Appalachian State University took a 21-0 lead on the first play of the second quarter and cruised to a 27-10 win over No. 6 Elon on Saturday afternoon at Rhodes Stadium that clinch Appalachian's fifth-straight Southern Conference football championship.
In addition to becoming just the second program in SoCon history to win five conference titles in a row, No. 7/8 Appalachian (8-2, 7-0 SoCon) earned the league’s automatic berth in the 2009 NCAA Division I Football Championship. ASU will make its fifth-consecutive postseason appearance when the playoffs begin on Nov. 28.
ASU's 19th-consecutive SoCon win came in convincing fashion. Elon (8-2, 6-1 SoCon) came into the contest with the nation's No. 1-ranked defense and fifth-ranked offense, but the Mountaineers outplayed the Phoenix to the tune of a 486-270 advantage in total yardage. The yards were the most allowed and the second-fewest gained by Elon this season.
Appalachian all but put the game away in the first quarter, thanks in large part to intercepting Elon quarterback Scott Riddle three times in the game's first 14:50. ASU turned the three interceptions into touchdown drives of 50, 90 and 15 yards to take the commanding 21-0 lead on the opening play of the second period. Mark LeGree (Columbus, Ga./Pacelli Catholic) grabbed two of the three interceptions - giving him a SoCon-leading six on the season - and Armanti Edwards (Greenwood, S.C./Greenwood) capped the three scoring drives with touchdown runs of 15, six and three yards.
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