BOONE — It was 20 years ago this fall that Appalachian State’s football team opened a season that would culminate in its first national title, and that moment will be celebrated in November.
The school announced on Monday that the Mountaineers’ 2005 championship team will be recognized and celebrated during the Nov. 22 home game against Marshall.
App State’s streak of three consecutive FCS national championships from 2005-07 began with a 12-3 team that claimed an outright Southern Conference title before completing a postseason run with a 21-16 victory against Northern Iowa on Dec. 16, 2005 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Head coach Jerry Moore, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, led AppState to its first title in his 17th season in Boone.
The on-field recognition coincides with Black Saturday and Heroes Day at Kidd Brewer Stadium.
The Mountaineers reached their first national title game thanks to a 29-23 home victory in a top-five semifinal showdown with Furman, which had handed App State its only regular season loss against FCS competition. Six days later, App State trailed 16-7 at halftime against Northern Iowa, after an injured Richie Williams returned to the field for the first time to throw an unsuccessful Hail Mary pass as the half ended. The Mountaineers closed the gap to 16-14 on running back Kevin Richardson’s 1-yard run.
Trailing by two points in the fourth quarter, Marques Murrell beat the right tackle and knocked the ball out of quarterback Eric Sanders’ right hand. Jason Hunter scooped up the loose ball and raced 15 yards for a go-ahead touchdown with 9:14 left to play.
Williams threw for 2,809 yards with 20 touchdowns in 2005, in addition to rushing for 936 yards and five touchdowns. Richardson rushed for 1,433 yards with 19 touchdowns and had 558 receiving yards.
