SN 140 Moments: No. 113 – Appalachian State clinches upset of Michigan with blocked field goal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
No. 5 Michigan opened the season against Appalachian State, the two-time defending FCS champions, on Sept. 1, 2007. The Wolverines were expected to win in a blowout in the first game on the new Big Ten Network. The Mountaineers had other ideas.
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Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Edwards led three TD drives between the second and third quarter for a 28-14 lead. Despite a furious Michigan comeback led by running back Mike Hart – the Mountaineers had a 34-32 lead with 26 seconds remaining.
Chad Henne hit Mario Manningham with a 46-yard pass, which set up a 37-yard field goal attempt on the final play by Jason Gingell. Appalachian State safety Corey Lynch blocked the kick, however, and that capped a day Michigan fans still refer to as “The Horror.”
Appalachian State coach Jerry Moore celebrated on the field afterward after an upset that set the tone for a wild 2007 college football season where two-loss LSU won the national championship.
It remains the only loss to an FCS team by college football’s winningest program and remains one of the sport’s greatest upsets of all time.
MORE: Back to The Sporting News’ 140 Greatest Sports Moments of All Time
