HARRISONBURG, VA – In a stunning upset, Appalachian State secured a hard-fought 26-23 overtime victory against the previously unbeaten and 18th-ranked James Madison University. The sold-out crowd at Bridgeforth Stadium witnessed a nail-biting showdown that unfolded as a slugfest of a conference showdown.

The game’s defining moment came in overtime when App State’s quarterback, Joey Aguilar, connected with Kaedin Robinson for an 8-yard touchdown pass. Robinson’s remarkable effort, breaking tackles and reaching the end zone, secured the Mountaineers’ triumph. The celebration ensued, but a tense review confirmed Robinson’s touchdown, avoiding a potential touchback and sealing the victory for App State.

To stay in contention for a Sun Belt Championship Game berth, the Mountaineers (7-4, 5-2) must defeat Georgia Southern in their next game and rely on James Madison (10-1) to bounce back with a win against Coastal Carolina.

App State showcased resilience, withstanding a late rally from the Dukes, who erased a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter to tie the game. James Madison’s late-game heroics included a successful two-point pass to force overtime.

The Mountaineers’ defense played a crucial role, with Nate Johnson and Michael Fletcher each recording two sacks. Thomas Davis’ forced fumble and Ethan Johnson’s interception in the second quarter contributed to App State’s halftime lead of 10-5.

The second half featured defensive prowess from both teams, with red-zone field goals and strategic plays. App State’s Kevin Abrams-Verwayne added a key sack, and the Mountaineers’ defense forced turnovers to close out the first half.

App State’s offense, led by Aguilar, showcased its prowess with a 13-play, 80-yard touchdown drive, extending their lead to 17-5. James Madison responded with a 15-play, 76-yard touchdown drive, bringing the score to 17-12. App State’s subsequent 11-play, 70-yard march, highlighted by Aguilar’s crucial pass to Eli Wilson, ended with a field goal, securing an 8-point advantage.

This victory marked a significant turnaround for App State, breaking a streak of five straight overtime losses and nine out of their last ten.

The Mountaineers’ head coach, Shawn Clark, improved to 3-2 in his last five games against ranked opponents. As the Mountaineers look ahead to their next challenge, fans eagerly await the culmination of an unpredictable and thrilling football season.

In a highly anticipated college football matchup, the Appalachian State Mountaineers, riding a triumphant three-game winning streak, are set to face the undefeated James Madison Dukes. This clash is not just another game; it's a chance for App State to make a statement on the grand stage of ESPN's College GameDay, featuring the Mountaineers for the second consecutive season. After last year’s broadcast, Boone erupted as the Mountaineers defeated Troy on a last-minute Hail Mary, but the euphoria was short-lived as JMU handed App State a 32-28 defeat the following week. Memories of that loss linger as the Mountaineers aim to rewrite history on the turf of Bridgeforth Stadium. The Mountaineers have historically been a thorn in the side of AP Top 25 teams with seven of the Mountaineers’ last eight games against ranked teams ending in one-score games. App State is 2-2 in their last four games against the AP Top 25

Quarterback Joey Aguilar, thrust into the spotlight after replacing the injured Ryan Burger, has been a revelation. With 26 touchdown passes in 10 games, Aguilar ranks among the best in the Sun Belt and the Group of Five. His ability to lead the offense will be crucial against a formidable JMU defense. Running back Nate Noel, despite battling an injury, achieved a milestone by surpassing 3,000 career rushing yards. His explosive plays, exemplified by a 61-yard touchdown run against Georgia State, make him a key offensive weapon for the Mountaineers. Defensively, App State has shown resilience, limiting opponents in recent victories over Marshall and Georgia State. The Mountaineers aim to build on this momentum, ensuring that their 2023 losses, all decided in the closing seconds, become a thing of the past.

Campbell vs. North Carolina A&T: As the 2023 college football season reaches its conclusion, the Campbell Fighting Camels (4-6, 3-4 CAA) gear up for their final showdown against North Carolina A&T (1-9, 0-7 CAA) at Truist Stadium in Greensboro, N.C., with kickoff slated for 1:00 p.m. As Campbell concludes its inaugural CAA season, the team finds itself on the brink of making history. With a chance to secure a fourth victory in conference play, the Fighting Camels aim to join the ranks of Old Dominion, the only other program to achieve this feat in their first CAA season back in 2011. The team's current 3-4 record in the conference is a testament to their competitive spirit. Quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams, a standout performer, enters the final game of his Fighting Camel career as the program's all-time leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and completions. Williams, completing 71% of his passes, has orchestrated the offense with 243.4 passing yards per game and 17 touchdowns. His connection with a diverse group of 17 receivers has been a key feature of the Campbell offensive arsenal. North Carolina A&T, also in its inaugural CAA season, enters the finale on a six-game losing streak. Despite a challenging season, the Aggies showcase talent in running back Kenji Christian, who leads the team with 709 rushing yards and six touchdowns, and linebacker BJ Turner, who boasts 85 tackles, including 12 for loss.

NC State vs Virginia Tech: The upcoming clash between the NC State Wolfpack and the Virginia Tech Hokies, marking the 52nd meeting in a historic rivalry dating back 123 years, is steeped in tradition and significance. With only seven matchups since Virginia Tech joined the ACC in 2004, the Wolfpack aims to build on their recent victory. Notable connections, including current Wolfpack assistant coaches Brian Mitchell and Charley Wiles with extensive tenures at Virginia Tech, add intrigue. Quarterback Brennan Armstrong, familiar with the Hokies from his time at Virginia, brings a dynamic element to the contest. Defensive strength, highlighted by Virginia Tech's Sacksburg reputation and NC State's resilience, sets the stage for an intense battle. As both teams vie for supremacy in the ACC, this matchup promises gridiron excitement and the continuation of a college football saga.

ATLANTA, GA – In a commanding performance, the App State Mountaineers secured bowl eligibility with a resounding victory over the Georgia State Panthers with a final score of 42-14. The Mountaineers' offensive prowess was on full display, highlighted by a series of well-executed scoring plays.

The first quarter set the tone as running back Nate Noel exploded for a 61-yard rushing touchdown, propelling the Mountaineers to an early 7-0 lead. Quarterback Joey Aguilar continued the onslaught in the second quarter, connecting with wide receiver Makai Jackson for a 44-yard touchdown pass, followed by a 3-yard pass to Kaedin Robinson, bringing the score to 21-0. The third quarter saw Aguilar's precision as he unleashed a 77-yard bomb to Dalton Stroman, extending the lead to 28-0.

In the final quarter, the Mountaineers continued to dominate. Running back Anderson Castle added a 9-yard rushing touchdown, and Kanye Roberts contributed a 20-yard rushing touchdown. The Panthers managed to score two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, with Tailique Williams catching a 3-yard pass from quarterback Darren Grainger, and Robert Lewis securing a 1-yard pass.

The Mountaineers' ground game was a force to be reckoned with, led by the dynamic duo of Nate Noel and Kanye Roberts, who collectively rushed for 163 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Joey Aguilar showcased his passing skills, completing 14 of 21 attempts for 255 yards and three touchdowns.

