BOONE, NC - In a game that featured 10 turnovers, five by each team, Appalachian State's Dominique McDuffie returned a fumble 50 yards for a touchdown midway the final period following a wayward snap on a field goal attempt by SC State, breaking a 13-all deadlock and giving the host an eventual 20-13 victory over the Bulldogs in opening round action of the FCS playoffs Saturday at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

A few plays earlier, it appeared the Bulldogs would take their first lead of the game after Devonne Quattlebaum's second interception of the game gave Coach Buddy Pough's team a first-and 10 at the Mountaineer 24-yard line with 9:05 left.

SC State, however, was unable to make a first down and called on kicker Blake Erickson - who had been true on two earlier tries -- for a 31-yard field goal attempt. As the Bulldogs lined up for the kick, long snapper David Davis, perhaps bothered by crowd noise,  snapped the ball apparently too soon and it went pass holder Matt Washington and Erickson, who chased the errant snap but McDuffie got to it first, scooped it up and picked up several blockers on his way to the end zone. His score and the subsequent PAT gave Appalachian a 20-13 advantage with 7:42 left on the clock, plenty of time for the Bulldogs to mount a scoring drive to pull even, however, SC State was unable to score during its two possessions.

So, for the second straight year, SC State's season ended with a loss at Appalachian State, the FCS champion from 2005 through 2007. The Bulldogs, who were perfect in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference at 8-0 for a second consecutive year, finished 10-2 overall, while the Mountaineers improved to 10-2 and will meet Richmond next Saturday in quarterfinal action of the FCS playoffs.

The loss was a disheartening one for SC State, which had hoped to land a first-round home game after a stellar season and only one blemish on its regular-season record - a 38-14 setback to Palmetto State and Football Bowl Subdivision opponent South Carolina back on Oct. 3. Instead, the No. 7 Bulldogs were sent to Boone to face the No. 5 Mountaineers for a second straight year.

But, despite a superb effort by the SC State defense, which forced Mountaineer standout quarterback Armanti Edwards into three interceptions, one of which was returned 46 yards by Rafael Bush for a touchdown, the Bulldogs were unable to generate enough offense to pull out a victory. In fact, the contest marked the only game all season that Pough's team did not get an offensive touchdown.

"It was a tough way to lose a football game," Pough said during the post-game news conference. "We played good at times and had our moments on both sides of the ball, but didn't do enough on offense to win the ball game.

"We got a big break (Quattlebaum's interception) down the stretch," he continued, "but couldn't get a first down and tried the field goal and you all know what happened after then. We just needed to be more efficient on offense, where we struggled most of the afternoon."

The Bulldogs took the opening kickoff and drove 57 yards to the Appalachian State 14-yard line before settling for a 31-yard Erickson field goal and a 3-0 lead with 9:49 on the first-period clock.

Jason Vitaris 19-yard field goal with 12:03 left in the half pulled the host even at 3-3. The Mountaineers went ahead 10-3 when Edwards connected with Brian Quick from seven yards out with 4:35 left in the half.

Bush's 46-yard return of Edwards' second interception of the game for a Bulldog score and the PAT tied the game at 10-all with just 1:34 left in the half, But two 15-yard SC State penalties - one for excessive celebration on the touchdown and another for a personal foul on the extra point try, forced Pough's team to kick off from its own seven, giving Appalachian State great field position at the SC State 33 and led to a 24-yard Vitaris field goal and a 13-10 Mountaineer lead at the half.

SC State, on its first possession of the second half, drove to the host's four-yard line before running out of downs and calling on Erickson for a 19-yard field goal which was true, deadlocking the game once more at 13-13 with 9:06 left in the quarter. The score remained tied until the turn of events midway the final quarter that led to App's winning touchdown.

The Mountaineers bottled up the SC State running game, limiting the Bulldogs to just 33 net yards rushing and forcing Pough's team to the air. Junior QB Malcolm Long attempted 36 passes, completing 18 for 189 yards, however, he suffered a season-high three interceptions.

"They (the Mountaineers) gave a lot of different looks on defense," said the Gaffney junior in explaining things at the post-game interview. "You have to credit them with making plays. "But every player that plays this game tries to build on their mistakes. We will get better."

SC State was without star running back Will Ford after the third quarter when he left the game with an injury. His condition will be evaluated on Monday, according to the Bulldog sports medicine staff. The Travelers Rest senior, who became the MEAC's all-time rushing leader, picked up 22 yards in eight attempts before the injury.

Travil Jamison, another senior, led the Bulldog rushing attack with 29 yards. Oliver (Tre') Young, who established a third SC State receiving record - yards in a season - had seven catches for 92 yards. That total gave him 995 for the year, eclipsing the 933 yards of Monte Stokes in 2003. Young earlier set record for career receptions and career receiving yards.

Junior Julius Wilkerson led the Bulldog defensive effort with 15 tackles, seven unassisted.

SC State, despite losing 21 seniors, including nine starters from this year's team, will hopefully be back knocking at the door again next year, according to Pough.

"I'm proud of my team," the Bulldog mentor said. "We will return to the drawing board and come back determined."