2005 WCU vs ASU Disk 3

yeah it's getting a little steamy as the night has fallen on the mountains of Western North Carolina things have heated up in this fourth quarter Julian Roush will kick it off for the Mountaineers who just went 80 yards to retake the lead in what has been a terrific football game the battle for the old mountain jog 517 to go t Alford takes it at the goal line and he's going to return he's at the 20. and he's knocked out of Bounds at the 23-yard line and as they answered Rod you look at this drive some key plays to get him back in the end zone the 98-yard drive a western front faster starting out with the pass across the middle getting 17 wins again with another completion across the middle and finally with the sneaking in the end zone after taking a tremendous shot uh by O.J blasted him up State's not going to fold up and then give up on this football game they are accustomed to beating Western a team the last 19. Western's going to have to do something above and beyond ordinary to beat this app State team Ben swigert who's been in the shotgun most of the afternoon that's picked off and that's going to go for a touchdown and that could be icing for the Mountaineers and we're going to have an unsportsmanlike penalty spiking of the football in the end zone excessive celebration hard to blame them Nigel Rogers took the pass in the flat well you've got a quarterback under duress and Swagger with a guy right in his face he kind of locked in on the wide receiver and just wanted to get rid of the football before he took the sack obviously with disastrous results but here there's pressure right in this faces he turned the ball's tip dead ball unsportsman like conduct number 30 on the Appalachian State spiking the ball that foul will be carried over to the succeeding kickoff yeah [Music] Nigel Rogers the senior the leader of this team the captain big hitter makes a great play at a crucial point in the game to give his team and nearly unsurmountable lead now west was going to be in the Big Time hole with the offense that's not accustomed to throwing the football and you've got more flags on the field you mentioned you know Nigel Rogers with was an old Southern Conference player a couple of years ago and had just horrible knee injuries and if Corey Lynch doesn't get hurt you wonder how much Nigel Rogers plays this year he doesn't play and Jeremy Wiggins played one game at strong safety moved over to free safety and Nigel Rogers just made the biggest play of this game and just literally sucked the life out of this crowd Defense number 90. that penalty is declined a little frustration for Western Carolina the interior alignment a little anxious to get back there and try to get this thing blocked well you had just said it Appalachian State is accustomed to winning this game and they believe that they're going to win this game and they just made a game-changing and possibly game deciding play we'll go back and look at this play again Rod your swaggered Under Pressure laying it down great rush off the right side off the left side and then Rogers just jumps in front of it I mean the ball came out a little squirrely under threw it a little bit and it got picked off but the right tackle beating on the play Adam Donaldson giving up the quarterback pressure both tip to the last scrimmage Rogers with the pick for a touchdown well the one thing that that Bennett schweiger has not done on all afternoon is made the big mistake he's been efficient and they've gotten some big running plays but that one just an absolute back breaker and give credit to Appalachian they really struggled for the better part of almost three quarters to get the ball into the end zone as a team that's accustomed to scoring a lot of points and as you mentioned they believe in the first quarter in this series that they're going to make more plays than the catamounts and after answering a 98-yard drive by Kent Briggs his catamounts they come down go 80 yards Take the Lead and then get a defensive play the defensive play of the day to give themselves an 11 Point cushion with just over five minutes to go in this game and Kent Griggs Western Carolina's head coach you know a former All-Star quarterback at his alma mater I've been a head coach for a number of years former defensive coordinator in NC State you know been around Bob walks I mean the guy's a fantastic coach he likes Bennett Swaggart a ton as a person he's been born and bred to throw the football loves his technique loves his wand to his desire his preparation but I almost feel as though he gave him a little too much game to handle today with the way they were running the ball directly at AB State's defense on that first down situation when you've got five and a half minutes to go in the game and you're down by four why not go right back to your run game I mean there's no reason to throw it on first down go ahead and make App State defend your run game there's virtually no chance of a turnover can you give yourself a chance to move the ball Roush will kick it from the 20. let it go out and they will let it go out of bounds let's go down to Shannon's fake on the sideline Shannon all right guys at the cset exclusive here it is the old mountain jug my old buddy Joseph here the Appalachian State mascot brought it out showed