Defensively, the Mountaineers were led by standout performances from linebacker Andrew Parker Jr., safety EJ Jackson, and cornerback Trenton Alan Yowe, who collectively contributed 23 tackles and one interception. The Panthers, despite a resilient effort, struggled to contain the Mountaineers' offensive onslaught.

With this victory, App State moves to 6-4 on the season with a 4-2 record in the Sun Belt Conference. The Mountaineers will take their three-game winning streak on the road next week at James Madison. ESPN’s College Gameday will broadcast from Harrisonburg next Saturday morning.

BOONE —  Appalachian State University's Kidd Brewer Stadium, fondly known as "The Rock," witnessed a historic November night game, coinciding with a decisive victory over long-time rival Marshall. Playing their first post-October night game at home against Marshall since 1996, App State secured a 31-9 win before 34,057 fans and a national NFL Network audience. This marked App State's third-largest victory in the series.

App State's quarterback, Joey Aguilar, shone with three touchdown passes, with key receptions by Michael Hetzel and Makai Jackson. App State's defense was a force to be reckoned with, intercepting three passes and securing three sacks. The game showcased App State's dominance over Marshall, with the Mountaineers improving to 5-4 overall and 3-2 in the Sun Belt Conference, while Marshall struggled with a 4-5 record and a 1-4 conference standing.

Marshall initially took the lead with a field goal, but App State came alive with three consecutive scores. Aguilar's stellar performance included 226 yards and three touchdowns. The Mountaineers outperformed Marshall, accumulating 404 total yards compared to Marshall's 243.

Despite Marshall's early lead, App State's strong offense, coupled with an exceptional defensive performance, sealed their resounding victory. Joey Aguilar's leadership and accurate passing were pivotal in this impressive win.

App State's second touchdown of the game was set up by Donovan Spellman's diving pick at the Marshall 17 after Jordan Favors had two interceptions in the fourth quarter, one of which was in the end zone. With assistance from Kevon Haigler, Spellman also recorded a sack; Trenton Alan Yowe and Shawn Collins were in charge of the other two.

Santana Hooper, EJ Jackson, a Marshall transfer, and Andrew Parker Jr. all contributed significantly to the Mountaineers' seven tackles for loss.

Next Week

App State is on the road the next two weeks at Sun Belt East Division rivals Georgia State and #25 James Madison before returning home in three weeks.

In a rare Saturday night matchup, the Appalachian State Mountaineers will face off against Marshall at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone. The game, scheduled for 6 p.m., is generating buzz as it is believed to be the first Saturday night home game played in Boone during November or December in recent memory. The last time the Mountaineers played a Saturday night game at Kidd Brewer Stadium was in 2014, their inaugural year as an FBS member. Since then, the team has enjoyed significant success at home, boasting a remarkable 51-10 record and drawing record-breaking crowds, with 2022 seeing ten of the top 12 crowds in stadium history.

The Mountaineers' strong performance at home, coupled with an average attendance of 35,774, has cemented their reputation as a powerhouse in college football. The 2023 season has also seen quarterback Joey Aguilar shine, leading the Sun Belt Conference with 20 touchdown passes and ranking 7th nationally. This upcoming game against Marshall carries added significance as it marks the first league matchup between the two teams in Boone since 1996, a nostalgic encounter for long-time fans. The game serves as a reminder of the rich history between Appalachian State and Marshall, who were both former FCS-level Southern Conference members and only recently reunited on the field in 2020 and 2021 for nonleague games. 

Lenoir-Rhyne vs. Catawba: On Saturday, November 4, 2023, #16 Lenoir-Rhyne (8-1, 6-1 SAC) faces Catawba (4-5, 2-5 SAC) at Moretz Stadium in Hickory. For Lenoir-Rhyne, a win would secure their spot in the SAC Championship next week, thanks to their head-to-head win this season, giving them a tiebreaker over Limestone, and they also control their destiny in the Piedmont Division race. LR can also clinch a championship berth if Limestone loses against Barton. This game is significant as the Bears aim to add to their 24 overall conference championships in program history, with seven won since 2010. Additionally, it marks the 102nd all-time battle between Lenoir-Rhyne and Catawba, one of the most played and closely contested rivalries in NCAA Division II. LR has recently dominated, winning four straight games and seeking to even the all-time series, which currently stands at 49-48-4 in Catawba's favor. The rivalry between the two schools has been a historic and pivotal part of the conference's football history, often deciding championships in their final regular-season game, although this tradition has changed with the introduction of the SAC Championship game after the regular season.

BOONE – In a season marked by nail-biting finishes, the Appalachian State football team added yet another thrilling chapter to their story. With just eight seconds left on the clock, they clinched an incredible victory, momentarily allowing the coaches and players to exhale.

For most of the game, App State found themselves trailing Southern Miss. It wasn't until there were 6 minutes and 37 seconds left that they seized their first lead, ultimately pulling off a remarkable 48-38 win in front of 32,601 enthusiastic fans at Kidd Brewer Stadium on a Saturday night that will be remembered for years to come.

The game's decisive touchdown came as the Mountaineers faced a crucial decision on a fourth-and-8 play from the Southern Miss 21-yard line with a mere 14 seconds left on the clock.

This electrifying win marked the fifth consecutive game and six of the last seven for App State that has been decided in the closing moments, leaving the fans on the edge of their seats.

Head coach Shawn Clark expressed his pride in the team's resilience, stating, "I'm very proud of our team. They really continued to fight. All the credit goes to our players to find a way to win. Our mantra all week was to keep digging — that we were close to getting through — and our kids did that. Our players made a way today."

Quarterback Joey Aguilar made a remarkable comeback after committing two turnovers late in the first half. He finished the game with four touchdown passes and a season-high of 391 passing yards on 23 completions. Meanwhile, Christan Horn delivered a career-best performance with two fourth-quarter touchdowns, amassing eight catches for 165 yards. Kanye Roberts rushed for 109 yards, with 86 of those gained on back-to-back carries in the fourth quarter.

On the defensive front, Caden Sullivan's second-half sack and forced fumble, which was recovered by Michael Fletcher at the Southern Miss 1, set up a crucial touchdown. Andrew Parker Jr. recorded 13 tackles, and E.J. Jackson added 11, leading a defense that made two pivotal fourth-quarter stops.

Trailing 38-28 early in the fourth quarter, the Mountaineers began their epic comeback with Aguilar's 49-yard touchdown pass to Horn, setting the tone for a thrilling final quarter. Jackson's tackle on a third-and-10 throw by Southern Miss forced a punt, and Roberts' 61-yard touchdown run put App State ahead 42-38.

Southern Miss made a valiant effort, driving to the App State 30, but Jordan Favors' powerful hit broke up a fourth-and-2 pass, giving the Mountaineers' offense a chance with 2 minutes and 44 seconds remaining. Roberts' 25-yard run and a personal foul penalty produced a critical first down at the Golden Eagles' 23. With a third-and-6 scenario from the 19, Aguilar found tight end Eli Wilson, but a fumble at the 13-yard line turned it into a fourth-and-8 situation with just 14 seconds left.

