Two North Carolina colleges are among 45 schools nationwide to receive $15,000 grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to help design sustainable technologies.

Student teams from Appalachian State and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are recipients of the People, Prosperity and the Planet Phase I grants, which challenge students, working together on interdisciplinary teams, to design and build sustainable technologies that improve quality of life, promote economic development and protect the environment.

Virginia Tech's David Wilson (4) scores his third touchdown against Appalachian State during the first half at Lane Stadium, in Blacksburg. DON PETERSEN - AP

Updated 5:56 p.m.

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Appalachian State quarterback DeAndre Pressley said it was by far the worst game he had ever played, but a 66-13 thumping by 13th-ranked Virginia Tech on Saturday didn’t diminish his confidence.

Ranked No. 2 in the nation in the Football Championship Subdivision poll, Appalachian State entered Lane Stadium with hopes of duplicating the season-opening magic it delivered in a 34-32 win at Michigan in 2007.

Ten North Carolina schools have made The Princeton Review's Guide to 311 Green Colleges.

He excelled as a Catamount in high school, but in college Kameron Bryant will be a Catamount fan's most-hated rival.

Former UNC player Jason Capel’s distinction of being the nation's youngest head basketball coach lasted less than a month.

The 30-year-old Appalachian State coach was hired on April 19 to succeed another ex-Tar Heel, Buzz Peterson, who left for UNC-Wilmington.

East Carolina takes an early lead, then holds off a furious ASU rally to beat the Mountaineers 29-24 in Greenville on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009.

First Look: Staff photojournalist Shawn Rocco's raw edit from the game between Appalachian State and East Carolina in Greenville on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009.

GREENVILLE — East Carolina finally found a way to stop third-team Appalachian State quarterback Travaris Cadet and held on to win 29-24 on Saturday at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.

Defensive end Scotty Robinson sacked Cadet on second down, and Cadet threw too high for Coco Hillary at the East Carolina 40-yard line on fourth down with 16 seconds remaining.

GREENVILLE — Appalachian State starting quarterback Armanti Edwards apparently won't play in this afternoon's season opener at East Carolina.

Edwards is wearing his jersey but not a helmet, shoulder pads or turf shoes as Appalachian State warms up for the game, which kicks off at noon. He was listed as doubtful for the game after needing 35 stitches to close an injury suffered in a lawn mowing accident.

If you want to see Appalachian State against an in-state FBS opponent, Saturday's your day at East Carolina. The Apps play Florida (2010), Virginia Tech (2011) and Georgia (2013) but won't be making any appearances in the Triangle, or Winston-Salem, any time soon.

Of course, UNC, N.C. State and Duke do play two games each against FCS opponents this season, so that's not the problem.