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.

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 – 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.

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.

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.

NEW ORLEANS — Heading into the 2022 season, its first as a 14-member football conference, the Sun Belt joins ESPN in announcing updates to its 2022 football schedule on Thursday. 

The announcement includes both kickoff times and network designations for the majority of games during the first three weeks of the season, all midweek games throughout the 2022 campaign, and the conference’s bowl lineup. 2022 marks the 11th-consecutive year that every Sun Belt home game will appear on an ESPN platform. 

“We are excited to welcome four storied football programs and engaged fanbases into our membership—James Madison, Marshall, Old Dominion, and Southern Miss—during the 2022 season,” said Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Keith Gill. “This schedule showcases the strength of Sun Belt Conference football and our partnership with ESPN, as we look to build upon our successes over the past few seasons.”

Virginia Tech at Old Dominion kicks off the Sun Belt’s linear appearances on Friday, Sept. 2, at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT on ESPNU. 

The Sun Belt will have three additional linear appearances on Saturday, Sept. 3—the first full Saturday of the college football season—UNC will visit App State at 12 p.m. ET/11 a.m. CT on ESPNU; Troy will travel to Ole Miss at 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT on SEC Network, and ULM will take on Texas at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on Longhorn Network. 

A marquee non-conference Saturday slate on Sept. 10 will feature five linear broadcasts—UNC at Georgia State on ESPN at 12 p.m. ET/11 a.m. CT; Arkansas State at Ohio State on Big Ten Network at 12 p.m. ET/11 a.m. CT; Southern Miss at Miami on ACC Network at 12 p.m. ET/11 a.m. CT; App State at Texas A&M on ESPN2 at 3:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. CT; and Georgia Southern at Nebraska on FS1 at 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT.

Texas State at Baylor at 12 p.m. ET/11 a.m. CT on FS1; Old Dominion at Virginia at 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT on ACC Network; South Alabama at UCLA at 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT on Pac-12 Network; and ULM at Alabama at 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT on SEC Network will also be showcased on national linear networks on Saturday, Sept. 17. 

In midweek action, App State at Coastal Carolina at 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT on Thursday, Nov. 3, will receive flagship billing on ESPN. Louisiana at Marshall at 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Oct. 12, and Georgia State at App State at 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Oct. 19, will be broadcast on ESPN2. 

Other ESPNU appearances include Coastal Carolina at Georgia State at 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT on Thursday, Sept. 22; Troy at South Alabama at 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT on Thursday, Oct. 20; Louisiana at Southern Miss at 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT on Thursday, Oct. 27; and Georgia Southern at Louisiana at 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT on Thursday, Nov. 10.  

The 2022 Sun Belt Football Championship Game on Saturday, Dec. 3, will air on ESPN at 3:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. CT. The game will feature the champions of the conference’s East and West Divisions and will be played at the site of the divisional winner with the best overall conference record. 

The 2022 season will conclude with the Sun Belt guaranteed a minimum of five spots in postseason bowl games—the Cure Bowl, Lending Tree Bowl, Myrtle Beach Bowl, R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, and Camellia Bowl. 

The Cure Bowl at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Fla., will kick off the Sun Belt’s bowl season on Friday, Dec. 16, at 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT on ESPN. 

Two Sun Belt stadiums will once again play host to bowl games. The Cure Bowl will be contested at South Alabama’s Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Ala., at 5:45 p.m. ET/4:45 p.m. CT on Saturday, Dec. 17, and will be broadcast nationwide on ESPN. The Myrtle Beach Bowl will be played at Coastal Carolina’s Brooks Stadium in Conway, S.C., at 2:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. CT on Monday, Dec. 19, and will also be showcased on ESPN. 

The R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, La., will air on ESPN at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Dec. 21, while the Camellia Bowl at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala., will round out the Sun Belt’s guaranteed bowl assignments at 12 p.m. ET/11 a.m. CT on Tuesday, Dec. 27, on ESPN. 

The College Football Playoff also guarantees that a spot among the New Year’s Six bowl games will be awarded to the highest-ranked champion from the Group of Five conferences. 

The Sun Belt continues to pace the FBS with a .649 bowl winning percentage—including 3-of-4 in 2021—since the dawn of the College Football Playoff era in 2014. 