Instead of opting for a field goal that could have extended their lead by seven points, App State decided to go for a touchdown, possibly forcing a pass interference call. Aguilar delivered a perfect strike to Horn, who managed to catch the ball and get one foot down in the right corner of the end zone.

As the clock ticked down, App State secured an impressive comeback win, having trailed for the majority of the game.

In a game that saw several stunning plays, one of the most significant takeaways was when Sullivan's sack and forced fumble led to a recovery by Fletcher at the Southern Miss 1-yard line, setting up a short touchdown run by Ahmani Marshall.

App State's resilience was on full display, as they battled through a tough first half and turnovers to claim an unforgettable homecoming victory.

The Mountaineers' never-say-die attitude and their ability to pull off thrilling comebacks truly exemplify what makes Appalachian State football special. This win was not just for the team but for all the fans and alumni who came home to support their beloved Mountaineers on this unforgettable Saturday.

BOONE – The App State Mountaineers faced off against Coastal Carolina in a nationally televised Sun Belt Conference match that culminated in a thrilling 27-24 victory for Coastal Carolina. The game unfolded before a packed Kidd Brewer Stadium, where suspense and déjà vu seemed to rule the night.

Two years prior, a similar scenario had played out when App State strategically kept from crossing the end zone, opting to run down the clock and position themselves for a short field goal. Chandler Staton delivered with a 24-yard kick as time expired, securing a 30-27 home win over the Chanticleers. This time, Coastal Carolina managed to execute almost the same strategy to perfection.

The evening began with App State trailing 14-0 within the first eight minutes, following a touchdown on Coastal Carolina's opening drive. Despite the early deficit, App State (with a record of 3-3, 1-1) managed to claw their way back, drawing even with the Chanticleers at 17-all in the third quarter and again at 24-all in the fourth. Notably, a pivotal moment occurred in the fourth quarter when Caden Sullivan made a crucial stop, pushing Grayson McCall's fourth-and-2 keeper into a 1-yard loss from the Mountaineers' 14-yard line. This marked App State's first possession of the game without a deficit.

The game had its share of dramatic turnovers. App State's Joey Aguilar completed a pass to Milan Tucker for a remarkable 69-yard gain, only for Coastal to force a fumble at the end of the run on Coastal's 20-yard line with 4:43 remaining. Defender Abraham Temoney managed to make a sliding recovery just before the ball crossed the sideline.

The Chanticleers (with a record of 3-3, 1-2) responded with an impressive 11-play, 77-yard drive, inching as close as the App State 2-yard line, thanks in part to a 21-yard gain by CJ Beasley, who stopped just short of the end zone in the final minute.

The game saw a strong performance from App State's Aguilar, who threw for 305 yards and two touchdowns, one of which was a game-tying fourth-and-4 touchdown pass to Dalton Stroman from the Coastal 6 with 8:47 remaining. This followed a 67-yard completion to Makai Jackson. Unfortunately, Nate Noel, the nation's second-leading rusher, was sidelined after just two offensive touches due to a lower-body injury. The running load was then shared by Kanye Roberts, Maquel Haywood, and Ahmani Marshall, who combined for 22 carries, 104 yards, and one score.

On the defensive side, Andrew Parker Jr. led the Mountaineers with 12 tackles, and Sullivan delivered a career-high of nine tackles.

The Mountaineers managed to level the score for the first time at 17-all when Aguilar connected with David Larkins for a 2-yard touchdown pass with 6:18 remaining in the third quarter. However, Coastal Carolina quickly regained the lead with a seven-play, 77-yard touchdown drive. McCall's 32-yard touchdown pass to the wide-open Kendall Karr followed a defensive pass interference penalty on third-and-5.

App State had fallen behind early in the game as McCall orchestrated a 40-yard and a 31-yard pass on the opening drive. His 51-yard touchdown pass to Jameson Tucker only added to the pressure.

McCall maintained a perfect 9-for-9 record, passing for 220 yards in the first half. App State managed to reduce the 14-0 deficit with Michael Hughes' 29-yard field goal and closed the gap to 17-10 after Marshall's 3-yard touchdown run with 3:25 remaining in the first half. Aguilar's short completion to Eli Wilson on a fourth-and-10 pass from the Coastal 38 turned into a 32-yard gain to the 6-yard line, showcasing Wilson's impressive weaving through traffic.

The second half witnessed both teams making pivotal fourth-down stops near midfield. In response, App State pulled out all the stops on a fourth-and-3 incompletion from their 46-yard line. Haywood, helped by a defensive pass interference call, embarked on a series of rushes, gaining 32 yards, including a 20-yard run, which set the stage for Aguilar's short touchdown pass to Larkins. Hughes' extra point successfully knotted the game at 17-all.

With a crowd of 34,252 fans in attendance, the matchup between the App State Mountaineers and Coastal Carolina Chanticleers proved to be a nail-biting, back-and-forth affair that will likely be remembered for some time to come.

BOONE – It had been forty-four years since the East Carolina Pirates had made the trip to Kidd Brewer Stadium to take on the App State Mountaineers. After agreeing to a four-game series that featured one neutral site game in Charlotte and two trips to Greenville in upcoming seasons, Mountaineers and Pirates fans had circled today on their calendar as the matchup to look forward to for the 2023 football season. They game on the field lived up to the hype off of it as App State held off East Carolina 43-28 in front of a raucous crowd of 40,168, the largest in Kidd Brewer Stadium history.

East Carolina started with a strong nine-play, seventy-five-yard drive to open the game. After methodically moving the chains, junior running back Rahjai Harris punched it in from six yards out to give the visiting Pirates an early 7-0 lead. App State came out swinging when they received the ball for the first time. On the second play from scrimmage, Nate Noel burst like a rocket through the line and raced down the home sideline for a sixty-eight-yard score. The App State defense stepped up on the next drive as Nick Ross picked off a Pirate pass and returned the ball to the Mountaineers offense. App State took the lead on a thirty-six-yard Michael Hughes field goal, a lead the home took into the second quarter.

After pinning the Mountaineers deep in their own territory after a tremendous special teams effort to down a punt inside the one-yard-line, the Pirates’ Antoine Jackson stepped in front of an App State pass and walked nine yards to the end zone for the pick-six. After trading punts throughout the middle of the quarter, the Pirates found momentum on offense, mounting an eleven-play drive culminating with Rahjai Harris’s second rushing score of the day. Just like the opening drives of the game, App State responded to another long ECU drive with an explosive play. Milan Tucker took the kickoff and returned it into ECU territory, aided by a facemask penalty. Four plays later, Kanye Roberts burst through for an eighteen-yard rushing touchdown to make it a five-point game going into the half.

