Published: 11:15 AM, 10/20/2009

Last updated: 12:52 PM, 11/17/2009

By: Steve Behr Sports Editor

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Wofford coach Mike Ayers said what I'm guessing all of the other Southern Conference coaches, expect for Appalachian State coach Jerry Moore, have been thinking the past four years.
"One thing I know for a fact, Armanti is done," Ayers said when it comes to Wofford playing against the Mountaineers' quarterback Armanti Edwards.
Ayers may attend Edwards' graduation ceremonies in December just to make sure. He may even send a limo to Edwards' apartment just to make sure it all happens, because for the last two years, Edwards has been a one-man wrecking crew to the Terriers.
Last year, Edwards connected on 17-of-19 passes for 367 yards and four touchdowns, while rushing for another in a 70-24 Wofford dismantling on ESPN2 no less.
As an encore, Edwards turned in an outstanding performance in ASU's 44-34 victory over Wofford Saturday at Gibbs Stadium, throwing for 415  yards and generating 611 total yards in  the process. It was as if Edwards was simply not going to let Appalachian State lose, even though the Mountaineers trailed 34-20 early in the third quarter.
"He made a lot of plays that a good player can't make, because he's a great player" Ayers said. "He's a great competitor and it's a situation where we played against a lot of great players and a really good coaching staff. I thought our kids answered the bell."
Ayers was right to a point. Wofford had the Mountaineers on the ropes, but Edwards punched themback in the game. Even after one possession when Edwards was sacked for a loss of 22 yards, which nearly took the Mountaineers out of field goal range. Jason Vitaris made sure that point was moot when he belted a career-long 49-yard field goal.
As for Edwards, the numbers keep growing faster than weeds on an abandoned baseball field. After passing for 415 yards and rushing for 18 more, Edwards has piled up 12,474 yards in career total offense.
He's known more for being a running quarterback, but his passing abilities make him the effective player Mountaineer Nation has watched for the past four years. On Saturday, Edwards became the all-time passing leader in the Southern Conference with 8,509 yards.
The only problem with that is he passed current Elon quarterback Scott Riddle, who has 8,487 yards. Edwards, a senior, graduates in December. Riddle, a junior, has one year of eligibility left with the Phoenix.
But Riddle can't remotely come close to matching Edwards' running ability. This isn't a knock on Edwards, since there have been very few quarterbacks who could. Former Georgia Southern quarterback Jayson Foster comes to mind, but Edwards is a better passer.
Former James Madison quarterback Rodney Landers comes the closest on the FCS level and actually should have finished closer to Edwards in the Walter Payton Award balloting last year. I saw Landers play twice and was impressed both times by him. The guy was for real and was a key reason why the Dukes had such a successful 2008 season, which included a win over ASU.
And then there's Edwards, who has rewritten the Appalachian State record book and is working on doing the same for the Southern Conference and the FCS. He has 3,965 rushing yards and is responsible for 122 touchdowns.
But his most impressive number could be three, that is if he can lead the Mountaineers to a third national championship.

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