2022 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Friday, September 2 

Virginia Tech at Old Dominion, 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT – ESPNU 

Saturday, September 3

UNC at App State, 12 p.m. ET/11 a.m. CT – ESPNU 

Norfolk State at Marshall, 3:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. CT – ESPN3

Troy at Ole Miss, 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT – SEC Network

Nicholls State at South Alabama, 5 p.m. ET/4 p.m. CT – ESPN3

Morgan State at Georgia Southern, 6 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT – ESPN3

Middle Tennessee at James Madison, 6 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT – ESPN+

Army at Coastal Carolina, 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT – ESPN+

Grambling State at Arkansas State, 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT – ESPN3

Southeastern Louisiana at Louisiana, 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT – ESPN+

Liberty at Southern Miss, 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT – ESPN+

Georgia State at South Carolina, 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT – ESPN+/SECN+

ULM at Texas, 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT – Longhorn Network

Texas State at Nevada, TBA – TBA 

Saturday, Sept. 10

UNC at Georgia State, 12 p.m. ET/11 a.m. CT – ESPNU

Arkansas State at Ohio State, 12 p.m. ET/11 a.m. CT – BTN

Southern Miss at Miami, 12 p.m. ET/11 a.m. CT – ACC Network 

South Alabama at Central Michigan, 1 p.m. ET/12 p.m. CT – ESPN+ 

Marshall at Notre Dame, 2:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. CT – TBA

App State at Texas A&M, 3:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. CT – ESPN2 

Norfolk State at James Madison, 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT – ESPN3

Gardner-Webb at Coastal Carolina, 6 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT – ESPN+

Old Dominion at East Carolina, 6 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT – ESPN+

Eastern Michigan at Louisiana, 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT – TBA

Alabama A&M at Troy, 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT – ESPN3

FIU at Texas State, 7 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. CT – ESPN+

Georgia Southern at Nebraska, 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT – FS1

Nicholls State at ULM, 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT – ESPN3

Saturday, Sept. 17

Texas State at Baylor, 12 p.m. ET/11 a.m. CT – FS1 

Buffalo at Coastal Carolina, 1 p.m. ET/12 p.m. CT – ESPN+

Old Dominion at Virginia, 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT – ACC Network

South Alabama at UCLA, 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT – Pac-12 Network

Troy at App State*, 3:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. CT – ESPN+

Georgia Southern at UAB, 3:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. CT – Stadium

ULM at Alabama, 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT – SEC Network

Marshall at Bowling Green, 5 p.m. ET/4 p.m. CT – TBA 

Charlotte at Georgia State, 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT – ESPN+

Northwestern State at Southern Miss, 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT – ESPN3

Arkansas State at Memphis, 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT – ESPN+

Louisiana at Rice, 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT – ESPN+

Thursday, Sept. 22

Coastal Carolina at Georgia State*, 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT – ESPNU 

Wednesday, Oct. 12 

Louisiana at Marshall*, 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT – ESPN2

Wednesday, Oct. 19

Georgia State at App State*, 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT – ESPN2

Thursday, Oct. 20 

Troy at South Alabama*, 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT – ESPNU

Thursday, Oct. 27 

Louisiana at Southern Miss*, 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT – ESPNU

Thursday, Nov. 3

App State at Coastal Carolina*, 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT – ESPN

Thursday, Nov. 10 

Georgia Southern at Louisiana*, 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT – ESPNU

Saturday, Dec. 3

Sun Belt Football Championship Game, 3:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. CT – ESPN  

Friday, Dec. 16

Cure Bowl, 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT – ESPN

Saturday, Dec. 17 

LendingTree Bowl, 5:45 p.m. ET/4:45 p.m. CT – ESPN

Monday, Dec. 19 

Myrtle Beach Bowl, 2:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. CT – ESPN

Wednesday, Dec. 21

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT – ESPN

Tuesday, Dec. 27

Camellia Bowl, 12 p.m. ET/11 a.m. CT – ESPN

* Sun Belt Conference Game

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

BOONE — A rainbow descended toward Kidd Brewer Stadium's new north end zone facility Saturday evening.