it to the crowd and these guys went crazy they wanted 18 of the last 19 times these two teams have met and these guys want to take it home again today thank you Shannon you know 502 to go an old buddy of mine once said don't touch the money you better believe it and 502 to go don't touch the money we're bringing that jug out a little early number 25 on the kicking team five-yard penalty replay the free kick [Applause] we had a penalty on that we will uh we'll back up the Mountaineers another five boy the the life in this Stadium which was jumping no more than 15 minutes ago has really yeah it seems like they're not there isn't there isn't total concert here as Kent Briggs has come 15 yards out onto the field contesting this penalty or at least not agreeing exactly with what's going on I'm not sure if they want to take the penalty or take the ball [Applause] the college game especially if they can get a touchdown here I mean obviously game on the two-point deal but I just I just I you know I like Ken Briggs the football coach I just don't know why you put the ball in the true sophomore's hands and have him try to win the football game for you when you've got guys like fudge you know who is running up and down the football field he's been unstopped boys they have won 30 something on seven carries I mean his numbers are crazy so you know I just feed my running back until uh until they get you stopped well interesting enough Darius fence was not in on that first down play and that ball is going to be fielded at the 40 at the 45 and up to the 47-yard line and guess who scooter Dalton who was really demeaned by Rod Smith early in this game it has some pretty nice return yards he actually leads the catamounts I'm just taking a flyer on this and return yardage today what's the average but eight yards of return six yards of return I I would think it's at least a robust ten no offense give the ball to the guys with speed but at least they gained seven yards by taking the penalty and have the re-kick Swaggart's got to go they do have a compliment the full compliment of their timeout some swaggered under pressure and then swigert might be hurt he took a hit just when he released that football [Applause] and since the Jug's Inception the the two presidents of the booster clubs at the respective universities and their SIDS got together with this idea in 1978 and Appalachian State as we take a look at ben swigert who is he took a hit right as he released that football you can't tell whether it's his hand or his arm and it looked as though he kind of held on to that just a little too long he dropped back got himself set 1001 1002 1003 the ball has got to come out of there I mean your offensive lineman Can Only Hold those guys out for so long so he set it looks like he slipped a little bit before he got hit Justin Clark has come in the 6-2 sophomore who's played a decent amount this year he's thrown five touchdowns he's 67 of 114 on the season when he steps up in the pocket and he fires it and it's caught by Eddie Cohen who's at the 45 and he cuts it outside he's got some room to go and Eddie Cohen it down to the 30 25 20. 15 10. touchdown only in college football let the legend of Justin Clark be born and it wasn't even about him Eddie Cohen hey folks turn around all these kids who were leading leaving for the exits how about a re-entry Eddie Cohen breaking it outside and what did I say to you about touching the money touch the money that jug you see what I said about touching the money Western Carolina wow Johnny Unitas Brett Favre Steve Young Joe Montana Justin Clark well you know it was really all Eddie Cohen but you're right and and right now Kent Briggs is doing exactly what he should be doing this is a huge two-point conversion to get you you know an extra point there's still a touchdown down a two-point conversion puts in within a field goal so even though you have to burn a timeout you gotta after that excitement you've got to get yourself set and run the best play you can and what the ball do here with Justin Clark well with the ball on the near hash and a right-handed quarterback you'd have to anticipate that this play is going to end up moving to the right just by the nature of where the ball set try to give your quarterback a run pass option Justin Clark if they show if App State shows the same defense they showed last time they're going to run the same play the throwback for a touchdown if they line up in the same man-to-man information that's what you're going to see and now they'll run the play clock Justin Clark comes approaches the line and bark out the signals it's back in the shotgun Nicholas wishart the loan back different not the same coverage a ball was dropped a very catchable Ball but J.C Brown Lost His footing ball still hit him in the chest and in the hands rod and if you're Justin Clark he waited he was patient well he was well defended he just put this ball lowing away see look it's behind him that's an NFL throw right there your receivers covered put the ball on the defensive backs lower half to the outside and let your receiver make a play on gotta make that grab [Music] not an easy catch but with the game on the line in the Old Mountain jug up for grabs we got to make the catch we'll go back and take a look at this touchdown [Music] Justin Clark throwing a Teddy Cohen right over the middle yeah just hit somebody on a basic in route the man-to-man coverage once you get beat across your face and we'll see what starts going across the field there's nobody to help everybody else is a man-to-man carpet the only chance of me can help here is a free safety the free safety took a bad angle so we got a touchdown on our hands right across the middle just again Rock versus man-to-man cover real simple and there's nobody on the back to the defense to help you out there's your free safety getting blocked number 32 he's got a guy right in his chest around back there by uh by Michael reader number 15 and you gotta touch them you give the cat amount it's a great deal of credit because they are making the Mountaineers retain this thing with all the work that they could possibly muster up and after what appeared to be an absolutely back-breaking play and they try a little pooch kick and that ball is going to be fielded and they got it westerns got the football a phenomenal play picking it to the underbelly of the receiving team [Applause] Randy Thompson a redshirt senior playing in his final game along here at Western Carolina a five-year player just made the biggest play of his career Matt rule class of 79 from Penn State University special teams coach just comes up with the Call of his young coaching career why not take advantage of a stunned App State team and surprise them with the gadget when they expect you to kick the ball right down the field and give it right back to him he throws the bubble screen again and ginyard is down to the 32-yard line and they can be patient here absolutely they got two timeouts 420 to go they need a touchdown to regain the lead no hurry no hurry it wasn't Carolina you want to let this clock run take your time make sure everybody's coordinated everybody understands the call because App State can score in a hurry and Darius fudge is the low back in the backfield and Justin Clark is going to take off and run it tomorrow he had Darius fudge who was wide open in the flat but he had his eyes toward the middle of the field he wanted that post the post run right down the middle of the Michael reader but if it's not there you're brand new in the game you're building the sidelines it's getting cool out here it's about 45 degrees you know don't even try to be a hero and force the ball into coverage if it's not there your number one reason not there your number two need Reed's not there tuck it and run get some positive yardage third and four in the 33-yard line again curious fudge the loan back Clark is flush to the right he's gonna throw he's got a man wide open Eddie Cohen again he's at the five and he's down at the one-yard line [Applause] the last two weeks on cset we have seen some fantastic football I mean it has been down to the wire all the games it's fantastic television Cohen down the field man-to-man coverage that is what you call your classic buff somebody who is in man-to-man coverage saw the quarterback get on the perimeter and left their coverage up back court on the keeper no signal yet [Applause] and they're going to say that he is down inside the one so it'll be second down and Rod really if you're Western Carolina let the clock run they'll be quarterback sneak with two seconds on the clock put a receiver in the [Applause] game everybody in the stands can know exactly what I'm trying to do I'm in a goal line formation and I'm going to run the quarterback Snake with three seconds on the clock heck make it two let's go let's go fox running he just got it off at one no signal that ball might have come out Appalachian State is saying they've got the football no signal yet from the officials we're saying that he was down through the ball crosses the plane it's a touch but they have not signaled touchdown [Applause] that's a touch well he lost the ball late he was clearly on the ground clearly on the ground the question is had he crossed the plane look at the the officials are still conferring was ruled not down there was a fumble recovered by Appalachian State wow wow wow I thought he'd crossed the plane I thought it was a touchdown regarding that we're gonna have penalties all over the place he's down I mean he is he's Beyond down he's laying down no but you know what but he didn't get beyond the goal line he didn't make it to the goal line well he didn't make it to the goal line but if he's down he's down great play by Darrell Carter with senior 5-10 220 from upstate getting right over the top here number 55. look at him right over the top here bam it's the quarterback all right after the play a dead ball unsportable eye conduct an Appalachian number 44 offsetting fouls dead ball unsports from like on Western Carolina number 15. those fouls will offset the ball is spotted at the one yard line first half I my question to you Rod Smith how can you say that the ball was down if it was recovered In The End Zone it would go out to the 20 in a Touchback absolutely and looks from that angle like he scored if he didn't score and it is a fumble and the balls are covered in the end zone the ball's got to go out to the 20-yard gotta go out to the 20. you got it it's it's clearly in the end zone and there are a couple questions here you know not only whether he was