No. 9/10 Appalachian State University football steps out of Southern Conference play for the final time in the 2009 regular season when it hosts North Carolina Central on Saturday. ASU's annual homecoming contest kicks off at 3:30 p.m. at at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

NOTING SATURDAY'S MATCHUP
•    Appalachian (2-2, 2-0 SoCon) has won its last two games over SoCon foes Samford and The Citadel after opening the season with five-point losses to East Carolina and McNeese State.

•    In its third year of reclassification from NCAA Division II to Division I, North Carolina Central makes its first-ever appearance at Kidd Brewer Stadium with an 0-5 record in ‘09. However, NCCU’s five losses include defeats to ACC member Duke and No. 24-ranked Liberty and overtime setbacks to Morehead State and North Carolina A&T.

•    Despite its campuses being separated by just 168 miles, Appalachian and N.C. Central are squaring off for the first time on the gridiron.

•    It has been almost exactly 25 years to the day since the last time ASU lost to an in-state opponent at home — a 34-7 loss to Western Carolina on Oct. 6, 1984. Since that setback, Appalachian is 25-0 versus in-state foes at The Rock.

•    It’s homecoming weekend at ASU. The Mountaineers are 34-11-2 (.745) all-time on homecoming at Kidd Brewer Stadium and have won 11 of their last 12 homecoming games. The Apps are 17-3 on homecoming under head coach Jerry Moore.

•    In recognition of ASU’s 2009 homecoming theme “Solid Gold,” the Mountaineers will don special gold “alternate” uniforms today. The game-worn gold Nike jerseys will be auctioned following the game at GoASU.com.

•    Quarterback Armanti Edwards leads NCAA Division I FCS this season in completion percentage (73.2 percent) and ranks among the nation’s top 10 in three other statistical categories — sixth in total offense (308.3 yards per game), tied for seventh in scoring (10 points per game) and ninth in passing efficiency (158.7 passer rating).

•    Linebacker D.J. Smith leads the SoCon and ranks sixth nationally with 12.3 tackles per game.

•    With 327 passing yards last Saturday versus The Citadel, Edwards became Appalachian’s all-time leading passer with 7,857 career yards through the air. He passed his predecessor as ASU’s signal-caller, Richie Williams, who threw for 7,759 yards for the Black and Gold from 2002-05.

SPECIAL NOTE: WBTV (CBS - Ch. 3 - Charlotte) will air Friday's noon newscast, hosted by ASU alum John Carter, LIVE from the Kidd Brewer Stadium entrance plaza (located on the northeast side of the stadium where The Rock is located). Head coach Jerry Moore will join Carter for a segment during the broadcast and fans are invited to attend.