With an above-capacity crowd of 30,224 gathered for App State's first Boone-based home game with no crowd-size restrictions in 651 days, a 44-10 victory against Elon included a rich mix of gold and black at the end of The Rock's rainbow — along with a throwback white logo.

T.D. Roof's 90-yard interception return set up a third-quarter touchdown that gave the Mountaineers (2-1) a 27-3 lead on a day they honored Hall of Fame coach Jerry Moore by unveiling a statue and dedicating a plaza bearing his name. Black helmets with colorful stripes and white 'A' logos even paid tribute to Moore's first team in 1989.

Thirty-two years later, Moore was on hand as one of his mid-90s standouts, Shawn Clark, coached App State in a full Kidd Brewer Stadium for the first time.

"We have the best fans in college football who are very passionate," Clark said. "It was exciting to come back to The Rock in our new $50 million complex with a sold-out crowd. Our fans were here, they were behind us, and we appreciate that, and now we need our fans on Thursday night."

D'Marco Jackson delivered a career-high three sacks among his 4.5 tackles for loss and 13 stops to lead a stout defense that limited Elon (1-2) to 291 yards of offense. On special teams, Chandler Staton converted all three of his field-goal tries, including a 45-yarder late in the first half.

Offensively, quarterback Chase Brice had a rushing touchdown to go along with a 19-of-25 passing effort for 293 yards and one more touchdown. Malik Williams produced the first score with a 47-yard touchdown on his way to a career-high 123 receiving yards on four catches, and Corey Sutton caught seven passes for 128 yards as the Mountaineers had two receivers eclipse the century mark.

Roof's end-zone interception return off a tipped pass set up the first of two touchdown runs from Camerun Peoples, who finished with 80 yards on 11 rushes, and Nate Noel contributed 73 yards on 17 carries. Local product Anderson Castle's first career touchdown came on an 8-yard run in the final minute.

"We've been waiting a long time for this, and we wanted to put a good show on just for them," Williams said of the fans. "Having them out there felt amazing. A couple of the receivers, we were nervous starting out seeing all the fans, but it felt good."

Jackson's career day included sacks in the first, second and fourth quarters. He joined Jordan Fehr (2018 vs. Coastal Carolina) and Eric Boggs (2015 vs. Louisiana) as the only App State players in the FBS era with three sacks in a single game.

Perhaps his biggest hit came right before a sack, as he leveled a pass-catching running back for a 5-yard loss in a one-on-one showdown out in space. His 4.5 tackles for loss are the most by an App State player in the FBS era.

"On defense, we were having trouble trying to communicate because it was so loud, but on defense we fed off that energy by our supporters," Jackson said. "It was awesome."

App State nearly scored on its opening possession but lost a fumble into the end zone. The next series began with a 26-yard completion to Sutton and ended with a 47-yard strike to a streaking Williams.

Only a few plays into the second quarter, Brice had thrown for 179 yards with an 8-for-8 start.

"When you're seeing the defense and seeing rotation, you can kind of anticipate where your guys are going to be," Brice said. "It also helps when they're wide open, and it's about giving my guys a chance. I think I did a better job of that today — putting the ball out there and letting them go make a play. Letting them catch and run, and kudos to 'The Bulls' up front. They did a great job of protecting me today. I only got hit one time, and that's on me for holding the ball too much."

The game remained relatively close into the third quarter, as Staton made a 44-yard field goal early in the second quarter and drilled a 45-yarder right before halftime to help the Mountaineers take a 13-3 lead into their new locker room.

A 27-yard pass to Jalen Virgil kickstarted App State's second possession of the third quarter, and Noel's 5-yard run on a fourth-and-4 play from the Elon 8 extended the series. Three plays later, Brice scored from the 1.

The Phoenix reached App State's 9 on the next possession, and Roof was trailing a receiver when the ball bounced off the Elon's players hands in the end zone. The ball went right to Roof, who sprinted down the left sideline and was finally brought down at the Phoenix 10.

"Every blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while," Roof said. "Just kind of right spot, right time. I obviously got hawked (down) and was pretty gassed, but we can work on that."

The Mountaineers closed the game by forcing another turnover, thanks to a Logan Doublin hit that led to a recovery by safety Ronald Clarke, and there's a quick turnaround as App State prepares for its next game.

