Boone, NC -- (Sports Network) - Armanti Edwards accounted for all seven Appalachian State touchdowns as the two-time defending national champion Mountaineers earned a return trip to the title game with a 55-35 victory over Richmond in an FCS semifinal at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

Edwards broke his own school record and set a new FCS mark for a QB with 313 yards rushing and four touchdowns on 31 carries. The sophomore signal-caller also completed 14-of-16 passes for 182 yards and three scores in leading ASU, which opened the season with a stunning victory over perennial FBS power Michigan, back to the championship game in Chattanooga.

The Mountaineers (12-2) now await the winner of Saturday's other semifinal, between Delaware and Southern Illinois, as they become the first team since Georgia Southern (1998-2000) to appear in three straight championship games.

Hans Batichon caught seven passes for 60 yards and Nic Cardwell caught a pair of touchdowns as Appalachian State built a 35-14 lead, only to squander it, then score 20 unanswered points to finish off the Spiders.

Richmond quarterback Eric Ward did all he could to try and will his team to victory, rushing 11 times for 79 yards and two touchdowns while also completing 14 passes for 208 yards and three scores. He did throw one costly fourth-quarter interception, halting a drive on which the Spiders desperately needed a score.

Tim Hightower rushed for 95 yards on 22 carries and Kevin Grayson caught a pair of TD passes for Richmond (11-3), which was making its first national semifinal appearance.

Appalachian State reclaimed its lead with 4:41 to go in the third, as Kevin Richardson pounded his way in from three yards out, completing a 69-yard scoring drive highlighted by a 44-yard Edwards scramble on 3rd-and-9.

Richmond's defense then came up with a pair of key stops, but the offense couldn't capitalize. Edwards eventually took advantage, hitting Cardwell down the seam for a 29-yard score and a 49-35 lead with 10:11 to go.

The Spiders got the ball back needing two touchdowns, and with plenty of time to get them. Ward and the offense crossed midfield into Mountaineers territory, but on a 3rd-and-7 from the 48, Ward's pass over the middle was picked off by Corey Lynch, thwarting the Spiders' last real chance to spoil ASU's victory.

When Edwards hit Cardwell for a 13-yard TD with 5:27 to play, the Mountaineers led by 20, and it was all academic from there.

Lynch's interception marked the 24th of his career -- and sixth this season -- and Appalachian State improved to an incredible 21-0 in games in which he has at least one pick.

Each team was forced to punt on its opening possession, but ASU took control with the game's first score on its second offensive opportunity.

On a 1st-and-10 from the 48, Edwards threw to left sideline for Dexter Jackson, who broke one tackle, cut across the middle of the field and down the right sideline for a 52-yard score and a 7-0 lead just over five minutes in.

Following a Richmond three-and-out, Edwards drove the Mountaineers 67 yards in just seven plays, breaking off a 17-yard run to the Richmond 35 and eventually scampering in for an easy seven-yard score with 6:29 to go in the first.

The Spiders answered, thanks in part to a 41-yard kickoff return by Justin Rogers. Six plays later, Ward hit Grayson on an out route for a 29-yard touchdown with 3:35 to go in the first.

Edwards came right back, though, rushing five times on the ensuing drive for 39 yards and twisting his way into the end zone from nine yards out to make it 21-7.

The Appalachian State defense then came up with a big play of its own, forcing a fumble on its own side of the 50 just before the end of the quarter. Edwards made the giveaway hurt less than a minute into the second when he simply outran the Richmond defense en route to a 36-yard touchdown and a 28-7 Mountaineers advantage.

Richmond's offense responded by going 63 yards in just three plays capped by Ward's 26-yard hookup with Grayson, making it a two-touchdown game. But Edwards and the ASU offense again moved down the field with ease, and the quarterback made it 35-14 when he plunged in from three yards out with his fourth rushing touchdown of the first half.

The Spiders got a big score just before the half to head into the locker room down two touchdowns when Ward scrambled up the middle and went through the secondary untouched for a 37-yard touchdown.

On the opening possession of the second half, Ward engineered a seven-play, 78-yard touchdown march to bring Richmond within a seven, hitting Joe Stewart with a 17-yard touchdown pass just over three minutes into the third.

A fumble on the ensuing kickoff gave the Spiders the ball right back at the ASU 24, and four plays later Ward tied the game when he bounced it outside and dove for the pylon for a five-yard touchdown run.