down if he's not down and you're ruling in a fumble the ball was clearly fielded in the end zone why isn't AB State coach Jerry Moore Raising Kane right now with the officials if we recover the fumble in the end zone then why don't we have the ball in the 20. absolutely [Applause] the ball was fumbled from the field of play into the end zone recovered by the defense rolled a Touchback the ball will be spotted at the 20 first half well they corrected one mistake the question is the bigger mistake was he down there were so many bodies the Western Carolina coaches have to be sick to their stomach you don't let the clot go down to zero I wasn't even sure they got that play off in time absolutely right you've got to get set the line of scrimmage be disciplined and then watch the clock and let it wind down you're not still trying to get set as a fox that's approximately Williams is going to throw the football and he's going to throw it deep Devon Fox and that phenomenal play that ball was almost picked off almost caught I don't know really Rod Smith play action fake why not go up top it should be it should be caught he lets it bounce off his chest and then Bailey can't grab it and Owens almost had and Owens has a chance I'll tell you what I love the call by Jerry Moore do you realize he is going for the jugular well you can now it allows oh Western Carolina though with only two timeouts you can stop it twice and force them to punt I love I love the car I'll tell you what what what helps that a little bit he's feeling a little slighted because his special teams coach just got our coach he's going to throw the football again and he throws it up the middle down Atwater who's going to be short of the first down the clock will run will Western burn a time out here you assume that they would [Applause] David [Music] Hill you can save it they're going to choose to save it the play clock is at 20. they can run this thing down to just inside a minute and 10 seconds about a minute and 14 they'll have to get the clock to play off now that's sick now that second down play throwing the ball I'm not so sure about that I run it there Atwater is your back you assume will run but no he'll throw it again [Music] foreign [Applause] pass go for the jugular on first down the best wide receiver in one double a football drops them but why do you throw it on second down why do you just throw it on on third down Jerry Moore has no confidence at all in his defense and I'm not saying he should those guys are leading the league by giving up the most points you can just take a few knees and kick there's no reason to throw the ball there except for to say that Albert Reed on the recovery another bubble screen very little gain right there we've got a minute left clock is running and Justin Clark is going to go quickly I don't know if you call that Poetic Justice or not because it was hard to determine whether Clark's knee was down and Clark's going to take a timeout will leave him with one with 49.1 seconds left the second charge to the second half you know for Sports Illustrated who years ago Rod Smith said this is the best rivalry nobody has ever heard of boy is it living up to it today house I'm flabbergasted I don't know what to say why would you let 10 seconds run off the clock and then decide you want to call time out I mean because you have a bunch of young men who've never been in this position maybe at Sudden Change boss fumbled F6 phone was a football you get it back the first thing you do is grab your quarterback and say listen buddy if we want to play and it's tackled in bounds you're gonna use the first time out no if fans of us I don't want any confusion I don't want guys running all over the place it's your responsibility to call a timeout if anybody is tackled in bounds as a result of the first play that I'm about to give you don't let I mean you don't waste 10 seconds of time when you need a touch it's my Newt right now but those 10 seconds will cost you two plays Four wide for the catamounts Justin Clark with a lot of time to throw it he's going to throw it to the corner of the end zone he's got a man the reader touchdown Western Carolina and I'll tell you what you've got the Western has got to compose themselves and they've got to go for two to try to get themselves a field goal lead with 41 seconds left Justin Clark and Justin Clark is going to burn Western Carolina's final timeout to give them time Western Carolina third and final timeout of the second half [Applause] from the 507 mark after the Nigel Rogers interception touchdown I think we've seen things in this game that I don't think we've seen in college football in a long time what great games you see and you look at Justin Clark you're doing a bridge of a buying time knowing where he wanted to go with the football getting the defense he wanted and giving getting the ball to Michael reader their their best wide receiver and he just waited and waited and waited great presence in the pocket not to panic it'd been easy for him there Mr Clark to tucked that ball and turn it running feeling the pressure he stood in there and delivered the ball and has given his team the lead Jeremy Wiggins just Out Of Reach the hand of Jeremy Wiggins and I you talk about a roller coaster of emotions for the coaching staff for