On Thursday, Marshall comes to Boone to face the Mountaineers in a nationally televised game at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.

"I'm very proud of our football team," Clark said. "Winning in college football is hard, and it doesn't matter if it's 1-0 or 100-0, a win is a win. There's an old saying in football that there's no such thing as a bad win. We have a lot of things to get cleaned up and a lot of things to learn from coming back on a short week."

NEW ORLEANS — The Sun Belt Conference announced its 2021 Preseason All-Sun Belt Football Teams, individual awards and Preseason Poll on Tuesday.

Coastal Carolina redshirt sophomore quarterback Grayson McCall was dubbed the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Troy junior linebacker Carlton Martial was named the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. McCall was the Sun Belt Player and Freshman of the Year in 2020, while both McCall and Martial are returning All-Sun Belt First Team honorees.

Coastal Carolina paced all conference programs with 11 Preseason All-Sun Belt selections, including a conference-best seven First Team picks. The Chanticleers were followed closely by Georgia State (10), App State (9) and Louisiana (9).

Louisiana was picked to win its fourth-straight Sun Belt West Division title in the Preseason Coaches Poll, while capturing 9-of-10 first-place votes. Coastal Carolina and App State were tied atop the Sun Belt East Division ledger, though the Chanticleers claimed an edge with 6-of-10 first-place nods.

Coastal Carolina and Louisiana were Sun Belt co-champions in 2020, while App State won four-straight titles from 2016-19.

Sun Belt Football Media Day will kick off the 2021 Sun Belt football season on Thursday, July 22. The event will be broadcast on ESPN+, with a morning session from 9 a.m. to 12 noon CT and an afternoon session from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. CT.

2021 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PRESEASON AWARDS

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year

Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina (RS So., QB – Indian Trail, N.C.)

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year

Carlton Martial, Troy (Jr., LB – Mobile, Ala.)

Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team Offense

QB – Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina (RS So. – Indian Trail, N.C.)

RB – Camerun Peoples, App State (Jr. – Lineville, Ala.)

RB – Destin Coates, Georgia State (Sr. – Tallahassee, Fla.)

OL – Baer Hunter, App State (Super Sr. – Clemmons, N.C.)

OL – Shamarious Gilmore, Georgia State (RS Sr. – Riverdale, Ga.)

OL – Cooper Hodges, App State (Jr. – Glen St. Mary, Fla.)

OL – Austin Stidham, Troy (Jr. – Russellville, Ala.)

OL – O’Cyrus Torrence, Louisiana (So. – Greensburg, La.)

TE – Isaiah Likely, Coastal Carolina (Sr. – Cambridge, Mass.)

WR – Jalen Tolbert, South Alabama (Jr. – Mobile, Ala.)

WR – Jaivon Heiligh, Coastal Carolina (Sr. – Venice, Fla.)

WR – Sam Pinckney, Georgia State (RS Jr. – Greenwood, S.C.)

Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team Defense

DL – Jeffery Gunter, Coastal Carolina (RS Sr. – Durham, N.C.)

DL – CJ Brewer, Coastal Carolina (Super Sr. – Bowdon, Ga.)

DL – Demetrius Taylor, App State (Super Sr. – Miami, Fla.)

DL – Will Choloh, Troy (Jr. – Lawrenceville, Ga.)

LB – Carlton Martial, Troy (Jr. – Mobile, Ala.)

LB – D’Marco Jackson, App State (Sr. – Spartanburg, S.C.)

LB – Silas Kelly, Coastal Carolina (Super Sr. – Mount Airy, Md.)

DB – Derrick Canteen, Georgia Southern (RS So. – Evans, Ga.)

DB – Shaun Jolly, App State (Sr. – Stone Mountain, Ga.)

DB – D’Jordan Strong, Coastal Carolina (Sr. – Batesville, Miss.)

DB – Bralen Trahan, Louisiana (RS Jr. – Lafayette, La.)

Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team Special Teams

K – Noel Ruiz, Georgia State (Sr. – Wilson, N.C.)

P – Rhys Byrns, Louisiana (Jr. – Melbourne, Australia)

RS – Chris Smith, Louisiana (RS So. – Louisville, Miss.)

Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team Offense

QB – Levi Lewis, Louisiana (Sr. – Baton Rouge, La.)