Starting the second half, the App State wanted to come out and make a statement and did so with Kaedin Robinson’s thirty-four-yard scoring reception from Joey Aguilar. Aguilar threw another long touchdown to Milan Tucker later in the third quarter. The Mountaineers offense was also responsible for ECU’s third-quarter scoring, however as a fumble was picked up by the Pirates defensive back Shavon Revel. The former Reagan High and Louisburg standout raced fifty-seven yards for the Pirates’ second defensive touchdown on the afternoon. The App State defense stepped up as well as Omar Philyaw’s interception set up the Mountaineers just inside the red zone late in the quarter. Joey Aguilar put an exclamation point on the short drive six plays later, scoring on a keeper around the right side to give the Mountaineers a 36-28 lead going into the final stanza.

A light rain started to fall as the fourth quarter began but it was a happy rain for the Mountaineer faithful in attendance when Joey Aguilar hit tight end David Larkins to make it a two-score lead for the home team. A late attempt by East Carolina to get back in the game fell incomplete as a fourth-down pass sailed out of bounds. The App State offense then ran out the clock and celebrated a 43-28 win. 

Next Week

App State is on the road next week facing a tough Wyoming squad while East Carolina hosts in-state FCS foe Gardner-Webb.

CHAPEL HILL - In yet another nail-biter of a showdown against Appalachian State, No. 17 North Carolina found themselves on the edge of their seats, but ultimately secured a thrilling 40-34 victory in double overtime.

The game was reminiscent of last year's clash in Boone, which ended with a jaw-dropping score of 63-61 and included the Mountaineers putting up an astounding 40 points in the fourth quarter. This time around, the Tar Heels had their nerves tested once again but managed to emerge victorious in front of their home crowd.

Drake Maye, quarterbacking for North Carolina, played a pivotal role in the Tar Heels' triumph. He showcased his versatility with a 13-yard rushing touchdown in the second overtime, providing the critical boost his team needed. The Tar Heels' defense stepped up when it mattered most, preserving the lead to secure the win and put an end to their six-game losing streak in overtime games.

Omarion Hampton was nothing short of spectacular for North Carolina, amassing a remarkable 234 rushing yards and tallying three touchdowns, including a crucial 17-yard run that helped level the score in the first overtime. On the opposing side, Nate Noel's 7-yard touchdown run during Appalachian State's first overtime possession kept the game neck-and-neck, as he finished the day with an impressive 127 yards on 26 carries.

The game had its fair share of twists and turns, with Ryan Coe, the Tar Heels' kicker, delivering two field goals but narrowly missing a crucial 39-yard attempt as the clock ticked down in regulation.

Despite Appalachian State leading on three separate occasions in the second half, the Tar Heels managed to maintain their composure and pull off the win. North Carolina's head coach, Mack Brown, commended his team's resilience, noting that they persevered when it mattered most.

Appalachian State's offense was potent, racking up a total of 494 yards, but they couldn't close out the game in Chapel Hill as they did back in 2019.

In the aftermath of this intense encounter, Appalachian State's coach, Shawn Clark, expressed pride in his team's performance, emphasizing their determination to bounce back and have a strong season.

Hampton, a sophomore standout, credited his offensive line for his exceptional performance, acknowledging their role in opening up running lanes for him. His second touchdown run, from 7 yards out with just over 9 minutes remaining, erased a brief Appalachian State lead. The Mountaineers managed to tie the game with a 33-yard field goal by Michael Hughes late in regulation.

Quarterback Joey Aguilar, leading the Mountaineers, had a commendable performance, completing 22 of 43 passes for 275 yards, along with two touchdowns and one interception.

Hampton's incredible first-half performance, where he rushed for 126 yards, marked a historic moment as he became the first Tar Heel to rush for 100 or more yards in consecutive home openers since Ethan Horton in the early 1980s. Additionally, Don Chapman, North Carolina's safety, contributed to the team's success with an interception in the third quarter, his first since 2020.

North Carolina made history of their own by playing consecutive overtime games at home for the first time, following a 2022 regular season-ending loss to North Carolina State.

In pregame ceremonies, Tez Walker, a North Carolina receiver who had been denied a waiver for immediate NCAA eligibility, was honored as an honorary captain, generating a strong response from Coach Brown following the NCAA's decision.

The Appalachian State Mountaineers faced off against the
Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs in both teams’ season opener at Kidd Brewer
Stadium in Boone, North Carolina. Although it was a one-score game for most of
the afternoon, App State pulled away in the fourth quarter and came out
victorious with a final score of 45-24.

Backup quarterback Joey Aguilar, a California junior college
transfer, came off the bench to throw four touchdown passes and lead
Appalachian State to victory. Aguilar threw a 32-yard touchdown to Kaedin
Robinson on his first pass, which put the Mountaineers up 14-10 late in the
first half. His second touchdown was a 26-yard connection with Dashaun Davis
for a 21-17 lead.

Jayden Brown’s third touchdown, a 41-yard pass from Matthew
Caldwell, put Gardner-Webb on top 24-21 but after Aguilar connected with Dalton
Stroman for 43 yards and a 28-24 lead, the defense took over. From there the
Bulldogs had a three-and-out and three-straight turnovers. Those turned into a
43-yard field goal, a 7-yard touchdown rushing for Nate Noel, and Aguilar’s 7-yard
pass to Christian Horn.

Aguilar finished the game with an impressive stat line of 11
of 13 for 174 yards in what appeared to be a planned relief appearance. Starter
Ryan Burger, a redshirt freshman, was 7 of 11 for 70 yards, with his first
collegiate touchdown, a 12-yard pass to Eli Wilson, opened the scoring. Noel
had 24 carries for 117 yards.

On the other side of the ball, Gardner-Webb’s Jayden Brown
had rushing touchdowns of 8 and 16 yards for the Bulldogs.

Both teams are on the road facing in-state rivals next week with
Gardner-Webb playing at Elon while App State travels to Chapel Hill to take on
UNC.

STATESBORO, GA — The highest-scoring game in App State-Georgia Southern series history was also one of the most dramatic with three second-half ties and eight total lead changes.

The final play, a 25-yard touchdown pass in the second overtime, gave the Eagles a 51-48 win in the regular-season finale on a rainy Saturday night at Paulson Stadium.

Nate Noel rushed 12 times for 171 yards and three touchdowns, including a 25-yard touchdown that helped tie the game in the first overtime, as the Mountaineers totaled 376 yards on the ground. After Michael Hughes hit the extra point and added a 33-yard field goal to cap App State's possession that opened the second overtime, Kyle Vantrease threw a second-and-10 pass to Ezrah Archie in the end zone for the game-winning points.

The Mountaineers (6-6, 3-5 Sun Belt) were attempting to improve to 3-0 against Georgia Southern (6-6, 3-5) under head coach Shawn Clark and win two straight games in Statesboro for just the second time. The highest-scoring game in series history, before Saturday, was App State's 37-36 road win in 2008, two years after the Mountaineers won an overtime game in Paulson Stadium.