these players for these fans and the two-point conversion Clark in the shotgun again and he's going to roll the pocket right and he's going to look back toward the middle of the field he's got his man and it's Michael reader again and the catamounts have taken a three-point lead Michael reader the senior who will come back and play another year for Western Carolina next year hits the touchdown and Justin Clark two phenomenal throws in a row you know what reader's gonna come back for another year and thank goodness because when they get this quarterback situation squared away this guy's gonna put up gaudy numbers here you see him running the the back line in the end zone for the two-point conversion a very very Nifty job at getting away from on the touchdown he saw his cover three he didn't run around waving his hands yelling because it just brought attention to himself from the coins and safety can close on him instead he just kind of snuck down the sidelines nonchalant not running full speed not panicking and just hoping this quarterback would find him and Clark did now if you are Kent Briggs in the Special Teams unit Tim Macy is going to kick this ball off normally Sean Rouser is does the kicking off does Tim Macy kick this ball to Devon folks or do you kick a line drive that is taken by an up man I'd rather have him have I'd rather give him the ball First and Ten on the 35-yard line and kick it to the best one of the best returners in all college football I'm not kicking to him Macy does kick it deep and fox is going to field it at the five and Devon Fox is going to go wide side he's going to cut it back toward the middle he's got room to run without foxes at the 30. Devon Fox is at the 40 and he's at Midfield with 30.6 seconds left an Appalachian State we'll go all the way back Rod to the Richie Williams fumble I don't throw the ball in this situation first and foremost Williams has been carrying the ball like a loaf of bread all day long you don't want your quarterback especially if he's not an option guy with the ball in the perimeter then we see Justin Clark find a Michael Ritter in the corner of the end zone for the touchdown pass that touchdown pass that that Clark threw is awful slick because the wide receiver didn't give it away they marked him out at the 48-yard line so 30.6 two-timeouts that might be there's no flag thrown and that's a fumble and at Western Carolina saying they've got the football it's a ball game no signal yet right the rolling on the field the pass was never completed incomplete second down this is chaos this looked at the start of this play like there was going to be a procedure penalty the left side of the line looked like they jumped early [Music] if I'm Jerry Moore for App State I'm looking to end this game I'm looking to beat these guys from Western Carolina forget the top all the Western Carolina students participating a win there are 22.4 and the field goal in the this is the second best pass offense in the nation if you can get a shot of the end zone we can tell you why we've got a delay Western Carolina has outfitted Bob Waters field with foreign field goals it will basically uh the proper word is not deflate yeah they got the goal post off already in the far end zone the new apparatus and they're actually going to take it off the field that's going to be an issue in the event of overtime they haven't even won the game yet they've already got the goal post torn down a little anxious over here aren't we well there's that new style of goal posts that protects fans who literally rip them down they collapse and I think that that the maintenance crew was a little overzealous they anticipated that that was going to be a fumble you know what that's one of the most idiotic things and I'll never understand that as long as I live keep your butt off the field when someone runs on the field back in my old age I would knock them out you know that that is for warriors out there guys it's been 50 60 70 80 hours a week trying to get prepared for it you got these kids running around out here against Western Carolina five-yard penalty still second down if if you're a Western Carolina Rod you got to understand something emotionally you've just ripped off your helmets you have fans that have you know sprinkled out onto the field and emotionally you got to go you got to go play defense do you think Ed's date in the number one pass offense in the nation is worried do you think they they're concerned that they can't score don't get ahead of yourself these guys can still beat you with a touchdown Richie Anderson he rolls right he throws in that ball is deflecting it's up in the air realistically Julian Rausch in the first half made a career long 48-yard field goal I would imagine that the 30 has got to be their goal which would make it a 47-yard field goal attempt for Julian Rausch 16 to go 16.4 exactly I'm still looking to score with this next pass I'll move the chains on fourth down right here I'm looking to score you still have two timeouts a first down will stop the clock Richie Anderson and Anderson is Flushing he's going to run it and he's going to get a first down and more and he's out at the 37-yard line Richie Williams pardon me foreign Richie Williams who is rolled and ran repeatedly Rod all day you know his passing yardage