No. 2 Appalachian State University begins its drive for an unprecedented fourth-consecutive national title when it opens the 2008 NCAA Division I Football Championship versus No. 13 South Carolina State on Saturday at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon and the contest will be televised nationally on ESPNU.

NOTING THE OPENING-ROUND MATCHUP:
?    Appalachian (10-2, 8-0 SoCon) and SC State (10-2, 8-0 MEAC) each earned their respective conference's automatic postseason berths with perfect league records, making the ASU-SCSU matchup the only one in this year's first round that pits two teams that posted unblemished records in conference play.

?    The Mountaineers are making their 16th NCAA Division I FCS/I-AA postseason appearance and are 20-12 all-time in playoff games. The Bulldogs are making their third FCS/I-AA postseason appearance overall and first since 1982. They are 2-2 in their previous playoff contests.

?    ASU is looking to extend its FCS record for consecutive postseason wins in contiguous seasons to 13. The Apps have won 12-straight postseason games en route to its three national championships in a row.

?    The meeting is just the second ever between Appalachian and SC State, despite the schools being separated by only 228 miles. ASU blanked SCSU, 24-0, in their first matchup in 1984.

?    Appalachian is 5-2 in seven all-time meetings versus members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, but 0-1 in the postseason thanks to a 44-29 setback at the hands of Florida A&M in the opening round of the 1999 Division I-AA playoffs.

?    Appalachian is 13-0 all-time when playing on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU. Nine of the 13 wins have come during the past three postseasons.

?    Saturday's matchup pits Appalachian's offense, which ranks among the nation's top six in scoring (39.3 ppg), rushing (253.9 ypg) and total offense (464.3 ypg) versus SC State's defense, which ranks among the nation's top six in scoring (15.3), passing (143.5 ypg) and total defense (248.3 ypg).

?    On an individual level, Saturday's game features two of the 16 finalists for the 2008 Walter Payton Award (nation's top FCS offensive player) in ASU quarterback Armanti Edwards and SCSU running back William Ford. Edwards ranks second nationally in passing efficiency (178.47) and 11th in total offense (276.0 ypg), while Ford ranks 12th in rushing at 115.2 ypg.

IN OTHER NEWS:
? Following the selection of 14 Mountaineers to the Southern Conference coaches' all-conference teams, 12 Apps earned all-SoCon recognition from the league's media. As in the coaches' vote, Edwards was named the league's Offensive Player of the Year and head coach Jerry Moore was tabbed as the SoCon Coach of the Year. Edwards was joined on the media first team by offensive linemen Jonathan Bieschke and Mario Acitelli, tight end Ben Jorden, defensive end Jabari Fletcher, linebacker Jacque Roman, defensive backs Mark LeGree and Cortez Gilbert and punter Neil Young. Offensive lineman Brad Coley, defensive tackle Anthony Williams and linebacker D.J. Smith were second-team honorees.

To see the coaches' all-conference teams, click here.

? Ticket sales have been brisk for Saturday's postseason opener versus SC State, but seats still remain for the Thanksgiving weekend contest. To ensure availability, fans are urged to click here to purchase tickets online or call the ASU athletics ticket office between 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Friday. If tickets still remain, they will go on sale Saturday at 8 a.m. at the Kidd Brewer Stadium ticket plaza.

? A  moment of silence will be held prior to kickoff in memory of former Appalachian baseball standout Tom Prosser. Prosser, 24, died last Sunday in a house fire at his parents' home in Tennessee. He is believed to have died while ensuring that his parents and other relatives had escaped from the house safely. For more on the 2008 ASU graduate, click here.

? Fans are encouraged to remain on campus following the conclusion of Saturday's game and make the short journey to the Holmes Center, where Appalachian men's basketball tips off versus in-state rival Campbell at 5 p.m. Fans with a ticket stub from the football contest can purchase tickets for $5 at the Holmes Center ticket windows on Saturday.

For more on Saturday's postseason opener, including links to live audio and stats, stadium information, both teams' rosters, statistics and game notes and much more, visit GoASU.com's Gameday Central page.