Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Trio of North Carolina Standouts to Lead App State Against Big Ten Foe

Appalachian State is opening its third straight season on the road against a Top 15 opponent as the Mountaineers visit Penn State this Saturday afternoon. The defending Sun Belt Conference champion Mountaineers hope to pull off their second win over a Big Ten opponent after shocking the world as the first FCS team to take down a Top 5 team at Michigan in 2007, a game also played on September 1.

Appalachian State has the fifth-best record in FBS over the last 45 games and for Scott Satterfield's Mountaineers to keep this winning tradition alive, he and the App State coaching staff are relying on three standout players to lead their #10strong campaign. #10strong represents the ten position groups on the team and will help provide leadership for a roster that is majority underclassmen.

Offensively, the Appalachian State offense will depend on star running back Jalin Moore's ability to find the end zone. Moore, a former Crest High standout, was named to the preseason watch lists for the Maxwell and Doak Walker Awards. Moore, whose 3,170 yards are second-most for returning players in the FBS, is ranked by Athlon as the number 19 running back in the country and second-best among the Group of Five conferences.

On the defensive side of the ball, two North Carolina players who stayed home to play for the Mountaineers will try and help maintain a defense that only gave up twenty points a game last season. Junior Clifton Duck (Butler) was named the preseason Sun Belt defensive player of the year was also named to the Jim Thorpe Award watch list and is also a Street and Smith preseason second-team All-American. Duck's eleven interceptions over the last two seasons is tied for the most in the nation.

Leading the Mountaineer defense up front is MyQuon Stout, a senior nose tackle whose 41 tackles in 2017 are the highest among returning players in the Sun Belt conference. The former Carson star was named to the Wuerffel Trophy watch list, an award that goes to the college player who best represents community service and academic achievement.

Kickoff from Beaver Stadium is set for 3:30pm. The game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.