App State went ahead 38-31 on Ahmani Marshall's 2-yard touchdown run with 13:03 left in the fourth quarter, and Vantrease's 3-yard touchdown run helped tie the game with 4:22 left. The Mountaineers moved downfield thanks to Noel's 33-yard reception to the Georgia Southern 35 and reached the 26 before a fourth-and-1 run was stopped for no gain with 1:40 left.

The Eagles had to punt from their own 32, and the Mountaineers took over at their 28 with 41 seconds left — and three timeouts remaining.

Noel's 12-yard run and Chase Brice's 45-yard pass to Christan Horn, who caught the ball at Georgia Southern's 30 before sprinting 15 yards down the right sideline, put the Mountaineers in potential scoring range. A rush of 3 yards to the 12 set up a 30-yard kick from the left hashmark with three seconds left, and the attempt started inside the left post before sailing just wide as regulation time expired.

In addition to another big game in Statesboro from Noel, Marshall rushed for 91 yards on 20 carries and Daetrich Harrington had 74 yards on nine attempts. Marshall and Harrington each scored one touchdown apiece.

Brice threw for 253 yards, Hughes made four field goals and App State's defense forced two turnovers. Andrew Parker made a team-high eight stops, followed by seven from true freshman Ethan Johnson.

App State settled for two early field goals from Hughes, including one after DeAndre Dingle-Prince recovered a first-possession fumble forced by Parker, and Noel scored touchdowns on second-quarter runs covering 51 and 12 yards.

Running left behind tackle Anderson Hardy and pulling guard Bucky Williams early in the second quarter, Noel easily ran through a last-ditch tackle attempt at the 31 and cruised into the end zone to help push the Mountaineers ahead 13-7. That 60-yard drive came after a three-and-out stop that followed Georgia Southern's defense making a goalline stand.

Georgia Southern responded with a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, but App State answered back with its own 75-yard drive that included third-down conversions from Horn and Harrington.

A first-down completion to Kaedin Robinson set up another run into the left side of the end zone from Noel, who has rushed for 274 yards and four touchdowns on 25 carries in two career games at Paulson Stadium — he scored on a 70-yard run in the fourth quarter of App State's 2020 win in Statesboro.

The Mountaineers led 20-17 at halftime, added a short field goal early in the third quarter and fell behind 24-23 midway through the quarter. After that, App State took its first seven-point lead of the night by covering 75 yards on three straight big plays: Henry Pearson's weaving, 40-yard reception, Harrington's 31-yard run and Harrington's 4-yard touchdown run. A two-point pass to Noel extended the lead after the Mountaineers had held leads of 13-7, 20-14 and 23-17.

Georgia Southern tied the game with an eight-play, 75-yard drive, but App State moved ahead 38-31 on a nine-play, 75-yard march in which the only non-Marshall run was an 18-yard completion to Robinson. Marshall's eight carries for 57 yards included his 2-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter.

Logan Doublin intercepted a deep throw at App State's 30 and returned the ball 19 yards to end Georgia Southern's next drive, but the teams traded punts over the next few minutes, with the Mountaineers' defense forcing a three and out after they punted for the first time all night. After App State's second punt, the Eagles tied the game at 38-all with 4:22 remaining thanks to a five-play, 69-yard touchdown drive that began with two completions that covered 40 yards.

Vantrease threw for 385 yards and three touchdowns to lead Georgia Southern's offense, which rushed for just 102 yards.

BOONE – App State took a shutout into the closing minutes of a dominant Senior Day win.

After honoring twenty-eight players prior to kickoff of the home finale at Kidd Brewer Stadium, the Mountaineers jumped out to an early lead and were in control throughout a 27-14 victory against Sun Belt Conference newcomer Old Dominion on Saturday.

Needing seven regular-season victories to reach bowl eligibility, App State (6-5, 3-4) took a 24-0 lead into halftime against the Monarchs (3-8, 2-5) and was ahead 27-0 midway through the fourth quarter before ODU scored twice in the final 7:05. The Mountaineers close the regular season next weekend at Georgia Southern.

A crowd of 32,096 meant App State had an attendance of better than 30,000 for all seven home games this season, producing an average of 33,566 that set single-season Sun Belt and school records. The Mountaineers broke the previous league and program records of 30,441 they had established in 2021.

In his final game at The Rock, Chase Brice completed 15 of 22 passes for 291 yards with long touchdowns to Kaedin Robinson and Christian Wells. Robinson gained 90 yards on his three receptions, and Ahmani Marshall led the running game with a career-best 137 yards and a touchdown on 19 attempts.

Defensively, sixth-year senior Steven Jones Jr. matched his jersey number by breaking up six passes. Jalen McLeod and Caden Sullivan recorded sacks, with Donovan Spellman and Kevon Haigler sharing one. Nick Ross made a team-high 11 tackles.

The pregame Senior Day ceremony included five sixth-year college players, including Brice, who was set to be one of four game-day captains before he asked that his spot go-to tight end Henry Pearson. Brice transferred into App State's program before the 2021 season, and Pearson has been an impactful player for the Mountaineers since he arrived as a true freshman in 2018.

Just like in the only other home meeting against ODU in 2016, when Taylor Lamb hit Jaquil Capel for a 40-yard gain on a deep pass to the 32 on App State's first offensive play, Brice found Robinson open on a deep throw for a 57-yard gain to the 33 on the Mountaineers' first offensive snap. Michael Hughes ended that 80-yard drive with a 27-yard field goal.

Hansky Paillant recovered a red-zone fumble forced by Markus Clark to keep ODU from scoring on its next drive, and App State increased its lead to 10-0 on Brice's 35-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Robinson.

After the Mountaineers forced a quick three-and-out punt, they capitalized immediately on Brice's 75-yard touchdown pass to a streaking Wells with 13:43 remaining in the second quarter. At that point, Brice was 6 of 7 through the air for 208 yards.

After another three-and-out stop, App State's offense marched 60 yards on eight plays and scored on an 18-yard run by Marshall, who covered the final few yards thanks to a helpful push from center Isaiah Helms and other members of the offensive line.

ODU appeared to trim its deficit to 24-7 on a short touchdown pass late in the half, but a video replay confirmed that the receiver didn't get a foot down in the end zone.

Two incompletions from the 7 preceded a trick play on fourth-and-goal, but freshman cornerback Ethan Johnson didn't let the quarterback run free after he flipped the ball to a receiver and ran a route toward the end zone. A run by the receiver lost 2 yards and allowed App State to hold the Monarchs scoreless for the entire first half.

A season-long field goal of 40 yards in the third quarter from Hughes, a first-year starter, accounted for App State's only second-half points.

BOONE — An unforgettable day at App State began with ESPN College GameDay's first visit to Boone. It then delivered a second unbelievable, historic ending at The Rock.

Call it Miracle on the Mountain: Part 2.

Chase Brice's 53-yard, Hail Mary touchdown pass to Christan Horn — with help from 6-foot-4 teammate Dalton Stroman's crowded tip at the 5-yard line and Kaedin Robinson's sealing block after Horn made a circling catch of the tip at the 8 — gave App State a thrilling 32-28 win against Troy in their Sun Belt Conference opener Saturday.

