These ASU Receivers Don’t Just Catch Passes

Story by Jason Gilmer

The wide receivers for the Mountaineers have posted big numbers this season. Brian Quick, CoCo Hillary and Matt Cline (above, 17) are among the top seven Southern Conference receivers for average receiving yards per game.

It isn’t unusual for ASU’s wide receivers to celebrate with each other after a big play—because the player with the ball has to thank the rest of his buddies.

The Mountaineer receiving corps understands the importance of blocking, and it’s shown this season.

When Matt Cline took a short swing pass into the end zone against Georgia Southern last week, he did so because Blake Elder sealed off the sideline for Cline to run free.

It doesn’t just help spring receivers for more yards, but it helps when quarterback Armanti Edwards or tailback Devon Moore is trying to gain extra yards.

“I think that’s one of the areas we’ve really improved in,” ASU coach Jerry Moore said. “They’ve made a difference in our option game.”

They will try to make a difference at noon this Saturday, October 31, when the No. 7 Mountaineers travel to Greenville, S.C., to play Furman.

The receivers keep track of their knockdown blocks, just like the offensive line. This is something they take great pride in.

“One thing Coach Moore has talked about all year is that he’s never had a group of receivers who’ve blocked as well or as hard as these guys have,” wide receiver coach Lance Taylor said. “It’s a compliment to the receivers.

“Blocking is an attitude. Receivers sometimes don’t want to do it and aren’t taught it, but it’s something we work on a lot every day and emphasis,” he added. “These guys have taken it upon their shoulders and are willing to do whatever it takes to win, and when you have a group like that it makes it fun.”

“We know that blocking is just as important as catching passes,” Elder said. “We know that a lot of those long runs Devon and Armanti have broken, we’ve had great blocks on them.”

The receivers are close friends and understand the importance of downfield blocking.

CoCo Hillary, who had his first 100-yard receiving game last week, said that the tightness of the group is why they block so hard for each other.

“Blocking comes from the man beside you being your brother. He’s more than a teammate. He’s part of you and part of your family,” Hillary said. “You’re together so much during the week that you can’t help but protect and care for one another and that’s blocking right there.”

While the offense, which leads the Southern Conference in points per game at 37.1, has a multitude of weapons, these receivers are coming into their own.
Two weeks ago Edwards threw for 415 yards against Wofford and he followed that with a 325-yard passing performance.

Three different receivers—Brian Quick, Cline and Hillary—have had 100-plus yard receiving performances. Quick and Cline have each had two.

“I think they’ve been playing exceptionally well,” Taylor said. “I’ve been very pleased with, first of all, their attitude and just their production. I wish I could take credit for it, but since day one they’ve had the right attitude.”

“We come out here and work hard, we’re accountable for each other and we play together,” Hillary said. “Nobody is better than the next. Nobody has more talent than the next. We just come out and compete each Saturday and it shows on the scoreboard.”

These receivers could put up more big numbers this week, as Furman is ranked last in passing defense. Offenses have averaged 261.7 passing yards against the Paladins and scored 16 passing touchdowns.

Still, Moore said the game would be tough.

“When we came into the league they were the team you measured everything by and that hasn’t changed that much. They’re still a good football team,” Moore said. “We’ve got to go play really, really well against Furman.”

The Paladins have played well offensively this season and are third in the conference in passing yards and fourth in rushing yards.

Quarterback Jordan Sorrells is third in the conference with 1,573 passing yards, with 12 touchdown passes.

“He reads coverages very well and gets the ball on time to the spots we need him to and has a great arm,” Furman coach Bobby Lamb said. “Everyone knows that Appalachian is a tremendous football team and offensively is one of the best teams in the country. It’s going to be a very difficult challenge.”

Edwards Hits Another Milestone

During Saturday’s 52-16 win over Georgia Southern, ASU quarterback Armanti Edwards became the second player in NCAA Division I history (FCS or FBS) with 8,000 passing yards and 4,000 rushing yards in a career.

He joins former Missouri quarterback Brad Smith, now with the New York Jets, in the exclusive club.

Edwards passed the mark on a 31-yard run that was the final play of the first quarter. Edwards now has 8,829 passing yards and 4,026 rushing yards.

He finished the Georgia Southern game with 381 yards of total offense to move into sixth place in NCAA Division I history with 12,855 career yards of offense.

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