinders. The Mountaineers poured on 35 points, marking their fifth straight game with five or more touchdowns.

Meanwhile Elon's signature defense flexed its muscles against Western Carolina, and the offense added on with 42 points as the Phoenix remained perfect.

The Patriot League set the stage for a championship showdown when conference undefeateds Holy Cross and Lafayette won.

Lafayette quarterback Rob Curley had a video game sort of day: seven touchdowns off 373 yards passing.

That's no typo - the Leopard quarterback's half-dozen-plus-one scoring strikes smashed the program record.

HC marched 81 yards in the final stanza to top Lehigh in a 24-20 final. Quarterback Dominic Randolph completed the drive on a four-yard scoring strike to Freddie Santana with just over a minute remaining.

Butler kept Dayton at arm's distance in its Pioneer League win, which sets up a Bulldog showdown for the title. Butler jumped ahead 13-0 and never trailed despite a furious Flyer rally that included a Steve Valentino touchdown pass and two point conversion in the game's final minute-and-a-half.

If Drake and Butler win Saturday against Dayton and Jacksonville respectively, the two will be perfect in the Pioneer League come Nov. 21 when they square off.

Saturday's Stars

Shawn Leonard, Rhode Island
Though his Rhode Island Rams fell short against New Hampshire, Shawn Leonard had an amazing Saturday. He hauled in 275 yards' worth of receptions including four touchdowns in the 55-42 scoreboard-igniting contest.

Toddrick Pendland, McNeese State
 Cowboy tailback Toddrick Pendland made good use of his rushes in a 63-42 MSU romp of Sam Houston State - 20 percent of them were for scores.

Pendland finished with four touchdowns and 171 yards rushing on 20 carries as MSU kept pace with Texas State and Stephen F. Austin atop the Southland Conference.

Duane Brooks, Stephen F. Austin
 Duane Brooks snared the game-winning score to secure a Lumberjack come-from-behind victory over Nicholls State. The touchdown was quarterback Jeremy Moses' third of the day, and the connection with Brooks keeps SFA in contention for the Southland title.

Andrew Cialino, Holy Cross
 Linebacker Andrew Cialino had 15 tackles in the Crusaders' road defeat of Lehigh. His performance helped the Crusader defense as it held Lehigh to just a field goal in the final quarter, setting up the offense's game-winning drive.

Season	Passing Yards	Passing TDs	Completion Pct.	Rushing Yards	Rushing TDs
2006	2251	15	60.9	1153	15
2007	1948	17	66.7	1588	21
2008	2902	30	64.1	941	11
2009*	2083	10	72.1	450	12
*= Through eight games

It's been quite a career for Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Edwards: two national championships, a Walter Payton Award, at the center of one of college football's greatest ever upsets.

Last week, Edwards reached another milestone in his tenure when against Furman he surpassed 9,000 passing yards, making him the only player in Division I history with over 9,000 passing and 4,000 rushing yards.

"That I've accomplished so many things, I have to thank my coaches and teammates," Edwards said.

The bar is set high in Boone, N.C. Edwards' individual accomplishments are numerous and impressive.

There is the Walter Payton Award, given to the top Championship Subdivision offensive performer, which he garnered after a junior season of 2902 yards passing and 30 touchdowns. He also rushed for another 900-plus yards, breaking the Southern Conferece's career record for total yards en route to its Offensive Player of the Year honor.

Over the summer, he was the only FCS player selected to the 21-quarterback list of Johnny Unitas Award candidates.

"Everybody's done their part. Without those 10 other guys it's hard to get all those yards."

It should then come as no surprise Edwards said two very specific landmarks top his laundry list of college accomplishments.

"There are a lot of great memories, but the definitely championships are one and two," he said.

Edwards stepped in as starting quarterback his freshman season, on the heels of an ASU championship -- a high benchmark for any first-time starter.

His response was to lead the Mountaineers to two more in 2006 and 2007.

He gained national headlines Sept. 1, 2007 when his three touchdowns helped power the Mountaineers to a 34-32 defeat of fifth ranked Michigan, and ASU made history as the first FCS team to receive votes in the Associated Press Top 25.

ASU fell short of winning an unprecedented fourth consecutive national championship, losing to eventual champion Richmond. The Mountaineers returned though with 17 All-SoCon pre-season selections looking primed for another championship run.

