For three seasons, Appalachian State has controlled the FCS (formerly I-AA), winning three straight national titles and, of course, pulling off the spectacular upset of Michigan. But the Mountaineers reign as FCS kings ended on Saturday, as Richmond headed into Boone, N.C. and notched a stunning rout, 33-13, in the playoff quarterfinals.The biggest culprit in today's Mountaineers' loss was quarterback Armanti Edwards -- App. State's hero in that Big House win. The Spiders picked Edwards off five times in the game, using two of those picks to extend a 9-7 lead to an insurmountable 23-7 cushion.
Richmond also rolled up 238 rushing yards, with Josh Vaughan scoring three times and grabbing 132 on the ground.
The win was a nice revenge pickup for the Spiders, who dropped a 55-35 game to Appalachian State in last year's FCS semifinals.
But the Spiders will gladly take the 2008 victory, which sends Richmond to its second-consecutive final four, against either Northern Iowa or New Hampshire. Those two teams play later on Saturday night.