RB – JD King, Georgia Southern (Fifth-Year Sr. – Fitzgerald, Ga.)

RB – Daetrich Harrington, App State (Sr. – Douglasville, Ga.)

OL – Trey Carter, Coastal Carolina (Super Sr. – Monroeville, Ala.)

OL – Max Mitchell, Louisiana (Jr. – Monroe, La.)

OL – Dylan Bradshaw, Troy (Sr. – Enterprise, Ala.)

OL – Willie Lampkin, Coastal Carolina (So. – Lakeland, Fla.)

OL – Aaron Dowdell, Georgia Southern (Sixth-Year Sr. – Fairburn, Ga.)

TE – Roger Carter, Georgia State (Sr. – Columbia, S.C.)

WR – Thomas Hennigan, App State (Super Sr. – Greensboro, N.C.)

WR – Marcell Barbee, Texas State (Jr. – Pueblo, Colo.)

WR – Cornelius McCoy, Georgia State (Sr. – Deerfield Beach, Fla.)

Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team Defense

DL – Zi’Yon Hill, Louisiana (RS Jr. – New Iberia, La.)

DL – Hardrick Willis, Georgia State (RS Sr. – Jonesboro, Ga.)

DL – Dontae Wilson, Georgia State (Sr. – Jefferson, Ga.)

DL – Nico Ezidore, Texas State (Jr. – Garland, Texas)

LB – Lorenzo McCaskill, Louisiana (RS Jr. – Detroit, Mich.)

LB – Teddy Gallagher, Coastal Carolina (Super Sr. – Los Angeles, Calif.)

LB – Brendan Harrington, App State (Jr. - Pittsboro, N.C.)

DB – Antavious Lane, Georgia State (RS So. – West Palm Beach, Fla.) 

DB – Quavian White, Georgia State (Sr. – Greer, S.C.)

DB – Keith Gallmon, South Alabama (Jr. – Mobile, Ala.)

DB – Eric Garror, Louisiana (Jr. – Mobile, Ala.)

Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team Special Teams

K – Massimo Biscardi, Coastal Carolina (Sr. – Downingtown, Pa.)

P – Anthony Beck II, Georgia Southern (RS Jr. – Guyton, Ga.)

RS – Khaleb Hood, Georgia Southern (Jr. – McDonough, Ga.)

2021 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL

East Division

T1. Coastal Carolina (6) – 44

T1. App State (4) – 44

3. Georgia State – 24

4. Georgia Southern – 20

5. Troy – 18

West Division

1. Louisiana (9) – 49

2. Arkansas State (1) – 38

3. South Alabama – 27

4. Texas State – 25

5. ULM – 11

CONWAY, SC — A flag for a penalty well behind the play wiped out Marcus Williams Jr.’s 79-yard touchdown run in the third quarter of App State’s bowl matchup with North Texas.

No worries. Camerun Peoples rushed for a 76-yard gain on the very next snap, setting up his fourth of five touchdown runs during a 56-28 victory for the Mountaineers in the inaugural Myrtle Beach Bowl on Monday.

“We found a play that worked,” Williams Jr. said.

“I got in and said, ‘OK, let’s run that play Marcus ran,’ ” Peoples said with a laugh. “That looked good.”

The Mountaineers found a lot of plays that worked and looked good in an ESPN appearance to begin the 2020 bowl schedule.

App State capped a 9-3 season under first-year head coach Shawn Clark and improved its all-time bowl record to an FBS-best 6-0, with each of those wins coming in the program’s first six bowl-eligible years, as Peoples set a school and NCAA bowl record with 319 rushing yards on 23 attempts.

“You play the game to win championships,” Clark said. “A lot of weight off our shoulders to win our sixth bowl game in a row, and that’s something we take a lot of pride in Boone and our program. Our guys are resilient, and I told our guys we’d be remembered for how we finished this season. We finished it the right way against a very good opponent.”

Fifth-year seniors such as Zac Thomas and Shemar-Jean Charles have helped App State go 52-13 since the start of the 2016 season. For fourth-year seniors like Noah Hannon and Thomas Hennigan, who have started since Day 1 as true freshmen, they’ve been part of 42 wins in 52 games.

