ELON – In a commanding performance, the Elon football team showcased their offensive prowess and defensive prowess, securing a decisive victory over Hampton in a game marked by explosive plays and defensive turnovers.

The first quarter set the tone for Elon's dominance as quarterback Matthew Downing orchestrated two impressive touchdown passes. The first, a 33-yard connection to Jamarien Dalton, occurred just 19 seconds into the game, with Jack Berkowitz converting the extra point. Elon quickly followed up with another Downing pass, this time a 60-yard bomb to Chandler Brayboy, extending their lead to 14-0.

Hampton responded with a scoring drive of their own, as Chris Zellous connected with Paul Woods for a 43-yard touchdown pass, narrowing the gap to 14-7 by the end of the opening quarter.

The second quarter witnessed Elon's continued offensive onslaught. Downing, displaying precision in his passes, linked up with Christian Da-Silva for a 33-yard touchdown, further extending the lead to 21-7. The Elon defense then made a significant impact, with Bo Sanders intercepting a pass and returning it 34 yards for a touchdown. Marco Patierno added to the defensive heroics with a 23-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown, pushing Elon's lead to a commanding 34-7.

As the second quarter unfolded, Elon continued to capitalize on Hampton's defensive lapses, with Jack Berkowitz adding three more points to the board through a 39-yard field goal. The offensive onslaught continued just before halftime, as Downing connected with Johncarlos Miller II for a 53-yard touchdown, concluding the first half with Elon leading 44-7.

Despite Hampton's efforts to mount a comeback in the third quarter, Chris Zellous's 2-yard rushing touchdown brought the score to 44-14. However, Elon remained in control, ensuring a substantial lead heading into the final quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Elon sealed their dominant performance with Wayne Dixie III's 27-yard touchdown run, capping a 51-14 victory. The play was part of a seven-play, 89-yard drive that showcased Elon's offensive versatility.

Elon finishes the season with a 6-5 overall record and 6-2 in the CAA.

ANNAPOLIS, MD – East Carolina’s football woes continued as they dropped to a 2-9 overall record and 2-4 in Annapolis, suffering a 10-0 defeat at the hands of Navy. The loss concluded the ECU’s road schedule for the season, with the Pirates finishing 1-5 away from home.

In a challenging offensive outing, ECU failed to score for the first time since October 4, 1997, when they suffered a 56-0 loss to Syracuse, ending a remarkable streak of 322 consecutive games with points on the board. The Pirates managed only 189 yards of total offense, including a season-low 34 rushing yards, highlighting the struggles on that side of the ball.

Despite the offensive difficulties, East Carolina’s defense showcased its resilience by holding Navy to 10 points. This marked the fourth time this season that the Pirates limited an opponent to 13 points or less. 

In individual player performances, quarterback Alex Flinn faced immense pressure from Navy’s defense but completed a career-high 24 of 38 pass attempts for 155 yards. However, he failed to secure any touchdowns and threw two interceptions. Flinn also led the team in rushing with 31 yards on 12 carries.

Chase Sowell emerged as a bright spot for the receiving corps, totaling 62 yards on 11 catches. On the defensive side, Teylor Jackson recorded his first career forced fumble, while Jason Shuford achieved his first career fumble recovery. BJ Davis stood out with a team-high 10 tackles, reaching double figures for the second consecutive week.

Looking ahead to their final game of the 2023 season, East Carolina is set to face Tulsa in an American Athletic Conference matchup on Saturday, November 25. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m., and the game will be streamed live via ESPN+.

As the Pirates prepare to conclude their season, Coach Mike Houston remains focused on ending on a positive note against Tulsa, stating, “We have a chance to finish things off on a positive note with a win at home next week against a very talented Tulsa team."

GREENVILLE – Charlotte’s stout defense had a record-setting performance as the 49ers picked up their first-ever American Athletic Conference victory, defeating East Carolina 10-7 on a chilly Saturday afternoon at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.

The 49ers displayed their dominance right from the outset, with quarterback Jalon Jones engineering an impressive 73-yard drive on the opening possession, consuming a season-long 7 minutes and 28 seconds of play. Kicker Jake Larson then converted a 35-yard field goal, giving Charlotte an early 3-0 lead. The 49ers’ defense complemented the strong start, holding ECU to a mere 49 yards of total offense in the first half, maintaining their lead heading into the break.

