Dogs cut to the chase in opener

Today's playoff game at three-time defending FCS National Champion Appalachian State may not seem like much of a reward for winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship, but South Carolina State coach Buddy Pough isn't complaining.

"If you are going to travel around this country for the next month trying to win a national championship, if you really can imagine winning the dadgum thing, you may as well take on the very best from the beginning," Pough said. "Our guys are really excited about playing. We get a chance to cut to the chase. If for some reason we should actually be good enough to win a game of this sort, there would be no doubt in my mind that we could win the rest of them. So let's go ahead and do it now and get it over with. If we can do it, let's get it done. If we can't, let's go to the house now so we can get ready for next year."

The Bulldogs (10-2, 8-0 MEAC) face off against the Southern Conference Champion Mountaineers (10-2, 8-0 SoCon) at noon at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone, N.C. in a game that will be televised by ESPNU.

Pough knows the task ahead is formidable.

"Appalachian is the best football team we've seen in quite some time, especially at this level," Pough said. "Now, we played Central Florida and Clemson this year and both of those teams were as good or better than Appalachian, I guess. I don't know. App is so good they may be better than those teams too. They're national champions three times over. It's like trying to prepare to fight the biggest, baddest prize fighter you ever saw or thought of."

Of particular concern for Pough will be slowing ASU tailback Armanti Edwards, who has rushed 166 times for 1,079 yards and nine touchdowns.

But the Bulldogs don't come into the game unarmed. S.C. State will counter with tailback Will Ford, who led the MEAC in rushing with 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns on 223 carries.

"That would be huge to get (Ford) going early," Pough said. "He's sort of the straw who stirs our drink. When you give him the football and he creates, that gives you the opportunity to do things when he does not have the football because people still have to pay attention to him. We'd like to think that he's as good a player as there is in this division."

In addition, S.C. State appears to be playing its best football at the right time. The Bulldogs shut out their last three opponents by a combined score of 143-0.

But Pough knows it will take S.C. State's best effort to pull the upset.

"I think we will go up there and do our very best," Pough said. "Our very best may not be good enough under these circumstances, but it will be interesting to see exactly how our guys do react."