With Williams Jr. adding 101 yards and his own long touchdown that counted Monday, App State amassed 502 rushing yards as a team behind a line with Hannon, Ryan Neuzil, Baer Hunter, Cooper Hodges, and Anderson Hardy blocking. Peoples had three runs of at least 62 yards in the win.

The previous NCAA single-game bowl record belonged to Georgia Tech's P.J. Daniels, who rushed for 307 yards against Tulsa in the 2003 Humanitarian Bowl. Peoples also broke the school record of 313 yards from Armanti Edwards in a 2007 FCS semifinal win against Richmond while tying the school record for rushing touchdowns in a game, as John Settle posted five against Davidson in 1986.

Peoples also tied six other players, including Barry Sanders, as the only ones to have scored five rushing touchdowns in a bowl game. He arrived at Brooks Stadium needing 193 yards to give App State a 1,000-yard rusher for the ninth straight year — a streak that likely will be the nation’s longest active one at season’s end.

“This is probably one of the most memorable football games I’ve ever played,” Peoples said. “I didn’t realize what I was doing until the fourth quarter.”

The Mountaineers produced 638 yards of total offense with Henry Pearson catching touchdown passes from receiver Malik Williams and Thomas, who improved to 32-6 as a starter.

Defensively, App State benefited from sacks by D’Marco Jackson, Hansky Paillant, and Nick Hampton, and Steven Jones returned an interception 63 yards to set up Peoples’ final touchdown. Kaiden Smith recorded a team-high 13 tackles, followed by Trey Cobb and Jackson with 12 apiece and Brendan Harrington with 11.

App State’s offensive explosion included touchdown runs of 70 yards by Williams Jr. and 64 yards by Peoples on the Mountaineers’ last two offensive snaps of the first half.

“They did very well in getting to the second level and giving out one-on-ones with the safeties,” Williams Jr. said of the line. “In the running back room, any time we have a one-on-one, we expect to win it.”

Williams, a senior receiver and former high school quarterback, threw the fourth trick-play touchdown pass of his career — he had two in a 2018 bowl victory against Middle Tennessee — to give App State an early lead. After Thomas threw a backward pass to Williams along the left sideline, Pearson hauled in a 22-yard touchdown.

Peoples capped a 13-play, 90-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown to push App State’s lead to 14-0 later in the first quarter, and North Texas broke through with a 16-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter before Pearson scored for the second time on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Thomas.

Immediately after North Texas missed a 47-yard field goal with App State leading 21-7, Williams Jr. sprinted through a big hole created by Pearson and Neuzil.

The Mean Green did answer with a 75-yard touchdown drive to cut its deficit to 28-14 with 27 seconds left before the break, and App State took over at its 36-yard line with 22 seconds remaining and three timeouts at its disposal. With Neuzil and Hardy blocking on the left side, Hunter and Hodges creating a cut-back lane on the right side and Hannon reaching the second level, Peoples broke free for what at the time was the longest run of his career — his two 63-yard runs include a touchdown in the 2018 bowl win.

“That’s the bread and butter of our offense, being able to run the football,” Clark said.

North Texas cut its deficit to 35-21 with 6:14 left in the third quarter, but App State pushed its lead back to 21 points on a 62-yard touchdown run by Peoples. He contributed touchdowns covering 1 and 11 yards in the first six minutes of the fourth quarter.

As the fourth quarter wound down, starters began giving way to backups, with senior Jacob Huesman replacing his classmate and housemate at quarterback to cheers from the partisan crowd of App State fans.

“When we got pulled out in the fourth quarter, it was really just soaking it in,” Jackson said. “You get kind of emotional just knowing, like when we have our meetings, this is the last time with this group, this coaching staff, because you never know who is going to change. It’s just special.”

Postgame Press Conference

Story Courtesy of App State Athletics Strategic Communications

SAN MARCOS, Texas — A day of eye-catching firsts contributed to App State moving forward with no Sun Belt Conference losses on its record.

App State built a lead with first-time touchdowns from a trio of Mountaineers, who remained unbeaten in league play with a 38-17 victory at Texas State.

App State (5-1, 3-0) led 24-10 at the break thanks to first-half scores on a 32-yard catch from tight end Miller Gibbs, a 49-yard interception return from linebacker Brendan Harrington and a 1-yard reception from part-time fullback Caleb Spurlin, a starting defensive end.