The second half began with Charlotte extending their lead as Jones executed a 30-yard pass play to Duane Thomas Jr., setting up his own one-yard touchdown run. This score marked Jones’ team-leading fourth rushing touchdown of the season.

Charlotte QB Jalon Jones Photo Credit: Sam Roberts/FreezeFrame

The 49ers’ defense continued to stifle ECU, limiting them to 10 yards or less on eight of their first nine possessions, preserving the 10-0 lead well into the fourth quarter.

However, a muffed punt changed the course of the game, as it set up ECU at the Charlotte 10-yard line with 13:22 to play. ECU capitalized on the opportunity, narrowing the lead to 10-7 with a 10-yard pass from Alex Flinn to Shane Calhoun.

In a nail-biting final quarter, Charlotte had a chance to seal the victory but failed to convert on a 45-yard field goal attempt. The 49ers’ defense stepped up once again, forcing ECU into a three-and-out, with Stone Handy contributing an 11-yard sack to protect their slim lead.

ECU had one last opportunity, taking over with 2:29 on the clock. After three first downs moved the ball to the Charlotte 29, Eyabi Okie-Anoma delivered an eight-yard sack, pushing the Pirates back to the 37. One play later, ECU managed to gain six yards on third-and-18, moving to the 31. However, the 48-yard field goal attempt went wide, securing Charlotte’s first-ever victory as a member of the AAC.

Key statistics of the game included Jalon Jones rushing for a career-high 127 yards, marking the first 100-yard rushing performance by a 49er this season. Charlotte’s defense recorded 6.0 tackles for loss, the fifth time this year that they achieved this feat. Eyabi Okie-Anoma registered his fifth sack of the season, tying for the fifth-most in a single season by a 49er. He also recorded one quarterback hurry, bringing his season total to nine, just one shy of Larry Ogunjobi’s school record.

For ECU, Julius Wood led the defense with 10 tackles and logged his third career interception. Kingston McInstry collected his first career fumble recovery, and Alex Flinn, who entered the contest in the second half, completed 11 of 18 pass attempts for 69 yards and a touchdown. Shane Calhoun caught his second touchdown reception of the season and sixth of his career.

The game was East Carolina’s first meeting with Charlotte on the gridiron, and the Pirates are now 55-13 in Homecoming contests. Despite the loss, ECU has an impressive streak of not being shut out in 319 games, setting a school record.

Charlotte head coach Biff Poggi expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, emphasizing their inaugural AAC victory as a historic achievement. ECU head coach Mike Houston acknowledged the close game and the missed opportunities, vowing to improve for future contests.

Charlotte’s win marks a significant milestone in their young program’s history, while ECU will be looking to bounce back in their upcoming games.

Up Next: East Carolina takes on American Athletic Conference newcomer UTSA next Saturday at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m., with the game streaming live via ESPN+. Charlotte plays host to fellow American Athletic Conference newcomer Florida Atlantic this Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

The picturesque town of Cullowhee, North Carolina, will play host to a highly-anticipated Southern Conference football clash this Saturday when #8 Western Carolina welcomes its fierce rival, #3 Furman, to the hallowed grounds of E.J. Whitmire Stadium. The ESPN+ game will kick off at 2:30 p.m. and fans can expect an epic encounter as both teams come into the game with impressive national rankings. In what marks only the fourth game in their storied rivalry where both teams enter the arena with national rankings, this clash brings memories of the golden era of Catamount football. The last time Western Carolina and Furman shared the spotlight with numerical rankings by their names was in 1983 when the ninth-ranked Catamounts exacted sweet revenge by defeating their second-ranked rivals in the NCAA I-AA playoffs, a 14-7 triumph in Greenville. Western Carolina holds a 2-1 record in ranked matchups, boasting a perfect 1-0 record on their home turf.

The 2023 season has seen Western Carolina emerge as the Cinderella story, rising to a Top-10 ranking after a remarkable string of five consecutive wins. Leading the charge is running back Desmond Reid, whose 847 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns have made him a strong contender for All-American recognition. Quarterback Cole Gonzales, now in his sophomore season, has elevated his game with 1,532 passing yards and 14 touchdowns, establishing a potent connection with a dynamic receiving corps led by Censere Lee, boasting 421 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns.  On the other side, Furman entered the season as the preseason favorites in the Southern Conference and has lived up to the billing through the first six games. Running back Dominic Roberto, with 394 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns, and quarterback Tyler Huff, boasting 1,057 passing yards and 10 total touchdowns, anchor the Paladins' offense. The defense has excelled against the run, allowing a meager 3.1 yards per carry. However, the key to success this weekend for Furman lies in their secondary's ability to generate turnovers, currently tallying an impressive 7 interceptions.