But the team dropped its first two games to begin the campaign: the first, a 29-24 defeat against East Carolina and the second, a 40-35 home loss to McNeese State.

Since then, ASU has rattled off six straight including decisions of 25, 34 and 36 points.

"We're jumping on teams quick in the first half, that's given us some breathing room," Edwards said of recent Mountaineer routs.

In the process, ASU has compiled a perfect SoCon record and Edwards has amassed 10 passing and 12 rushing touchdowns, and just shy of 2600 total yards.

With the team rolling and ASU in the top 10, thoughts of a third national championship to cap off his career could be at the forefront of Edwards' mind, but he said first and foremost is securing the SoCon crown.

Currently, ASU is tied with Elon for the league lead. The two meet Nov. 14 in a likely SoCon title game.

Regardless of the final score that day, Edwards will leave Boone with an historic legacy. And beyond?

"I just hope I can continue to play football at the next level," he said.

A colorful Southern Conference match-up in Greenville, S.C. headlines Saturday's slate.

Furman is hosting a "White Out" in the pivotal meeting with Appalachian State. The visiting Mountaineers, meanwhile, will be sporting gold, altnerate jerseys.

The Paladins need a win to remain in the SoCon hunt after dropping a 38-28 decision last week to The Citadel. First order of business for Furman will be cooling an ASU offense that is averaging

"We're going to work on spreading their linebackers out of the slot," said ASU leading rusher and tailback Devon Moore. Moore is notching a hair below 100 yards, leading a Mountaineer offense averaging over 230 per game. A week ago, ASU piled up 345 yards on the ground against Georgia Southern.

"We passed the ball well last week, and [the running game] kept the linebackers in the tackle box," Moore said.

The 52-16 win was Appalachian State's fifth consecutive since starting the season 0-2, and third straight scoring 44 or more points.

Moore said the ground attack's role is vital, with ASU looking to open the field for quarterback Armanti Edwards. Furman has struggled against the pass with opponents averaging over 260 yards per game.

But on the opposite end of the ball, ASU faces an offense almost as balanced as its own in Furman. The Paladins are averaging 27.7 points and nearly 400 yards of total offense per game: 237 passing from quarterback Jordan Sorrells, and 147 rushing with three players averaging 32 or more.

ASU leading tackler DJ Smith said, "They have two really great rushers [Jerry Williams and Tersoo Uhaa] and they run a lot of different calls. We have to have a commitment to stopping big plays."

Two weeks ago, big plays tested the Mountaineer defense when Wofford averaged 7.5 yards per rush en route to 388 yards.

"The coaches really hammered [stopping the rush] home after the Wofford game," Smith said.

The team's response was limiting Georgia Southern to just 78 total rushing yards and a 0.6 yards per carry average.

The 2006 and 2007 FCS national championship Mountaineers have little margin for error. ASU remains tied with Elon atop the SoCon. The Phoenix are on the road against 2-5 Wofford.

Follow the Paladins and Mountaineers via Gametracker or Streaming Online courtesy of FurmanPaladins.com

Texas Tussle

Stephen F. Austin's nation leading scoring offense rolls into San Marcos against a Texas State Bobcat team one game behind the Lumberjacks in the Southland Conference standings. SFA is putting up over 44 points per game, more than a touchdown more than its closest competitor.

Texas State hasn't slouched in its own right, averaging just below 35 PPG. Quarterbacks Brad George of Texas State and SFA's Jeremy Moses should light up the scoreboard.

Follow these two explosive offenses via Gametracker, Streaming Online Video or Streaming Online Audio via TxStateBobcats.com.

Big Sky Battle

Perennial Championship Subdivision powerhouse Montana is unbeaten and once again leading the Big Sky Conference. With an overtime win over second place Northern Arizona already to the Grizzlies' credit, UM has taken major strides toward its 14th conference championship in the last 16 seasons. One program that might have something to say is Weber State, which a season ago split the crown with the Grizzlies.

Weber State senior running Trevyn Smith has been one of the nation's most effective rushers. He racked up 103 yards and scored in a touchdown in the teams' meeting last December. UM has held opponents to 10 yards fewer total than Smith is averaging individually.