BJ Coleman

BOONE, N.C. -- Although he hadn't played a down since Oct. 10, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga tailback Bryan Fitzgerald was the Mocs' leading rusher with 342 yards this season going into Saturday's game at eighth-ranked Appalachian State.

Chris Awuah, the starter since Fitzgerald was lost for the season with a foot injury, finally became the leading rusher Saturday in his best performance of the season. Awuah rushed for 97 yards on 28 carries in the Mocs' 35-20 loss, setting career highs in both yards and attempts.

Awuah had 341 yards coming into the game, and his strong performance against a solid defense gave the offense the ground attack it had been missing since Fitzgerald's injury. Awuah only averaged 3.5 yards per carry, but the Mocs' ability to run the ball opened the passing game a bit and allowed UTC to control the clock.

"We just did what we've been doing, really," Awuah said. "Our line blocked tremendously well and we were able to move the ball."

Awuah's previous career high was 69 yards against Wofford on Sept. 26.

Onside delivery

With the Mocs down 21-7 and kicking off to start the third quarter, coach Russ Huesman asked kicker Craig Camay if he could deliver an onside kick to start the period. "No question," was Camay's response, Huesman said.

Camay delivered a perfect strike that safety Joel Bradford recovered at the UTC 45-yard line. The Mocs got a field goal out of that drive and Camay executed another onside kick, which was recovered by wideout Jeff Veres.

"It's the same thing as any other kicker thing," Camay said. "If you get it, you're a hero. If not, then you're awful. I'm glad it worked twice. Joel did a great job and Veres did a great job.

Huesman said he was going to have Camay go for a third onside kick after UTC scored to cut the Mountaineers' lead to 21-20 with 3:34 left in the third quarter, but ASU adjusted its return formation and Camay did a pooch kick instead.

Edwards contained

ASU quarterback Armanti Edwards had a few good moments Saturday, but the Mocs' defense didn't let the 2008 Walter Payton Award winner take over the game. Edwards finished 13-of-22 passing for 140 yards and rushed for 52 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.

Edwards was picked off twice, by Bradford and Jordan Tippit, and was sacked for a 16-yard loss by Jaron Norfleet. Edwards had gone 141 attempts with an interception before Tippit's Southern Conference-leading fifth pickoff of the season.

In last week's 52-27 win at Furman, Edwards threw for 355 yards and two scores and rushed for 106 and four touchdowns.

Extra points

Chattanooga native and former Red Bank standout Dominique McDuffie, a redshirt freshman defensive back for the Mountaineers, did not play because of a finger injury. ASU was missing another starter in wideout CoCo Hillary, who was second on the team with 37 catches and suffered a season-ending knee injury Tuesday. ... The loss is UTC's fifth in a row to the Mountaineers. The Mocs' last win was a 59-56 shootout at Finley Stadium in 2004. The Mocs haven't won in Boone since 1983.