East Carolina Gears Up to Face Charlotte in First-Ever Conference Matchup

East Carolina’s football team is set to face American Athletic Conference newcomer Charlotte on October 21. The game will kick off at 2 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN+. This will be Charlotte's first-ever encounter with an in-state conference opponent, setting the stage for a memorable showdown. East Carolina, led by fifth-year head coach Mike Houston, enters the game with a 1-5 overall record and a 0-2 mark in the AAC. In the Pirates’ last outing, they fell 31-10 to SMU, despite running 16 more offensive plays than their opponent. Mason Garcia led a pair of scoring drives, completing 12 of 26 passes for a career-high 155 yards and rushing for a team-best 38 yards on 12 carries. Wide receiver Chase Sowell emerged as a standout, delivering his second consecutive seven-catch game and a career-high 120 yards. Charlotte, with a 1-5 record and a 0-2 conference record, is coming off a 14-0 loss to Navy. The upcoming clash promises an exciting faceoff between the two teams as they each aim to secure a crucial first win in the American Athletic Conference this season.

Barton Football Set to Rebound Against Wingate in Homecoming Showdown

Barton is set to host Wingate in a crucial Homecoming matchup. The Bulldogs, who have a 47-3 record against undefeated and nationally-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne, are looking to maintain their stronghold in the Piedmont Division standings. Jordan Terrell, the school's all-time leading rusher, is just 12 yards away from reaching the 1,000-yard milestone for the third consecutive season. Terrell has been a standout for the Bulldogs, averaging 141.1 yards per game on the ground. Junior quarterback Jaquan Lynch has shown his prowess with 1,076 yards passing and a total of 16 touchdowns. The defensive charge for the Bulldogs is led by junior linebacker Shane Perry, who boasts a team-high 64 tackles. On the other hand, Wingate's football program has a remarkable track record, culminating in an 11-3 record last year and a spot in the 2022 NCAA Division II National Quarterfinals. Wingate holds the edge in the all-time series with Barton, leading 2-1. Barton College, as an Associate Member of the South Atlantic Conference until the end of the 2024 season, is under the guidance of fourth-year head coach Chip Hester, while Joe Reich serves as the Wingate Head Football Coach. The Homecoming showdown promises to be a thrilling match between Barton and Wingate, with both teams aiming to secure a pivotal victory in front of their passionate fans. 

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.

ANN ARBOR - The Michigan Wolverines soared past the East Carolina
Pirates in their season opener, winning 30-3 in front of a Michigan Stadium
crowd of 109,480. Despite the absence of Jim Harbaugh, who is serving a
suspension to start the season, the No. 2 Wolverines were nearly flawless in
their victory over ECU, the first time the two schools have played each other.

East Carolina put up a valiant effort but was seemingly
outmatched from the opening whistle. Quarterback Mason Garcia did everything he
could to move the Pirates' offense down the field, but the Michigan defense held
the Pirates to 235 total yards with Garcia leading the team in both passing and
rushing yards. Julius Wood paced the team on defense with nine total tackles
(five solo) while Mike Edwards III notched eight tackles (seven solo) including
one for a loss. Kicker Andrew Conrad’s field goal as time expired kept the
Pirates from being shut out.

Michigan was led by quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who passed
for 280 yards and threw for three touchdowns. Running back Blake Corum also had
a strong game, with seventy-three rushing yards and a touchdown. The
Wolverines’ receiving corps also had a standout performance. Roman Wilson led
the way with seventy-eight receiving yards and six receptions, including three
touchdowns. Cornelius Johnson also contributed with seventy-one receiving yards
and five receptions.

Overall, it was a strong start to the season for Michigan,
while East Carolina will look to bounce back in their next game next week against
Marshall.

The 2022 college football regular season and conference championships have come to a close. Five NCCFB FBS teams have qualified for postseason bowls. The Duke's Mayo Bowl returns to Charlotte in 2022 and will feature teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference and Big Ten Conference.

