CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. ?­- The Associated Press has honored three Appalachian State University football players as 2007 NCAA Division I FCS (Football Championship Subdivision - formerly Division I-AA) All-Americans on Wednesday. Offensive guard Kerry Brown and defensive back Corey Lynch both earned first-team AP honors, while defensive end Gary Tharrington claimed third-team recognition from the AP. A 6-6, 310-pound guard, Brown earned the Jacobs Blocking Trophy - awarded to the SoCon's top offensive lineman - for the second-straight year. He helped pave the way for an Appalachian offense that ranks among the nation's top 10 in total offense (483.5 ypg - second), rushing (282.4 ypg - third), scoring (42.3 ppg - third) and pass efficiency (157.66 - eighth). A finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the nation's top defensive player, Lynch leads the SoCon and ranks 20th nationally with six interceptions on the season. His 24 career interceptions are just one shy of tying ASU's 43-year-old school record. He also ranks among the conference's leaders in passes defended (13 - t-fifth) and tackles (103 - t-12th). Lynch is ASU's first three-time All-American since two-time Buchanan Award winner Dexter Coakley (1994-96) and the school's first four-time all-conference performer since Chip Hooks (1991-94).. The senior from Cape Coral, Fla. became a household name nationally when he blocked Michigan's game-winning field-goal attempt as time expired to seal Appalachian's 34-32 victory at FBS No. 5 U-M in the season opener. The veteran anchor on a young defensive front as a sophomore, Tharrington leads the Southern Conference with 17.5 tackles for loss and ranks second on the team with four-and-a-half sacks and fourth with 82 total tackles. GOV. EASLEY WAGERS ON THE MOUNTAINEERS: As has become tradition, North Carolina Governor Mike Easley has made a friendly wager with Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner on the outcome of Friday's national championship game between Appalachian and Delaware (8 p.m. - ESPN2). Should the Mountaineers win their third-straight national title, Easley would win his third-straight bet and receive a sampling of culinary favorites from the First State in Grotto's pizza, Nic-o-Boli's and Dogfish Head root beer. Easley has put a pound of eastern North Carolina barbecue from Wilbur's in Goldsboro and a pound of western barbecue from the Barbecue Center in Lexington, along with the fixings and a case of Cheerwine on the line in the wager. A confident Easley said: "I am looking forward to the pizza and other Delaware delights Gov. Minner will be sending, but not as much as I will savor watching Appalachian State's football team take their unprecedented third consecutive national title. The Mountaineers have thrilled fans with their exciting offense and solid defense this season, starting with the dramatic victory over the University of Michigan. They have worked hard and will be outstanding representatives of their school and North Carolina." ASU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION GATHERING AT BIG RIVER IN CHATTANOOGA: As Mountaineer fans converge on Chattanooga, they are invited to join the ASU Alumni Association for a Black and Gold gathering at the dowtown Big River Grille and Brewing Works. The event begins at 4 p.m. an features free appetizers for ASU faithful until 7 p.m. The season's final football edition of Mountaineer Talk airs live from Big River from 7-8 p.m. For more on ASU Alumni Association events in Chattanooga, click here.