Miracle on the Mountain
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Conference game | |||||||||||||||||||
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Date | October 12, 2002 | ||||||||||||||||||
Season | 2002 | ||||||||||||||||||
Stadium | Kidd Brewer Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||
Location | Boone, North Carolina | ||||||||||||||||||
Attendance | 14,311 |
The Miracle on the Mountain is a college football game in 2002 that took place between the Furman Paladins and Appalachian State Mountaineers on October 12. The game, which took place in Kidd Brewer Stadium, resulted in a 16–15 Appalachian State victory.[1] The game is remembered for the botched two-point conversion attempt that cost Furman the game. It is considered one of the greatest games in Appalachian State History and the Appalachian State-Furman rivalry.[2]
Game recap[]
In the 4th quarter, Furman would kick a field goal to give them a 9–7 lead. Later, Appalachian State would respond with a 24-yard touchdown pass to give the Mountaineers a 14–9 lead with 5:39 left in the game. Then Furman quarterback Billy Napier would lead the Paladins with a 73-yard drive capped off with a go-ahead touchdown to go up 15–14 with 7 seconds left.
Two-point conversion[]
Up by one point, Furman elected to go for two-points. On the attempt, Appalachian State defensive end Josh Jefferies intercepted the ball where he proceeded to run the ball to the 16 yard line before lateraling the football to cornerback Derrick Black. Black would run the ball back to the other endzone resulting in 2 points for the Mountaineers and giving Appalachian State a 16–15 lead.[3][4] The ensuing Furman onside kick was recovered by Appalachian State and the Mountaineers won 16–15.
Scoring summary[]
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Aftermath[]
When the game ended, the Appalachian State fans stormed the field. Both teams finished the season with an 8–4 record.[5][6] The play was named the 6th best play of the week by SportsCenter Top 10. 247Sports named the game the 2nd best in series history.[7] ABC named the game as its best Sports Radio Call of the Year. In October 2018, Napier returned to Kidd Brewer Stadium as his Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns were taking on Appalachian State. The Ragin' Cajuns lost 17–27. In an interview about the Miracle on the Mountain, Napier quoted, “It was a great football game, and a heck of a play by the young man."[8]
Broadcaster call[]
"Napier throws quickly and it's intercepted, it's intercepted! Appalachian State can take it back for two and take the lead! They've got a chance to take the lead! And it is good! Oh My! That's a two-pointer! Its 16–15! It's 16–15 Appalachian! What a play! Unbelievable! Unbelievable."
References[]
- ^ "Botched PAT Attempt Dooms Paladins". eweb.furman.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-19.
- ^ Editor, Steve Behr Sports. "Miracle on the Mountain remembered". Watauga Democrat. Retrieved 2021-12-19.
{{cite web}}
:|last=
has generic name (help) - ^ admin (2012-11-10). "CSJ Classic: The Miracle On The Mountain". The College Sports Journal. Retrieved 2021-12-19.
- ^ Miracle on the Mountain, retrieved 2021-12-19
- ^ "2002 Football Schedule". App State Athletics. Retrieved 2021-12-19.
- ^ "2002 Furman Football Schedule". eweb.furman.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-19.
- ^ "Appalachian vs. Furman: Top Five". AppStateMania.com. Retrieved 2021-12-19.
- ^ Buckley, Tim. "App State Miracle on the Mountain was Napier nightmare". The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved 2021-12-19.
- American football incidents
- College football games
- Appalachian State Mountaineers football games
- Furman Paladins football games
- 2002 in sports in North Carolina
- October 2002 sports events in the United States
- 2002 Southern Conference football season