Duke Blue Devils

Record: 8-4 (5-3 ACC)

Location: Navy-Marine Corps Stadium (Annapolis, Maryland)

Opponent:

Time: 2:00 PM

Tickets: http://militarybowl.org/tickets/

East Carolina Pirates

Record: 7-5 (4-4 AAC)

Location: Protective Stadium (Birmingham, Alabama)

Opponent:

Coastal Carolina (9-3, 6-2 SBC)

Date: December 27, 2022

Time: 6:45 PM

Tickets: https://ticketsmarterbirminghambowl.com/tickets/

NC State Wolfpack

Record: 8-4 (4-4 ACC)

Location: Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina)

Opponent:

Maryland (7-5, 4-5 B1G)

Date: December 30, 2022

Time: 12:00 PM

Tickets: https://charlottesports.org/events/tickets/

North Carolina Tar Heels

Record: 9-4 (6-2 ACC, Coastal Division Champs)

Opponent:

Oregon (9-3, 7-2 PAC 12)

Date: December 28, 2022

Time: 8:00 PM

Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0A005D37CA7F5243

Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Record: 7-5 (3-5 ACC)

Opponent:

Missouri (6-6, 3-5 SEC)

Date: Friday, December 23

Time: 6:30 PM

Tickets: https://www.gasparillabowl.com/tickets/

Duke's Mayo Bowl

Teams: North Carolina State Wolfpack vs. Maryland Terrapins

Date: December 30, 2022

Time: 12:00

Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C.

Tickets: https://charlottesports.org/events/tickets/

CINCINNATI – East Carolina's dream of playing for an
American Athletic Conference championship and taking down yet another team
headed for the Big 12 vanished late Friday night in Cincinnati.

But the inspired Pirates did not succumb without taking the
two-time champion Bearcats to the brink before falling 27-25 in a physical,
intense and at times nasty slugfest at sold-out Nippert Stadium. ECU erased a
21-5 deficit to forge a 25-24 lead before Ryan Coe's 20-yard field goal
provided the deciding points, extending the Bearcats' home winning streak to 32
straight and strengthening their bid to play in a fourth straight AAC title
game.

The loss ended a three-game win streak for the Pirates (6-4,
3-3 AAC) and denied them their first win in the Queen City since 2001.
Cincinnati (8-2, 4-1 AAC) won its fifth straight over the Pirates and evened
the series at 13-13 as it exits to the Big 12, joining league members UCF and
Houston.

"It's tough; our hearts hurt," senior quarterback
Holton Ahlers said. "All of our goals (were in) winning this game and
trying to get to a conference championship, something this team has never done
in the American before."

ECU, coming off a bye week after wins over UCF and BYU, did
essentially everything it needed to send Cincinnati off to the Big 12 with a
departing loss, dominating the favored Bearcats with a short, efficient passing
game and stout defense.

The Pirates piled up more yards (454-310), controlled the
ball with a 79-57 advantage in plays and 36:43-23:17 in time of possession, and
did not commit a turnover. Cincinnati managed a mere 66 yards rushing, and a
vaunted defense that led the nation in tackles for loss at 9.0 per game
registered only two and did not sack Ahlers.

When the Bearcats did strike, they struck quickly, scoring
on a 100-yard kickoff return and passes of 55 and 76 yards.

"You just can't give up those explosive plays and the
kickoff return," said fourth-year ECU coach Mike Houston, who dropped to
0-4 against Cincinnati. "That's it. That's the ballgame right there. You
can't not make those plays."

Six penalties, including three crucial holding calls, also
hampered ECU, one of the least penalized teams in the nation. Another damaging
blow came late in the third quarter when a vicious hit – penalized for
targeting -- by Bryon Threats knocked dynamic ECU running back Keaton Mitchell
out of the game.

ECU scored on the next play to take a 25-24 lead but lost
its most potent weapon for the remainder of the game.

Cincinnati limited Mitchell to 34 yards on 10 carries in the
first half, but he racked up 78 yards on just six carries in the second half to
finish with 112 for his fourth consecutive 100-yard game and the 12th of his
career. The sophomore needs just 25 more yards to reach 1,000 for a second
straight year and moved up to seventh on the school's career list with 2,550
yards.