not exactly where he's accustomed to being he's well over 300 yards a game before when he's had to tuck it and run and now with nine seconds again you still have two timeouts 9.1 exactly on the 30 just inside the 37-yard line 53-yard field goal right now that ball overshoots the receiver [Music] Rod if you're if you're Jerry Moore do you try a quick out and and with 4.6 you know even if you're down in bounding call a timeout or right out of bounds it's a 53-yard field goal right now I'm going to run two quick out Cuts number one guys at the scene if the guy if the guys if a guy can get to the corner I'm gonna deliver the ball if it's not there my quarterback's got to get rid of the ball right now Jerry Miller is going to talk about it Appalachian State second charge of the second half well that last play hurt him a little bit give away almost five seconds there just throw it out of bounds [Music] earlier in the game was the largest career right now we're looking at 53 yards [Music] I'm still going to try to get one more playoff here and get him just a little bit closer but the quarterback Richie Williams has got to be aware that if it's not there the ball's got to leave his hand right now this is a one two three step drop and the ball's gone whether the guys open or not Julian Roush The Freshman out of Gastonia North Carolina [Applause] we show four on our game clock on the on the scoreboard clock it's 4.6 [Applause] and what has been just truly a remarkable remarkable fourth quarter of football [Applause] Richie Williams on second and ten 4.6 to go and play clock is at 10. Richie Williams is going to take their final timeout so with that being said Rod you don't have the option of a Bowl final timeout of the second half a a reception that's made in bounds unless it's a first down you can't stop the clock yeah it's over now you know you've got to kick the thing or you got to go for it one of the two jeez if they don't fumble a ball Richie whims you know they win the football game or they have a chance to win a football game okay I mean look at the end of this this game the on-site kick a great call by Mike Ross the special teams coach the Western they get the thing back marched on the field get the touchdown then Justice are Foams the ball going into the end zone Richie Williams throws the ball right back and then Justin gets it together hits Michael reader in the corner In The End Zone he did a great job of getting over on this club we get the two-point conversion on top of that again the Michael reader so Julian Rouse to freshman from Ashbrook High School in Gastonia he transferred from East Carolina from 53 yards Eric elsner is your holder this is to tie the football game thank you [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] foreign [Applause] [Music] to 27 that is your final what is I'm sure felt like a lifetime for this West Carolina program the they come back from they score 14 Rod Smith in the last five minutes of the ball game after a back-breaking interception touchdown that appeared to have ice the game and for Kent Briggs and his staff and his players in this University the biggest win they've had since that November day in 1998. and we have some young people back in the continent had that broke off the piece of the goal pulse and they're trying to get out of the stadium with it but the uh they got turned away by security but they're trying to get this these field goal posts out of here the field goal from the 1998 win by the catamounts sits atop one of the Foothills that faces EJ Whitmire stadium and it's been sitting there since the 49 carry 195-yard day of Brad Hoover and I don't know if they'll get another one up there we'll go back and take a look at this 53-yard field goal attempt by Julian Rausch was online but it was short yeah just just not enough Greg to get this thing uh as high as he needed to to carry it all the way I mean in the cold air it's a little wide right yep uh you know we talked about it earlier in the broadcast that if you don't have penalties like you play well on special teams uh you run the football effectively you don't turn it over a lot of teams will beat themselves you know and it in in App State down the stretch here I understand Jerry Moore his lack of confidence in his defense I mean they haven't played well this year not because they're bad kids not because they're not well coached not because they're not well coordinated they're just very very young I mean lost eight starters to graduation from last year's team you'll place a freshman and sophomores you're gonna have that I mean that's natural they're going to be phenomenal on defense next year and even better the year after that I understand it's like a conference in his young players but three passes in a row on that very last drive and then the the last play the fumble by Williams you know it's just too much to overcome if they just get that ball kicked away I think they win foreign we're going to go down to Shannon's bake who's in the middle of this Mayhem and I believe she has the new Legend here for the catamounts Justin Clark take it away Shannon that's right here's a new Legend tell me what went through your mind coming into this game and knowing what was on your shoulders I know I knew that that's why it's going crazy I know