Thrilling. Historic. Unbelievable. Unforgettable.

What other adjectives are fit to describe what all transpired Saturday in the High Country.

Twenty years after App State won the original "Miracle on the Mountain" game by returning an intercepted two-point conversion pass for a go-ahead two points with seven seconds left in a 16-15 home win against Furman, App State (2-1) pulled off a shocker with no time remaining on the clock and, by the end of the celebration, no shortage of stunned reactions.

Just like country music star Luke Combs and beloved GameDay personality Lee Corso predicted, with Corso wearing Yosef headgear to close GameDay's appearance in a packed Sanford Mall in the center of campus nearly seven hours earlier, App State did indeed beat Troy.

No one expected it to happen like that.

Brice's incompletion on a fourth-and-goal pass from the 3 gave Troy (1-2) possession with 1:13 left and a 28-24 lead. The Trojans took a fourth-down safety on purpose, leaving App State with just 20 seconds to field a free kick and score. Three straight incompletions from the App State 47 set up one final heave with two seconds remaining, and it took three receivers to create one successful, viral connection between Brice and Horn.

The actual name of the play? "Big Ben" — similar to a 63-yard Hail Mary that Florida used to beat Tennessee in 2017, when current App State offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay was the Gators' director of player development.

A crowd of 34,406 fans witnessed more history, although some of those returned to the stadium after leaving with App State's chances of a victory looking bleak. Immediate fireworks above the north end zone facility signaled to many that something amazing had just transpired nearby.

It was the fourth-largest crowd in Kidd Brewer Stadium history and the biggest crowd for a non-ACC opponent.

BOONE — A top-10 road win Saturday afternoon helped facilitate more big news Saturday night.

ESPN's College GameDay is coming to Boone.

Appearing in the High Country for the first time, the popular college football pregame show will be on campus next weekend, on Saturday, Sept. 17, for App State's Sun Belt Conference opener against Troy. Kickoff, subject to change, is currently scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

Stay tuned to appstatesports.com and App State's social media platforms for more details on the exact location and other info.

The Mountaineers will head into their league opener fresh off a 17-14 win at No. 6 Texas A&M. It was the program's first win against a top-10 opponent since the 34-32 victory against No. 5 Michigan in 2007, when App State was an FCS power, and that nationally televised victory followed a home opener in which Kidd Brewer Stadium had a record 40,168 fans for a high-scoring thriller between the Mountaineers and North Carolina.

Now in its eighth season at the FBS level, App State has won four Sun Belt titles and six bowl games. The Mountaineers are 80-20 in their last 100 games.

Rece Davis leads the show in his eighth season as host. He is joined at the desk by GameDay analysts Desmond Howard, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso, and David Pollack and reporters Jen Lada, Gene Wojciechowski, and newcomer Jess Sims. Senior research producer Chris 'The Bear' Fallica and college football insider Pete Thamel round out the GameDay crew for the season.

Pat McAfee joined GameDay for the first time this past weekend in Austin, site of the Texas-Alabama game.

COLLEGE STATION, TX - With another signature win, there’s reason to celebrate all the way back to the High Country.

App State scored touchdowns after both turnovers forced by its defense, Michael Hughes kicked a tiebreaking field goal with 8:05 left and the Mountaineers finished strong to complete a 17-14 win against No. 6 Texas A&M in front of 92,664 fans at Kyle Field on a steamy Saturday afternoon in Texas.

It was App State’s first victory against an AP Top 10 opponent since the 34-32 victory at No. 5 Michigan in 2007, when the Mountaineers were an FCS power.

App State has won four conference titles and six bowl games while delivering the most successful FBS-to-FBS transition in college football history, but Saturday's outcome was overdue for a program known for its giant-slaying. In fact, each of the Mountaineers' last seven games against Power Five programs have been decided by seven points or less. 

Hughes capped a 16-play march that covered 9 minutes, 15 seconds with his first career field goal, a 29-yard kick, to give App State (1-1) a 17-14 lead midway through the fourth quarter. The Aggies (1-1) moved into scoring range but missed a 47-yard field goal with 3:43 remaining.

The Mountaineers’ offensive line went to work after that, paving the way for a clock-draining drive that included Camerun Peoples’ 48-yard run to the Texas A&M 12 with 1:36 remaining. From there, quarterback Chase Brice was able to kneel out the win and set off a celebration with App State players and coaches rushing to interact with the large crowd of fans who had traveled across the country to witness more history.

Jalen McLeod forced two fumbles on the same play and recorded a sack to lead a stingy defense, which limited the Aggies to only two plays in App State territory over the first 52 minutes. Texas A&M totaled nine first downs and 186 yards of offense as the Mountaineers possessed the ball for 41:29 of the game’s 60 minutes.

DeAndre Dingle-Prince’s first-half recovery of McLeod’s two-fumble sequence led to Ahmani Marshall’s short touchdown run, and Nick Hampton’s recovery of a fumble forced by Dexter Lawson Jr. set up Chase Brice’s third-quarter touchdown pass to tight end Henry Pearson.

McLeod registered 2.0 sacks, contributed to 6.0 tackles for loss by the defense, and safety Nick Ross had a team-high seven tackles. Offensively, Peoples finished with 112 rushing yards, and Brice threw for 130 yards on a mistake-free afternoon.

McLeod recorded a strip sack of quarterback Haynes King, then chased down the offensive lineman who recovered the fumble and ripped the ball away from him, too. Dingle-Prince recovered the second fumble at Texas A&M’s 29-yard line, and Marshall finished a five-play drive with his first App Stat touchdown on a 4-yard run into the end zone.

Texas A&M answered back with a seven-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, highlighted by a third-and-14 completion for 31 yards to the App State 32 and Devon Achane’s 26-yard touchdown. That led to the score being tied at 7-all going into halftime.

The Mountaineers and Aggies also traded rapid-fire touchdowns in the third quarter, as App State chewed up 6:22 with an 11-play, 62-yard touchdown drive after Hampton recovered the fumble forced by Lawson Jr. following a completed pass along the sideline. A 21-yard pass from Brice to Dashaun Davis, plus Brice’s fourth-and-1 keeper for 6 yards to the Texas A&M 13, set up Brice’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Pearson.

Immediately after that, Achane returned the kickoff for a 95-yard touchdown, but App State didn’t let that momentum swing ruin its bid for a big win.

BOONE – It was a matchup that had been circled on calendars for both teams. For North Carolina, many of the Tar Heels remembered App State’s blocked field goal to upset the Heels, 34-31, on the road during the 2019 season. For App State, a chance to host the state’s flagship university for the first time ever showed that App State had finally “arrived” in the state’s college football landscape. The game started strong for the hometown Mountaineers, who were energized by a raucous and record crowd of 40,168 in attendance, but it was the visiting Tar Heels who laid claim to victory on Saturday afternoon after a wild sixty-two-point final quarter eventually ended with a 63-61 victory over App State.