Freshman Marlon Gunn Jr. replaced Mitchell and finished 48
yards on 11 carries.

"It hurts us not having him," Houston said of
Mitchell. "Obviously he's one of the best players in the league. I thought
Marlon came in played very, very well. I'm just really proud of him and how he
competed. I just hate losing Keaton like that."

Before Mitchell got cranked up, Ahlers kept the offense moving
and finished 26 of 46 for 280 yards with a pair of touchdowns to give him 89
for his career. The left-hander surpassed 3,000 yards for the season (3,012)
and 13,000 for his career (13,131). He also passed Shane Carden on the school's
career completion list with 1,061.

Cincinnati quarterback Ben Bryant misfired much of the
night, completing 14 of 30 passes with one interception, but got the ball in
the hands of his playmakers just enough,

A sack of Bryant by Jeremy Lewis staked ECU to a 2-0 lead,
then Andrew Conrad knocked through a career-best 47-yard field goal for a 5-0
lead.

The first of the Bearcats' fireworks exploded on the ensuing
kickoff when Jadon Thompson bumped into a teammate, slipped through the arms on
one Pirate then emerged from a crowd in the middle of the field on the way to a
100-yard return.

Tre Tucker and Tyler Scott then turned short passes into
long scoring runs, first Tucker on a 55-yard tunnel screen followed by Scott on
a 76-yard slant for a 21-5 lead. Scott finished with seven catches for 140
yards, recording his fourth 100-yard game and ninth touchdown catch this
season. He now has 14 scoring catches in his career – all covering at least 20
yards.

ECU answered when C.J. Johnson, who was injured on the
game's final play, snared a pass from Ahlers and warded off three defenders for
a 72-yard score. Coe's 37-yard field goal with 1:48 left in the half put
Cincinnati up 24-12.

The Pirates immediately seized the momentum in the second
half, surging ahead 25-24 on Mitchell's 4-yard run and a 15-yard strike from
Ahlers to Jalen Johnson.

The Bearcats pieced together what proved to be the winning
drive early in the third quarter, driving to the ECU 3 before Coe booted a
20-yarder.

The Pirates' last gasp stayed alive when Ahlers, in the
grasp of a Cincinnati defender, flipped a 12-yard pass to Johnson on fourth
down. But ECU could not convert a fourth-and-8 from the 41 as Ahlers' pass
sailed over the hands of Johnson.

"I thought we just let one get away," Houston
said. "They made a couple of plays in the first half. If we make those
plays, make the tackle on the kickoff return, it's a different ballgame. The
way the kids battled back in the second half, got the lead, we just need to be
able to finish it off there at the end.

"We had the ball at the end with a chance to drive and
score; just really disappointed we weren't able to score there at the very
end," Houston said.

Story courtesy of ECU Media Relations

GREENVILLE – The thirteenth-ranked NC State Wolfpack survived on Saturday
afternoon after a failed comeback attempt by the host East Carolina Pirates. A
record crowd of 51,711 at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium watched the Wolfpack power out
to a 21-7 halftime lead before the Pirates scored thirteen unanswered points in
the second half to come up just short.

After an ECU third-quarter touchdown made it a one-score
game, a goal-line stand by the Pirates defense gave the home fans hope for the
comeback. Seven minutes later, the Pirates offense, led by signal caller Holton
Ahlers, found the end zone in hopes of tying the game up, but the PAT was wide
and the Wolfpack was clinging to a one-point lead. The Pirates defense stepped
up again, forcing a punt, and the ECU offense got in NC State territory with
just a few seconds left but the potential game-winning field goal was wide and
the Wolfpack escaped with the one-point win.

Coaches Corner

NC State Head Coach Dave Doeren

"First, give East Carolina a lot of credit. We were up
21-7 and their kids fought. The most disappointing part for us is not scoring
at the goal line and the other opportunities that we didn't come up with
points. There's a lot to look at on film. It always starts with the schemes
that we're running, seeing how we're coaching things, looking at guys that are
running the plays and where we can get better and we will get a lot better. The
one thing I can't do is change our record tomorrow. We're 1-0 and we're
excited. The last time I was here, we lost 33-30 so it feels good to leave with
a win. You've got to give Coach Houston and his staff at ECU a lot of credit.
They did a great job today."

