Appalachian State, led by QB Armanti Edwards shocked the college football world by beating Michigan 34-32 in the Big House

Master Football Coaches Award MCS Nike Game Balls
Appalachian  State Quarterback Armanti Edwards named Offensive Player of the Week

By MCS Staff

ATLANTA (September 5, 2007) – The Master Coaches Survey cannot vote for Appalachian State in their Top 25 college poll since the school is not a member of the Football Bowl Subdivision, but they certainly can reward their stellar quarterback for his outstanding play in the Mountaineers’ monumental upset of highly rated Michigan.  Sophomore quarterback, Armanti Edwards threw for 227 yards, three scores, and kept Michigan guessing with his mobility, rushing for 62 yards and a touchdown.  All of his scores came in the first half, giving the Mountaineers a shocking 28-14 lead going into the locker room at Michigan’s Big House.  The Appalachian State special teams saved the game, blocking two field goals in the fourth quarter.  However, there would have been no game saving heroics if Edwards, a Greenwood, South Carolina native, had not shredded the Michigan defense on the Mountaineers’ final drive, leading to the go-ahead field goal.  For his outstanding play, Armanti Edwards is awarded the “MCS Nike Game Ball” (www.mcspoll.com) for the Offensive Player of the Week.

Each week during the 2007 college football season, the 17 Master Football Coaches will award an MCS Nike Game Ball to the respective schools of an Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Player of the Week. The Master Coaches will also present a game ball to the offensive and defensive coordinator whose game plans made the biggest impact in their respective teams' victory.

In addition to Edwards, the Master Football Coaches will also award MCS Nike Game Balls to Auburn defensive end Quentin Groves, California wide receiver/returner DeSean Jackson, Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson and Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta.

Defense
Quentin Groves, DE Auburn

Auburn's offense struggled all night against a tough Kansas State opponent. But Auburn finally wore down the Wildcats, as defensive end Quentin Groves had five tackles, three for losses, including two quarterback sacks and forced a fumble during Auburn's 23-13 season-opening victory over Kansas State. With Auburn clinging to a 16-13 lead with just over a minute remaining, Groves sacked Wildcat quarterback Josh Freeman, causing a fumble which was returned 34 yards for a touchdown by Antonio Coleman, sealing the Auburn victory.  Groves, from Greenville, Mississippi, now has 25 career sacks and is just one sack shy of the Auburn all-time record for career sacks held by Gerald Robinson (1982-85).

Special Teams
DeSean Jackson, California

California got its revenge against SEC power Tennessee after being embarrassed by the Vols in Knoxville in the 2006 opener for both schools.  Coach Jeff Tedford's club scored early and often against Tennessee. Cal returned a fumble 44 yards for a score just 1:51 into the game, while DeSean Jackson -- the junior receiver from Long Beach with almost unearthly returning skills -- broke free early in the second quarter with a dizzying series of moves on the way to the end zone.  Jackson scampered 77 yards for his sixth career punt return for a touchdown, and the 12th-ranked Golden Bears avenged last season's humiliating loss to the No. 15 Volunteers with a 45-31 victory Saturday night.

Offensive Coordinator
Kevin Wilson, Oklahoma

Facing North Texas, Oklahoma ended up with its most lopsided win in a season opener since it beat New Mexico State 73-3 to start the 1989 season. Kevin Wilson directed the OU offense as redshirt freshman Sam Bradford tied a record set by one Heisman Trophy winner and broke another set by a Heisman runner-up, throwing for 363 yards and three touchdowns as the Sooners demolished the Mean Green 79-10 on Saturday night.

Defensive Coordinator
Jon Tenuta, Georgia Tech