Last Updated on June 25, 2025 2:40 pm
BOONE, N.C. — Twenty years removed from winning App State Football’s first national title, the Mountaineers’ 2005 championship team will be recognized and celebrated this fall during the Nov. 22 home game against Marshall.
App State’s streak of three consecutive FCS national championships from 2005-07 began with a breakthrough triumph from a 12-3 team that claimed an outright SoCon title before completing a 4-0 postseason run with a 21-16 victory against Northern Iowa on Dec. 16, 2005 in Chattanooga, Tenn. Head coach Jerry Moore, now a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, led the Mountaineers to their first title during his 17th season in Boone.
The on-field recognition during the Nov. 22 home game, which also will be Black Saturday and Heroes Day in Boone, will serve as an opportunity to welcome back many of the players responsible for one of the greatest seasons in App State Football history.
Single-game tickets for 2025 home games in Kidd Brewer Stadium go on sale to the public Tuesday and can be purchased at www.appstatesports.com/tickets.
Remembering the 2005 National Title Run:
The Mountaineers reached their first national title game thanks to a 29-23 home victory in a top-five semifinal showdown with Furman, which had handed App State its only regular season loss against FCS competition. In relief of injured All-America quarterback Richie Williams, Blake Elder threw a touchdown pass on his first play and scored a go-ahead touchdown on a QB keeper with 2:17 remaining. Furman then advanced to the App State 36-yard line in the final minute, but Jason Hunter forced a fumble on a sack and teammate Omarr Byrom ran all the way to the Furman 1 following his fumble recovery to set off a lively celebration inside Kidd Brewer Stadium.
Six days later, App State trailed 16-7 at halftime against North Iowa, after a hobbled Williams had returned to the field for the first time to throw an unsuccessful Hail Mary pass as the half ended. The Mountaineers pulled within 16-14 by scoring on their second drive of the third quarter, with running back Kevin Richardson powering in from the 1-yard line, and App State still trailed by two points early in the fourth quarter when Marques Murrell and Hunter combined for one of the biggest plays in program history.
With Northern Iowa facing a second down from its own 25, Murrell beat the right tackle and knocked the ball out of quarterback Eric Sanders’ right hand. Hunter scooped up the loose ball and raced 15 yards for a go-ahead touchdown with 9:14 remaining.
Murrell, Hunter and the rest of the defense continued their strong play to preserve the lead, as the two All-America ends combined for 8.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks that night. The Mountaineers managed only 46 rushing yards, but both quarterbacks threw for more than 120 yards, with Zach Johnson making six catches for 101 yards and Brandon Turner making four grabs for 78 yards.
Aside from a 34-31 loss at Furman during the regular season, the Mountaineers’ only other losses were at Kansas, which won a bowl game in 2005, and No. 6 LSU, which finished 11-2. Despite failing to capitalize on several scoring chances, App State trailed just 14-0 in the fourth quarter of that 24-0 loss in Death Valley.
Williams, Hunter, Murrell, Richardson, defensive back Corey Lynch, offensive lineman Matt Isenhour and defensive back Jeremy Wiggins all earned All-America recognition that season, which included a 7-0 home record with only four home appearances during the 11-game regular season.
Williams threw for 2,809 yards with 20 touchdowns in 2005, in addition to rushing for 936 yards and five touchdowns. Richardson rushed for 1,433 yards with 19 touchdowns and had 558 receiving yards with scores through the air.
Defensively, Hunter’s 101 tackles included 13 sacks and 24.5 tackles for loss, while Murrell had 13.0 sacks and 26.0 tackles for loss to go along with seven forced fumbles. Lynch intercepted six passes, and Wiggins had two interceptions while leading the team with 134 tackles.