East Carolina Head Coach Mike Houston

"There's not a whole lot to say. Kids fought their
tails off. They inspire me with the way they play. Our preparation coming into
this game, we were very confident this morning. I know nobody outside of
Greenville gave us much of a chance, but those kids never doubted. We should
have won the ballgame. We outplayed them. We dominated them physically in the
second half. I just hurt for those kids in that locker room right now. They've
brought this program from the depths back to what it was today. That stadium
today was incredible. Our fan base is incredible, and we all deserve to have a
win today. I'm just sorry we're not sitting here celebrating one."

Notable North Carolinians

Thayer Thomas (Heritage) – the graduate wide receiver had
four catches for fifty-eight yards and a touchdown

Jaylon Scott (Shelby) – the junior linebacker had eight
tackles, including five solo stops

Holton Ahlers (Conley) – the senior quarterback completed 24
of 40 attempts for 255 yards with two touchdowns

Next Week

NC State (1-0) hosts Charleston Southern in their home debut
at Carter-Finley Stadium while East Carolina (0-1) hosts Old Dominion (1-0), who
is fresh off a Power 5 upset of Virginia Tech.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Country music star and App State alum Luke Combs will perform Saturday at The Rock, with fans filling Kidd Brewer Stadium for his highly anticipated concert.  

Consider his song-leading cameo in a triumphant App State locker room at Bank of America Stadium on Thursday night a memorable warmup.

"I'm pretty parched right now," App State head coach Shawn Clark said to open his postgame press conference. "Had a chance to sing with Luke Combs in the locker room, so I enjoyed that."

Playing at the home of the NFL's Carolina Panthers, the Mountaineers had mayo-covered mojo on their side as they went on a roll to claim a big lead and post a 33-19 victory against East Carolina of the American Athletic Conference. A crowd of 36,752 was on hand as App State built a 33-9 lead in the Duke's Mayo Classic.

Chase Brice was nearly flawless through three quarters, throwing for 259 yards with touchdowns to Thomas Hennigan (114 receiving yards) and Corey Sutton, who each increased their career totals to 18 TD catches apiece. A new-look offensive line paved the way for two App State backs to surpass 100 rushing yards, as Nate Noel had 126 on 15 carries and Camerun Peoples scored twice on a 14-carry, 100-yard night.

Defensively, Ryan Huff came up with a key interception and the Mountaineers recorded four sacks, including 1.5 from Brendan Harrington. Nick Hampton and Tim Frizzell had back-to-back sacks leading up to Huff's pick, Tommy Dawkins Jr. teamed with Harrington on one sack and D'Marco Jackson was App State's leading tackler with eight stops.

"I'm very proud of our team tonight," Clark said. "We had a goal of being 1-0, and we've had a lot of things going on throughout the year, and we made our mind up early that we were going to go out early and play the App State brand of football and not let anybody dictate to us how we're going to run our offense, defense or special teams. We played complementary football."

App State (1-0) took the lead for good, moving ahead 7-6, as Brice connected on a deep throw to Hennigan for a 34-yard touchdown with 6:24 remaining in the first quarter. In the final minute of the period, the Mountaineers extended their lead thanks to a 21-yard touchdown run from Peoples, and Chandler Staton added a pair of field goals (21 yards, 43 yards) in the second quarter to produce a 20-6 halftime lead.

The end of the half wasn't without drama, though, as back-to-back sacks from Hampton and Frizzell forced a Hail Mary attempt. With three App State receivers back deep, Hennigan tipped the ball up in the middle of a crowd that had gathered near the goal line. Huff wrapped two hands around the ball before there was a pileup, and the officials ruled the play a touchdown after an ECU receiver emerged with the ball, but a review overturned the on-field call and awarded Huff with an interception.

ECU opened the third quarter with a 38-yard field goal, but App State responded immediately, starting with Brice's 68-yard completion to Hennigan on first down. On the next snap, Brice threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Sutton, who missed all of last season while rehabbing a 2019 injury. He scored for the first time since Nov. 23, 2019.

App State had an opportunity to stretch the lead to an even bigger margin, as Anderson Castle recovered a fumbled kickoff following big hits from Logan Doublin and Tyler Bird. The Mountaineers' only turnover of the night spoiled that opportunity, and ECU (0-1) managed to add a field goal and a touchdown in the closing minutes.

Story courtesy App State Strategic Communications