they're coming into the game that had to be ready you know Bennett was one hit away I just didn't know when I mean this is mean so much to the fans the staff what we came through through the season is just no words can explain how how this feels right now what was going through your your mind when you threw that touchdown path uh nothing I I didn't know what to feel it was it was excitement it was I don't know you words can't explain this right now who's gonna be the first person you call when you get back to the the bus my dad my dad he's back at home playing Burns to the state championship y'all better win that game too all right thanks congratulations thank you thank you Shannon Justin Clark the sophomore from Gastonia from North Gaston High School and his his his feelings and the way he reacted right it reminded me of Aaron Boone in game seven of the alc he didn't know what to say he's just you're trying to process everything he did and how about what he went through in the final five minutes touchdown a fumble that you think might have lost the game for you you get the ball back and you throw the game-winning touchdown yeah and I think that's uh you know that's the measure of a man and something that Justin's father can be proud of that that Justin Clark came out here and immediately came in the game and made some plays but then once they got the ball down the one yard line fumbled it away uh which is his fault I mean that's between him and the him and the defender and he put the ball in the carpet and really put his team in a hole for him to come back and make the touchdown quest to win the football game is outstanding let's go back down to Shannon who's got the man who just got the biggest win of his young career here at Western Carolina take it away Shannon coach just one question what's going through your mind right now too I'm so happy for you know the Western Carolina family our football ball team guy that will say just never gave up I mean you got to give so much credit to our players our coaches and the fans they just never kept you know quit believing and it was hard you know when we you know fumbled down their fields I thought it was across the goal line but we didn't give up we kept on you know trying to make something happen and then what a big victory here and again it just shows you if you don't give up things good things are going to happen this team has been strong all year we didn't have great games but we've never give up we've played hard and gosh Gotta Give give our guys credit again it's so big for the Catamount family have you had a chance to touch the mountain jug yet yes just barely but I tell you I've got plenty of time yet we've got it for a whole year and we're going to try to keep it for the rest of time too so I just hope the players enjoy it right now and then just enjoy this moment right here because this is this is one of those things that I don't think it gets any better than this I don't think there's a a way it could be a better game a more exciting game that's what this this game's all about we play Appalachian and I tell you why it's just perfect the way it came down even though I thought the game was over there and I thought that game was over here but hey we'll take it that way because that made it more exciting as a coach you must have gone through every emotion possible during this game when they landed for the field goal right there at the end tell me what went through your mind I'll just pray and I just pray that you know God this is our turn and uh you know and I won't take anything away from the kicker because I know he's done a good job all year and done a good job but hey it was our game I think we fought too hard and uh the right team won today do you have a spot for the mountain jug already picked out well we'll take it we'll hang it and keep it you know for a while here probably tonight and we'll take it the chancellor because he deserves it because he's done a great job of pushing Us in the right direction doing a lot of great things at this University and for our football program and we'll put it in the spots in his office all right coach thank you very much go celebrate have a good night all right thank you Shannon and congratulations to Kent Briggs and his staff and his players and for the first time in six years that jug will reside in Cullowhee North Carolina and it will for virtually 365 days until these two get together and again Express Rod how much they hate each other for three plus hours it's respectful hate and these two teams gave us and gave each other everything that we could have ever have hoped for and you look at that jug and what it symbolizes between these two schools and when it was built and it's the 69th meeting and this The Jug was the Inception of The Jug 1978 and Boyd is that going to be very sweet for Western Carolina and you think about selling the performances that we saw today that were truly outstanding uh uh Justin Clark coming in the game uh taking over at the quarterback position and making plays in the face of adversity after he fumbled it what looked like fun with the game away but he also have a guy like like Michael reader who makes a game winning a touchdown also catches a two-point conversion that gives him a three-point lead a guy that's been unheralded