NO. 11/8 APPALACHIAN STATE 35, NO. 12/9 MONTANA 27

SEPTEMBER 8, 2012 • BOONE, N.C. (KIDD BREWER STADIUM)

APPALACHIAN STATE POSTGAME QUOTES

 

Appalachian

Running Back Steven Miller

On the running lanes created by the offensive line:

"Coach (Jerry) Moore had been preaching about how important this game was and it put a lot of pressure on our offensive linemen but those guys blocked well today.  Sometimes the holes weren't as good due to the blitzing by the defense but on the zone reads the holes were extremely large, allowing me to hit it hard and fast up the middle".

Cornerback Demetrius McCray

On the atmosphere at Kidd Brewer Stadium:

"This was the perfect atmosphere today. In 2009, when I was a freshman, we went up to them and we lost. So today was like revenge. We really wanted to beat these guys to avenge the (2000) and 2009 losses to them. I guess you could call it a revenge game."

Safety Patrick Blaylock

On the atmosphere:

"We felt every single fan that was in attendance on the field. We fed off their energy"

Linebacker Jeremy Kimbrough

On the significance of the victory:

"This was a very big game for us and we needed this victory. Especially to kick off our season going into conference play like this. (It's) a huge stepping stone for us as a team."

Head Coach Jerry Moore

On the significance of the victory:

"I think everybody realized this was a great win for our team, program and our school. We've had great games with Montana in the past but today we played extremely well and made a great stride from last week".

On Montana's fumble on a kickoff that set up Appalachian's third first-quarter touchdown:

"One of the big jump-starts in the course of the game was Henry Barnes' hit. It kind of solidified us. Especially since we took a lot of time during practice (this week) working on kickoff and it really showed through that hit".

On Appalachian's youth:

"One thing about us is that we're a young team with 15 of our players touching the field for the first time (in last Saturday's opener at East Carolina). But even as a young team, we definitely don't look it (tonight)."

Montana

Montana Head Coach - Mick Delaney

Opening Statement:
"We knew what was going to be here. There was no doubt in our minds what was going to happen. Appalachian State has a great football team and I think we have a great football team. We both made some mistakes that we got to clean up if we are going to have a shot at the playoffs, national championships and Big Sky championships."

On the team:
"I couldn't be prouder of our kids. They played their hearts out from the beginning to the end. We fight and I know they will do that and we'll continue to do that, I told them that 'nobody hangs their head and I'm very proud of them.' Or guys won't give up, they're just too good of characters kids, they won't throw the towel in."

On the trip:
"We didn't come down here to have people tell us we played a great game, we came down here to win. Now we got to regroup and get ready to play Liberty who also is also a fine football team."

 

Running Back Dan Moore

On the game as a whole:
"I feel like you can t give a team like that any breathing room. You spot them 14 points and it¹s hard to come back."

On the App State defense:
"Those guys came downhill and tried to shut our run down, and they're ballhawks. They've got a great defense and a great quarterback who can really move his feet."

On the 87-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown:
"I saw the D-end; he was waiting for it. It was designed to go inside but I ran outside to get away from him. Trent made a greatpass and my blockers were downfield. I had to make one safety miss and it was off to the races from there. I had a convoy in front of me. Anybody could've scored. It was fun."

On the play of UM freshman QB Trent McKinney:
Trent held his composure very well. He's a young guy. It's his second game ever and he's playing Appalachian State. He was very calm and he made the right reads. Once those guys started coming after me and Peter it was up to him to pull it and make plays with his feet. I thought he did that very well.

Closing thoughts:
"I thought we were going to come back and take this. It was a 0-0 ball game. I felt like we were going to come out ready to bang. They're persistent too. They came up with a few big plays there."

Courtesy - Fritz Neighbor (The Missoulian)