Appalachian State University football looks to move to 3-0 on the season when it hosts in-state rival North Carolina Central on Saturday at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.

NOTING SATURDAY'S MATCHUP
• For the first time since the 2009 season opener, Appalachian comes into a contest as the nation's top-ranked NCAA Division I FCS team. ASU is ranked No. 1 in this week's American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) poll. The Mountaineers are No. 2 in The Sports Network media poll.

• Appalachian (2-0, 1-0 SoCon) is looking to move to 3-0 for only the second time in the past 12 seasons. ASU started 3-0 in 2007 with wins over Michigan, Lenoir-Rhyne and Northern Arizona.

• The Mountaineers rode an unprecedented fourth-quarter comeback to a 42-41 victory in the season opener at Chattanooga on Sept. 4 before opening their home slate with a 45-14 triumph over Jacksonville last Saturday at The Rock.

• ASU and NCCU are meeting for the second-straight year. In the first-ever gridiron meeting between the two schools that are separated by just 168 miles, the Mountaineers downed the Eagles, 55-21, in last year's homecoming game at Kidd Brewer Stadium (Oct. 10, 2009).

• For the second-straight year, Appalachian will don gold alternate jerseys against NCCU. In honor of Fan Appreciation Day at Kidd Brewer Stadium, ASU will wear its gold Nike Pro Combat jerseys, which it also wore for the season opener at Chattanooga. In October, the game-worn jerseys will be auctioned to fans at GoASU.com.

• Even without two-time Walter Payton Award winner and four-time all-American Armanti Edwards at the helm, Appalachian's offense is ranked among the nation's top 10 in  total offense (second — 553.0 ypg), passing efficiency (fourth — 193.44 rating), passing (fifth — 334.0 ypg) and scoring (sixth — 43.5 ppg). ASU also ranks 17th nationally in rushing (219.0 ypg).

• Leading the potent offense is Edwards' replacement as starting quarterback, junior DeAndre Presley. Presley leads the nation in three statistical categories — passing efficiency (190.50 rating), total offense (375.0 ypg) and touchdowns responsible for (nine).

• Appalachian has won 27-straight home games versus in-state opponents, a streak which stretches nearly 26 years. The Mountaineers' last home defeat at the hands of an in-state foe came on Oct. 6, 1984, when Western Carolina topped the Apps, 34-7, at then-Conrad Stadium.

• ASU quarterback DeAndre Presley is the first player in Appalachian history to compile 300 yards of total offense in three of his first four career starts. By comparison, it took two-time Walter Payton Award winner and four-time all-American Armanti Edwards (2006-09) 10 starts to reach the 300-yard plateau three times. All-American Richie Williams (2002-05) needed 18 starts to compile 300 yards of total offense three times. Steve Brown (1977-80), who held the vast majority of ASU's total offense records prior to the Williams and Edwards eras, needed 16 starts to achieve the feat.

• In addition to the Appalachian ISP Sports Network call of the game, which can be heard across the Carolinas, Saturday's game will also be broadcast nationally by the Heritage Sports Radio Network on Sirius Satellite Radio channel 153 and an XM station TBA.

For complete coverage of Saturday's matchup, including links to live video, audio and stats, both teams' stats, rosters, depth charts, game notes and much more, click HERE to visit GoASU.com's official Appalachian Gameday/TailgateAtTheRock.com page.