this year through lack of a town and lack of coordination with the quarterback situation he's been in stays in the game keeps fighting the type of kid that the coaches say will do anything to win a football game regardless how many balls he catches a very unselfish attitude and he has a chance to shine I still like Richie Williams the way he played today he was awful in the first half uh it was it was inaccurate I held the ball too long took some sacks and then he came back late in the game in the second half to make some plays and get his team back in and it's unfortunate that he was in a situation we had a chance to Fumble away the game at the end but I thought he'd play he showed great Brave read in the second half well if you go through what we went through just sitting here trying to process what was happening for these coaching staffs and for these players you start with the Nigel Rogers interception which a lot of people thought effectively ended this game and over the next 507 which was about 45 minutes it was a roller coaster ride that I don't think I've ever seen in a college football game and questioning about maybe play calling and also Rod what happened down there at the goal line well you said it best as soon as uh the people from Ab State started holding up The Jug you don't touch the money beforehand and it came back to bite them you're absolutely right it's uh let's go back down I think Shannon spake has another guest Shannon take it away all right I'm here with fudge all right 134 yards how does it feel to be the Hoover of this game oh man I didn't expect to be no brand who I just want to come in and get a win so uh for you to say who that's a tremendous blessing um uh like I said I just want to get a win I had no idea that I get as many yards I just I just want to do whatever I can to get this win so I in a bit a big game like this so so that's the jug right there have you gotten a chance to touch it yet excuse me have you got a chance to hold again oh yeah yeah I turned it up one time one time baby it's gonna stay here baby it's gonna stay here all right thank you very much thank you Shannon you know Darius fudge he kind of gets lost in all this because his plays came before the 507 just roller coaster ride I I thought I thought you were the only one that caught Shannon baby who is that guy first I think we've got all the key plays and thank you I'm glad we can look at these plays and I can transition out of that you showed this phenomenal pooch kick Rod of a great call by fudge their special teams coordinator uh surprisingly at State and now we've got the former by Justin Clark going in to score which would have been the touchdown to take the lead there and then unfortunately for Richie Williams who played outstanding in the second half puts the ball in the carpet trying to make the play finally Justin Clark finds margarita in the corner In The End Zone very very quietly sneaking into the end zone and he gets also gets a two-point conversion and the last play of the game we have a Midfield goal from 54 yards just not enough leg to make that kick you know Richie Williams will have another shot at this game it'll be in Boone next year he had an up and down day like you said consistency throwing the football wasn't really there how about Devon Fox Devon Fox leaves this game his his collegiate career is over you believe he's got a shot to play in the NFL I really do I think he's going to have an opportunity to get into a training camp number one because he has outstanding speed and quickness a number two his preparation at app state has been legendary if a guy takes that much energy to get himself prepared and study film and get ready for opponents that's going to allow him to be successful in the NFL and then finally he's got great hands in her neck things you can't teach a guy that's able to find seams and zones knows how to beat double teams understands the leverage of Defenders he's going to be a pain in the neck for any cornerback to handle especially a man-to-man situations you know you played in a lot of rivalry games what can this mean for Kent Briggs they've actually got another game to play they've got to go to Charleston next week and play The Citadel what could this do can this really Propel a program absolutely I mean you have to understand Ken Briggs had a real tough time he's owing two against these guys from upstate it is a rivalry game it's a big deal to the administration to the athletic directors and those type of folks they haven't had a winning record so for him even without the winning record he's gonna have a chance that they hold it on to this job for another couple years based on this win yeah their record goes to four and six Appalachian States season is over at six and five and we mentioned for Kent Briggs his staff and his player the old mountain jog is going to stay in culloway North Carolina for one calendar year and then these two schools will get together for one of the great rivalries you will see in Southern Conference more importantly one double a football it's been a real pleasure for all of us here at Carolina sports and entertainment television to be a part of this and the proceeding has been a presentation of Carolina sports entertainment and television network good night from colorway [Music]