Shemar Jean-Charles' third-quarter interception at the App State 9-yard line preceded a 91-yard touchdown march from the Mountaineers, capped by Zac Thomas' third touchdown pass of the day, a 9-yard connection with Jalen Virgil. Camerun Peoples closed the scoring on his 32-yard touchdown run with 5:59 left in the game against the Bobcats (1-8, 1-4).

"Any time you win in college football you take it, I don't care if it's 2-0 or 100-99," App State head coach Shawn Clark said. "We were down here a few years ago and won on a last-second play and celebrated like crazy. We're going to celebrate tonight and, road warriors, it's off for a week and we're back home at The Rock."

App State traveled to the Central time zone for the second straight week and followed up a 31-13 win at ULM with another one-sided victory. The Mountaineers used a balanced effort to maintain their unblemished Sun Belt record going into next weekend's home game against Georgia State (3-3, 2-3).

Daetrich Harrington accounted for 113 of App State's 258 rushing yards, and Thomas completed 18 of his 27 passes for 168 yards with no interceptions. He  hooked up with 10 different receivers while moving into third place on App State’s list for career touchdown passes (increasing his total to 60) and fourth place for career total offense (7,157 yards). On special teams, Chandler Staton made his only field goal try, a 33-yard attempt with 15 seconds left in the first half.

Demetrius Taylor and Jalen McLeod contributed sacks Saturday to help lead a defense that benefited from a career-high 10 tackles by D'Marco Jackson, who added 1.5 tackles for loss and two pass breakups. The Mountaineers forced two turnovers, limited Texas State to four conversions on 12 third-down tries and no conversions on three fourth-down attempts — all in the second half. Those stops were made on snaps from the App State 28 (ending with Jean-Charles' interception), the Texas State 47 and the App State 19. 

"We gave up a couple opportunities, but all the mistakes, they're on us and they're things we can fix," Brendan Harrington said. "I think we played well as a defense. We got to the quarterback and pressured him a lot and closed a lot of gaps."

A collision between two defenders on a deep throw helped Texas State connect for a 75-yard touchdown pass on the third play from scrimmage, but App State responded with a touchdown drive that included a 14-yard catch by Gibbs on a third-and-3 pass to avoid a quick punt.

Four plays later, after tight end Henry Pearson had fallen on a teammate's fumble, Gibbs scored his first career touchdown.

"Miller Gibbs came in and gave us a shot in the arm," Clark said. "I thought our tight ends played excellent today, and Miller Gibbs was a big part of that. We're going to need more people, because as we get into this stretch, people are going to get banged up, but it's a next-man-up mentality."

App State took the lead for good late in the first quarter, when Harrington came up with his third interception of the season on a throw toward midfield. He found an opening along the Mountaineers' sideline and received help from Jackson's blocking to reach the end zone.

Jackson's defensive work turned a first down from the App State 21 into a short field goal for Texas State on its next possession, and the Mountaineers increased their advantage with an 11-play, 75-yard drive.

Christian Wells' 15-yard reception on a third-and-9 play extended the drive, and Spurlin entered the game as a fullback for a first-and-goal snap. Having blocked on short touchdown runs against Campbell and ULM, Spurlin leaked out to the right and was unguarded as he hauled in a short pass from Thomas.

"In high school, all four years, I played both sides of the ball, so I had played some fullback," Spurlin said. "It's pretty second nature to me at this point, so it wasn't anything really new or tricky for me."

BOONE — App State showed few signs of early rust in its
first "Ring Game" of 2020.

Zac Thomas delivered a 60-yard touchdown run in addition to
tying his career-high of four touchdown passes, Daetrich Harrington broke loose
on a long touchdown while rushing for 137 yards and the defense put up a dominant
first-half showing as the Mountaineers rolled to a 45-17 victory against
Arkansas State at The Rock on Thursday night.

Playing for the first time in 26 days, after the first two
scheduled Sun Belt Conference games were postponed until December, App State
(3-1, 1-0) began pursuit of a fifth straight league title by building a 31-7
halftime lead against the high-scoring, pass-happy Red Wolves (3-3, 2-2) in a
nationally televised game on ESPN.