App State rode the momentum wave into their first drive of the game. After Eli Wilson rolled over a Tar Heel defender and rumbled out to midfield on a catch and run, sophomore running back Nate Noel burst through the line and scampered fifty-two yards for the opening score of the game.

Carolina responded quickly, with JJ Jones’s thirty-one-yard reception getting the Tar Heels into Mountaineer territory. Drake Maye’s keeper on fourth down extended the drive and the redshirt freshman signal caller hit Jones on the next play for the tying score.

The Mountaineers were not intimidated, though, and came right back with a scoring drive on their second possession. Redshirt freshman Dalton Stroman’s second career catch was a great grab, putting App State in Tar Heel territory, giving Chase Brice the space he needed to find tight end Henry Pearson streaking down the home sideline for the score and a 14-7 lead. App State continued its early domination into the second quarter and even extended the lead to 21-7 on a Christian Wells catch, but the rest of the second quarter belonged to the visiting Tar Heels.

Carolina’s freshman quarterback, who beat out more experienced competition in fall camp, showed off why Tar Heels coach Mack Brown named him the starter with his performance in the middle quarters. Drake Maye beat the App State defense with his arm and legs to turn the tide in favor of the Heels. Maye threw for two scores, a fourteen-yard strike to Kobe Paysour and a ten-yard pass to Bryson Nesbit, while also running for a score to open the second half. In the span of fifteen minutes of game action, the Tar Heels had turned a 21-7 deficit into a 35-21 lead early in the third quarter.

Gene Chizik’s Tar Heel defense, who gave up big plays to open the first half, clamped down and held App State at bay through the middle two quarters. Cedric Gray was all over the field for the visitors, registering tackle after tackle. Gray’s interception late in the third quarter led to three more points for the Heels as Noah Burnette was good on his second field goal of the day to finish the scoring heading into the final stanza.

The fourth quarter was an entire game within itself. Both teams traded blow after blow, combining for sixty-two points and eight touchdowns. Chase Brice threw four of his six touchdowns for the day in the final ten and a half minutes of the game. With fans at The Rock roaring, App State, who had trailed by twenty points, came back to tie the score at 49-all on Camerun Peoples' 38-yard touchdown run and Michael Hughes' extra point with exactly four minutes remaining.

Carolina moved back ahead, converting a third-and-9 pass from Drake Maye to an open DJ Jones for a forty-two-yard touchdown with just under three minutes remaining before the Mountaineers moved quickly into UNC territory in the final minute. Chase Brice hit Dashaun Davis for a twenty-eight-yard touchdown with thirty-one seconds left, and the Mountaineers went for a go-ahead two-point conversion, but the pass to Davis sailed just out of his reach.

“I had made my mind up early that we were going for two and the win,” App State head coach Shawn Clark said after the game. “We're not going for second place at Appalachian State.”

UNC's Bryson Nesbit returned the onside kick for a touchdown, but that at least gave App State one more chance, because the extra point kept the margin as a one-score game at 63-55. Milan Tucker's long kickoff return to near midfield and Brice's twenty-two-yard completion to Kaedin Robinson set up another Brice-to-Robinson connection, this one a twenty-six-yard touchdown with nine seconds remaining.

The Tar Heels took away Brice's throwing options and stopped him short of the goal line on the two-point conversion to secure the win.

After the game UNC head coach Mack Brown praised what he called “two great offenses, two tremendous quarterbacks…a tremendous performance” after the wild fourth quarter while acknowledging “as many things we need to fix on defense, they had two, two-point conversion stops, to win the game.”

Notable North Carolinians

Drake Maye (Hough) – The freshman quarterback threw for 352 yards on 24 of 36 passing and four touchdowns while running for 76 yards and a score.

Kobe Paysour (Kings Mountain) – The freshman wide receiver was a threat the entire afternoon, tallying 8 catches and a touchdown.

Cedric Gray (Ardrey Kell) – the junior linebacker had a big interception late in the third quarter along with a team-high 13 tackles.

Kaedin Robinson (Christ School) – The redshirt sophomore had two big catches on the final, potential, game-tying drive in the last thirty seconds of the game.

Next Week

North Carolina (2-0) is on the road at a Sun Belt foe for the second straight week, taking on Georgia State, while App State (0-1) goes on the road to face preseason #6 Texas A&M from the SEC.

BOCA RATON – Coming into the Boca Raton Bowl, App State knew they would have their hands full trying to slow down the air raid offense of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and their record-setting quarterback Bailey Zappe. The Hilltoppers and Zappe were as good as advertised offensively and throttled the Mountaineers for 639 yards in a 59-38 rout on Saturday afternoon at FAU Stadium.

Opening the game, Western Kentucky sought to impose its will on the App State defense and did so to the tune of an eight-play, seventy-four-yard drive with a one-yard scoring pass from Bailey Zappe to Jerreth Sterns opening the scoring for the day. After a turnover in the red zone ended App State's first drive of the day, a defensive stop gave the Mountaineers another chance to even the score late in the quarter and Malik Williams's thirty-six-yard touchdown pass from Chase Brice kicked off a fireworks-filled end of the first quarter.

On the next play of the game, Zappe and Mitchell Tinsley showed why they led Conference USA and the nation in passing offense with Tinsley taking a slant across the middle and racing seventy-five yards to the house to retake the lead, 14-7. The Mountaineers attacked quickly as well with Jalen Virgil's sixty-yard catch and run five plays later leaving the two teams tied at 14 going into the second quarter.

Although the second quarter did not contain the same explosive plays as the first, it was still a momentous quarter nonetheless. Each team traded field goals in what seemed to be big defensive stops for both squads. The two quarterbacks continued their race to see which arm would rule the day. App State's Chase Brice added another score in the quarter, a thirty-three-yard pass to Dashaun Davis, but the end of the second quarter belonged to Western Kentucky's Bailey Zappe. The graduate transfer from Houston Baptist continued his assault on the NCAA record books, breaking the single-season passing yards record and tying the single-season passing touchdowns record. He would go on to break the record in the second half.

App State looked to make it right in the second half, but a series of miscues started to put the game out of reach fairly quickly. A promising drive to open the half was lost to a turnover after a replay indicated a fumble on a run play at the fourteen-yard line. One snap later, Western Kentucky's Noah Whittington broke free for the eighty-six-yard score to give the Hilltoppers a two-score lead. Forcing a punt on the next App State drive, Zappe broke the passing touchdown record with a two-yard scoring pass midway through the third quarter on a drive that was extended by two App State penalties.

The Mountaineers refused to yield, though, and responded with their own one-play drive, a sixty-two-yard strike from Chase Brice to Christian Wells, but it was not enough to bridge the gap on the afternoon. Late in the quarter, the Mountaineers did find a reason to celebrate as Brice broke Armanti Edwards's App State twelve-year-ole program record for single-season passing yards. 

Camerun Peoples crossed the 100-yard rushing mark to lead the Mountaineers on the ground to go with Chase Brice's 317 yards through the air to lead the Mountaineers' offense. Kaiden Smith led the defense with ten tackles.

