BOONE, N.C. — Top-ranked Appalachian State University jumped out to a 24-0 lead less than three minutes into the second quarter and cruised to a 44-16 win over visiting North Carolina Central on Saturday afternoon at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

With the victory, Appalachian (No. 1 AFCA, No. 2 The Sports Network) moved to 3-0 for only the second time in 12 seasons and claimed its 28th-straight triumph over an in-state opponent at home. ASU's last home loss to an in-state foe came on Oct. 6, 1984 when it dropped a 34-7 decision to Western Carolina at then-Conrad Stadium.

The Mountaineers, who struggled early in each of their first two games of the season, burst out of the gates on Saturday, scoring on each of their first four possessions to grab a commanding 24-0 lead. Travaris Cadet capped the early outburst with a career-long 52-yard touchdown run just 2:28 into the second period.

ASU dominated the action en route to the 24-point advantage, racking up 234 yards on its first four drives (10.6 yards per play), 197 of which came on 15 rushes (13.1 yards per carry).

The shutout bid came to an end when N.C. Central's Arthur Goforth returned the ensuing kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown but Jason Vitaris added his second field goal of the afternoon two series later to give ASU a 27-7 halftime lead.

Quarterback DeAndre Presley and many of the rest of Appalachian's offensive starters wrapped up their day by marching 66 yards in five plays on the first possession of the second half, culminating the drive with a two-yard touchdown run by Presley that stretched the advantage to 34-7.

Led by backup signal-caller Jamal Jackson, the Mountaineer reserves added two more scores — a 35-yard touchdown pass from Jackson to Tony Washington and Vitaris' third field goal of the day from 29 yards out — to cap the 44-point effort. For the first time in the school's 81-year football history, Appalachian has scored 40 or more points in each of the first three games of the season.

In all, the Apps totaled 524 yards of offense, including 328 on the ground. Cadet led the onslaught with a career-high 149 yards on just eight carries, good for an astounding 18.6-yard average. In just over one half of action, Presley completed 7-of-12 passes for 95 yards and ran six times for 57 yards (9.5 avg.) and a touchdown. Jackson was also impressive in the most extensive playing time of his career, completing 5-of-9 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown and running five times for 23 yards.

Wideout Matt Cline and tight end Ben Jorden led the Mountaineers receiving-wise with three catches apiece for 46 and 44 yards, respectively.

Defensively, ASU turned in another solid performance, limiting NCCU to 330 yards and just one offensive touchdown. Cornerback Troy Sanders and linebacker D.J. Smith paced the Apps with 10 tackles apiece and defensive end Jabari Fletcher added nine stops, including 1.5 for loss, a half-sack and his first career interception on a pass deflected by Sanders.

In all, the Mountaineers averaged nearly twice as many yards per play (8.5) as the Eagles (4.3).

A crowd of 29,218 — the fifth-largest in Kidd Brewer Stadium history — witnessed the rout and head coach Jerry Moore said that his team fed off of the energy.

“It was a special crowd,” Moore said. “Our administration has tried some different things over the past two weeks to add even more energy to what's always been a great atmosphere here and I think it's working, especially with our students, who have been in the game from the beginning and staying into it right up to the end. You can really tell the difference on the field.”

Appalachian (1-0 in Southern Conference play) resumes its conference slate next week when it travels to Samford (2-1, 0-0 SoCon). Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET at Seibert Stadium in Birmingham, Ala.

NOTES: Appalachian's only other 3-0 start since 1998 came in 2007 when it beat Michigan, Lenoir-Rhyne and Northern Arizona to open the season ... that year, the Mountaineers lost its fourth game of the year at Wofford, snapping the nation's longest Division I winning streak (FCS or FBS) at 17 games ... ASU won for the 50th time in its last 53 home games ... Appalachian enjoyed its 30th-consecutive over-capacity regular-season crowd at Kidd Brewer Stadium ... Presley hustled out of the backfield to provide a key downfield block on Cadet's 52-yard touchdown run ... senior running back Devon Moore scored on first-quarter runs of two and six yards, good for the eighth multi-touchdown game of his career ... senior defensive back Mark LeGree moved alone into fourth place all-time at ASU with the 19th interception of his career ... LeGree's second INT of the season gives him six more than the closest active FCS player (Southern Illinois' Korey Lindsey — 13) ... Appalachian wore its alternate gold Nike Pro Combat jerseys for the second time this season in recognition of Fan Appreciation Day at Kidd Brewer Stadium ... the game-worn jerseys will be auctioned to fans in October at GoASU.com.