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AP
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Appalachian State came up with the perfect bookend to the crazy football season the Mountaineers kicked off with that stunning upset of Michigan.
History as Division I-AA’s first three-peat national champions.
“I can’t tell you how much relief there is in being a three-peat,” Appalachian State coach Jerry Moore said. “It is over.”
Armanti Edwards threw for three touchdowns, and Appalachian State jumped out to a 21-0 lead and never trailed in beating Delaware 49-21 on Friday night for a third consecutive title in the Football Championship Subdivision.
“Historic?” left guard Kerry Brown said when asked about the three-peat. “I ain’t got to that point yet. ... I’m just thrilled. ... I don’t want to sound like a sissy. I hadn’t cried in years, but I cried today. It’s a great way to go out.”
And don’t think that Michigan win will stand out more in their memories than the third consecutive title.
“Michigan didn’t put a ring on our finger,” Edwards said.
They became only the third team to win consecutive titles last year, but the Mountaineers now have done something that neither Georgia Southern nor Youngstown State could. They returned to a third straight championship game — and won by their biggest margin yet.
No. 13 Delaware (11-4) came in looking for its second championship five years. The Fightin’ Blue Hens had rallied from 10-0 deficits in the quarterfinals and semifinals. Not this time.
“They were as good as advertised,” Delaware coach K.C. Keeler said.
The Mountaineers (13-2) won their record 12th straight playoff game and had the game so in hand that fans spilled onto the sidelines with 3:29 left with only the Delaware bench area kept clear. They rushed the field as the final seconds ticked off.
“Insane, that’s just the best way to put it,” Brown said.
This game was never as close as Appalachian State’s 34-32 victory over the then-No. 5 Wolverines on Sept. 1, and the Mountaineers didn’t need late-game heroics like Corey Lynch’s blocked field goal that clinched that shocking upset as they outgained the Blue Hens 556-432 in total yards.
Not when the Mountaineers scored more points by halftime than in either of their previous two championship victories, fed by their fans who helped turn Finley Stadium into a black-and-gold version of the Big House.
They set a neutral-site record with 23,010 in attendance and stood throughout. They couldn’t wait to celebrate and started chanting, “Three-peat, three-peat” midway through the fourth quarter. They were high-fiving players and getting autographs after they got onto the sidelines.
Mark Duncan answered with a 75-yard kickoff return for a TD and drew a flag for throwing the ball at an officer at the end line.
Keeler tried to lead his Blue Hens onto the field at the end to shake the Mountaineers’ hands and couldn’t with all the fans. He said he went to their locker room to congratulate Moore.
“They should be excited about their third national championship. It is what it is. You can’t blame the fans for getting excited about that,” Keeler said.
Delaware had All-America running back Omar Cuff and senior quarterback Joe Flacco, a likely NFL draft pick next April. But the Blue Hens lost an early touchdown to official review, which turned into a 14-point swing when Appalachian State drove 99 yards for a TD.
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Zambia has won the African Cup of Nations, beating pre-tournament favorite Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in a dramatic final at Stade de l'Amitie.
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