The loss was the first in program history for App State since the Mountaineers transitioned to FBS in 2013. App State finished the 2021 campaign with a record of 10-4, the third time in four seasons that the Mountaineers logged double-digit wins.

CHAPEL HILL – The 1A state championship game started off as two teams who were trying to figure out the weakness in their opponent. Both teams made it to the title game by heavily relying on their run games with Mitchell quarterback Ty Turbyfill coming into the game with the fifth-highest rushing total and the vaunted "Tarboro T" offense amassing over four-thousand yards on the season. Stopping these offenses would be a tall task for anyone, but it was Tarboro's day as the Vikings won their eighth state championship, 28-7, over Mitchell on Saturday afternoon at Kenan Stadium.

Tarboro was the first team to break the scoreless tie. After a punt pinned the Mountaineers deep at their own one-yard line, the Tarboro defense stepped up and forced Mitchell to punt from their own end zone. The Vikings, with excellent field position, marched eight plays down the field with Trevon White hitting paydirt from three yards out to give Tarboro a 7-0 lead going into the second quarter. 

Mitchell was finally able to find some offense in the second stanza. A pop pass from Turbyfill to Gage Young near the goal line tied the game, showing that neither team was going to back down from the challenge. After trading punts, Tarboro was in business again after a Mitchell punt wobbled out of bounds at the 31-yard line. Eight seemingly long plays later, Trevon White, on a 4th and goal from the one-yard line and with only six seconds left on the clock, punched it in for his second score of the game and gave Tarboro a 14-7 lead going into the half.

Receiving the second-half kickoff, Tarboro went right back to what they do best: run the ball. When Tobias Joyner raced thirty-five yards to extend the Vikings' lead to two scores, Mitchell was on its heels. Forcing the Mountaineers to go to the air to cut the deficit, the Tarboro defense smelled blood and it was junior cornerback Nathan Sherrod who stepped up, intercepting a Mitchell pass and returning the ball across midfield. The Mitchell defense held, though, stopping Tarboro on fourth down and taking possession as the game entered the fourth quarter.

Just as Mitchell was poised to move the chains, Tarboro's Omarion Lewis, the team's starting quarterback on offense and safety on defense, intercepted a pass and returned it to the Mitchell thirty-yard line. From that, it was a race to all zeroes on the clock with the Vikings adding another Joyner touchdown for the final score of the day.

MVP – Tarboro #24 Tobias Joyner

Tarboro MOP Offense - #10 Trevon White

Tarboro MOP Defense - #3 Treheem Daniels

Mitchell MOP Offense - #2 Ty Turbyfill

Mitchell MOP Defense - #32 Enrique Huaroco 

LAFAYETTE, La. — Playing in the third Sun Belt Championship Game, App State made a push for a third title before 20th-ranked Louisiana finished off a breakthrough victory.

The Mountaineers trailed by seven points entering the fourth quarter and closed to within eight on Chase Brice's 24-yard touchdown pass to Thomas Hennigan with 5:06 left, but the Ragin' Cajuns milked most of the remaining time and posted a 24-16 victory in front of 31,014 fans Cajun Field.

With a 10-win regular season — and playing Saturday in only the second game between two Sun Belt teams with double-digit victories ¬— the Mountaineers (10-3) will learn their bowl destination Sunday. Since making its FBS debut in 2014, App State has earned a bowl berth in each of its seven postseason-eligible seasons and posted an FBS-best 6-0 bowl record.

Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year D'Marco Jackson had 11 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack and four first-half quarterback hurries, and Nick Hampton's four tackles included 2.5 tackles for loss and two first-half sacks. Kaiden Smith led the team with 12 tackles, Trey Cobb contributed nine and Demetrius Taylor added a sack.

Offensively, Camerun Peoples scored App State's first touchdown on a 43-yard run late in the first half to highlight a 61-yard outing, and Chase Brice rushed for a season-high 52 yards, with his eight scrambles gaining 75 yards. Hennigan had a team-high 71 receiving yards.

App State faced a fourth-and-10 scenario from the Louisiana 24 when Brice avoided pressure and threw a pass over the middle to a leaping Hennigan, who then broke three tackles inside the 15 to reach the end zone on a reception for the 23rd time in his career.

A two-point pass failed, and Louisiana (12-1) registered three first downs on its final drive. A fourth-down pass from the App State 36 fell incomplete with 29 seconds left, but Louisiana clinched the win with a forced fumble on a sack near midfield with 20 seconds remaining.

Down by 10 at halftime, App State opened the third quarter with a 15-play drive that ended with a 36-yard field goal from Chandler Staton. Louisiana followed that with a 12-play drive and went for a first down on a fourth-and-2 play from the App State 20, but Jackson and Kaiden Smith stuffed a run for a 1-yard loss.

App State wasn't able to put together a game-tying drive on its next two possessions, and Louisiana extended its lead to 24-10 early in the fourth quarter when Emani Bailey ran for a 35-yard touchdown on a third-and-8 play. Earlier in the drive, in a third-and-13 situation, Levi Lewis completed a 16-yard pass to the Louisiana 41.

The Mountaineers went into the break trailing 17-7, as Camerun Peoples used a block from tight end Henry Pearson to break loose for a 43-yard touchdown that cut App State's deficit to 14-7 with 2:28 left in the first half.

App State forced a three-and-out punt and appeared to move into Louisiana territory on a Chase Brice scramble late in the half, but a holding penalty put the Mountaineers in a behind-the-chains position that led to the Ragin' Cajuns using timeouts.

Gaining possession at its 46 with 32 seconds remaining before halftime, Louisiana completed a pass for 30 yards to reach field-goal range and then converted a 33-yard kick in the closing seconds of the half.

App State's defense pressured Levi Lewis throughout the first half, as Hampton recorded two early sacks and Jackson had one sack to go along with four QB hurries, but Lewis' nine completions on 18 attempts before the break gained 142 yards, and he added a 56-yard touchdown run.

Lewis avoided the heavy pursuit from Taylor to complete a fourth-and-3 pass for 10 yards on the opening drive, and Lewis sidestepped up-the-middle pressure from Jordon Earle on a 27-yard touchdown pass. A penalty for a lineman illegally downfield wiped out a 46-yard pass to Corey Sutton on App State's second play from scrimmage.

Hampton and Jackson combined for three sacks over the next two Louisiana possessions, but Lewis' long touchdown run with 9:22 left in the second quarter capped a seven-play, 92-yard drive and increased the margin to 14-0. App State answered with a six-play, 75-yard march.

Story courtesy of App State Athletics Strategic Communications

App State's opportunistic cornerback connected his name to Jonesboro in record-setting fashion.

Named the National Defensive Player of the Week by the Walter Camp Football Foundation and College Sports Madness, Steven Jones Jr. intercepted three passes and scored touchdowns on two interception returns in the Mountaineers' 48-14 win at Arkansas State on Saturday. He tied four other defenders for the school's single-game interception record and matched three other App State alums for the pick-six TD record in a single game.

Photo Credit: Ted Gangi (collegepressbox.com)