"Our guys like to compete, and that was the message
today — go compete to see where we are as a program," head coach Shawn
Clark said. "Our guys did that. We did a great job on defense, and we came
out and started fast on offense."

With 2,100 fans in attendance based on 7-percent capacity
guidelines in Kidd Brewer Stadium, there was plenty to cheer about. For the second straight meeting, the Mountaineers held Arkansas State to less than 20
points, something that's happened only two other times to the Red Wolves in the
last three seasons — against Alabama and Georgia.

D'Marco Jackson made two interceptions in the end zone to
end a pair of scoring threats, Tristan Walliser forced an errant pitch while
disrupting an unsuccessful fake punt and App State's six sacks came from
Demetrius Taylor (two), Tim Frizzell, Caleb Spurlin, Trey Cobb (part of his 3.5
tackles for loss) and a combo effort from Shaun Jolly and George Blackstock.

Offensively, Thomas rushed for a career-high 82 yards on
seven attempts and completed 16 of 23 passes for 216 yards, with two of his TD
passes finding first-time starter Christian Wells.

"Our players embody what a Mountaineer is, and they
showed resilience tonight," Clark said. "I can't stress how proud I
am of our players, our coaches, and our program."

Arkansas State used a field goal and 55-yard touchdown run
to trail just 31-17 late in the third quarter, and a third-and-14 scenario put
the Red Wolves in a position to get the ball back.

Thomas sprinted up the middle for a big gain, made a hard
right cut near the Arkansas State 35, maneuvered around a Malik Williams block
that occupied two defenders and stayed in bounds along the sideline before
making a Superman-style dive into the front-right pylon.

"That linebacker (in the middle) I knew had the running
back, and as soon as I saw that, I knew it was about to be something good, so I
sent (the back) in motion," Thomas said. "It just parted like the Red
Sea right there, and a heck of a job out by Malik out wide to make two key
blocks, and upfront, they all did their jobs."

Jackson's 44-yard return of an end-zone interception set up
the Mountaineers' final touchdown, a 20-yard pass to Wells with 8:22 remaining.

App State didn't punt in a first half that included a
46-yard touchdown pass down the middle of the field to a streaking Wells on the
Mountaineers' first possession, a tiebreaking touchdown run of 55 yards from
Harrington on their next series and a 5-yard pass early in the second quarter
for tight end Mike Evans' first career touchdown. Thomas' keeper for 23 yards
on a fourth-and-4 run from the Arkansas State 45 extended that drive.

Forcing mistakes and capitalizing on others from the Red
Wolves, App State increased its lead before halftime thanks to Chandler
Staton's 39-yard field goal and Williams' 16-yard touchdown reception.

Arkansas State arrived in Boone averaging 38.2 points,
helped by totals of 50 and 59 in its last two games, but the Mountaineers'
defense ended the first half Thursday with no third-down conversions allowed in
seven attempts and four forced punts — one shy of the Red Wolves' season-high
for a game. They were limited to minus-4 rushing yards in the half, and aside
from two long passes that netted 81 yards for star receiver Jonathan Adams,
Arkansas State's other 18 pass attempts before the break produced 102 yards.

"It was a lot of preparation," said Jackson, who
had the first two interceptions of his career. "We had guys going late
night, throughout the week, coming over about 8 or 9 (p.m.) and doing film
studies, looking at tendencies and what they liked to do on certain downs. A
lot of preparation went into it."

Arkansas State trailed 21-7 when it forced a turnover and
moved within a single yard of cutting its deficit in half.

The Mountaineers responded to that first-and-goal situation
from the 1 by forcing a loss of 1 on a run and pushing the Red Wolves back 5
more yards on Frizzell's stop of quarterback Logan Bonner. Pressure from Taylor
and Frizzell led to a third-down incompletion, and Arkansas State missed the
24-yard field goal wide left.

The Red Wolves regained possession when a long run turned
into a lost fumble, but a three-and-out series preceded Walliser ruining the
fake-punt plan for a reverse pitch.

Arkansas State didn't move into positive territory for
rushing yards as a team until its long touchdown late in the third quarter, and
the Red Wolves finished 4 of 16 on third-down conversions.

Story courtesy of App State Strategic Communications