Game Statistics
BOONE, N.C.-In his final regular-season game at Kidd Brewer Stadium, senior quarterback Joe Burchette completed 14-of-20 pass attempts for 224 yards and four touchdowns-all in the first half- in Appalachian State University's 54-13 victory over VMI. Burchette connected on scoring passes of three, 17, 10, and 35 yards to lead Appalachian to the win.
On Appalachian's (7-3, 5-2 SoCon) first possession, Burchette drove ASU 50 yards on five plays capped by a three-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Bettis. For Bettis, it marked his third touchdown catch of the season. Mark Wright's PAT kick was blocked, keeping the lead at 6-0.
After an interception by Buck Buchanan Award candidate Josh Jeffries gave Appalachian the ball at the VMI 19, ASU settled for a 24-yard field goal by Wright to make the score 9-0.
The Keydets (5-6, 2-5 SoCon) got on the board courtesy of an 11-play, 80-yard drive that was capped by Sean Mizzer's one-yard push across the goal line. Mizzer's score cut the lead to 9-6, but Derrick Black blocked the point after to keep the advantage at three.
The first of four straight Mountaineer touchdowns in the second quarter, Jerry Beard found the endzone from four yards out to make the score 16-6 with 10:40 remaining. On their next drive, Burchette found Andrew Layton with a 17-yard touchdown pass to make it 23-6 with 7:15 left in the frame. Burchette found Beard wide open for a 10-yard touchdown pass with 1:49 left.
Appalachian moved the ball 75 yards in five plays, using 39 seconds before Burchette found Layton with a 35-yard scoring pass with five seconds left in the half. Layton finished the game with five catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns. Burchette's four touchdown passes equaled his single-game high. The Clemmons, N.C. product surpassed Pat Murphy (1965-68) for Appalachian's all-time leader in career touchdown passes. He currently stands at 49.
The Mountaineers continued to move the football by scoring on a 30-yard Wright field goal to make it
40-6 after the opening drive of the second half.
VMI found its way back into the scoring column on a John Bell seven-yard run to make it 40-13 midway through the third quarter.
Richie Williams started the second half at quarterback and scored on touchdown scampers of 58 and 28 yards to highlight the second-half scoring. Williams totaled a team-high 145 yards on seven carries. It was the highest rushing total by an Appalachian quarterback since Gerard Hardy totaled 160 against Furman in a 41-28 ASU win on Oct. 7, 1995.
VMI quarterback Joey Gibson completed 10-of-26 passes for 69 yards. Gibson was intercepted three times. The No. 2-rated punter in the nation, Brent Barth averaged 48.8 yards per punt on nine efforts.
Appalachian amassed 592 yards of total offense. VMI was limited to 150 total yards.
Next week VMI takes on The Citadel in the Military Classic of the South at Charlotte, N.C.'s Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m. Appalachian travels to Western Carolina in its regular-season finale when it battles for the Old Mountain Jug. Kickoff on FOX Sports Net South is at 3:30 p.m.
