BIRMINGHAM, AL – Georgia Southern scored 16 unanswered points in the third quarter to break open a tight game and defeat App State 29-10 in the JLab Birmingham Bowl on Monday at Protective Stadium.
The Eagles (7-6) led just 13-7 at halftime before exploding for two quick touchdowns in a span of less than five minutes early in the third quarter. Georgia Southern's offense totaled 413 yards and converted 5 of 11 third-down attempts, while the defense forced four interceptions to stifle the Mountaineers' comeback hopes.
App State (5-8) played without numerous regulars but remained competitive through two quarters before Georgia Southern's offensive burst proved too much to overcome. The Mountaineers advanced inside the Eagles' 40-yard line on seven possessions but managed just one touchdown, with four interceptions and a missed field goal ending promising drives.
Redshirt freshman Matt Wilson made his collegiate debut for App State and delivered a memorable performance, completing 12 of 22 passes for 128 yards while rushing for 110 yards on 12 carries. Wilson's 110 rushing yards marked just the fourth 100-yard rushing game by an App State quarterback in the FBS era. His 6-yard touchdown run with 1:51 remaining in the first half brought the Mountaineers within 10-7, capping a seven-play, 53-yard drive.
True freshman Noah Gillon made his first career start at quarterback for App State, completing 4 of 7 passes for 64 yards. His 34-yard completion to senior Dalton Stroman set up Wilson's touchdown before halftime. Stroman finished with three catches for 96 yards in his final game, ending his career atop the program's all-time yards-per-catch list.
Georgia Southern answered Wilson's touchdown with a 36-yard field goal from Tripp Bryant as time expired in the first half, extending the lead to 13-7. The Eagles then seized control with two lightning-quick scoring drives to open the third quarter.
Running back OJ Arnold broke loose for a 58-yard gain on the first play of the second half, setting up a 3-yard touchdown run by Weston Bryan 82 seconds into the quarter. The two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving Georgia Southern ahead 19-7.
The Eagles forced an interception on the Mountaineers' next possession, and quarterback JC French IV immediately capitalized. French connected with Marcus Sanders Jr. for a 20-yard gain, then found him again for a 32-yard touchdown strike just 89 seconds after the previous score. Bryant's extra point made it 26-7 with 8:50 left in the third quarter.
App State responded with a methodical nine-play, 66-yard drive that consumed nearly five minutes. Wilson connected with Stroman for 42 yards on the drive's key play, and Dominic De Freitas kicked a 27-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 26-10 with 3:46 remaining in the third quarter.
The Mountaineers' defense came up with a crucial stop when cornerback Ethan Johnson intercepted French on Georgia Southern's next possession. However, App State's offense stalled and punted from its own 45 early in the fourth quarter.
Georgia Southern put the game away with a grinding 17-play, 81-yard drive that consumed 10 minutes and 2 seconds. The Eagles converted three third downs on the march, including a 10-yard completion from French to Terrance Gibbs on third-and-8 from the Georgia Southern 46. Bryant capped the drive with a 27-yard field goal with 3:57 remaining, extending the lead to 29-10.
App State's final possession ended when Georgia Southern's Devin Collier intercepted Wilson at the 2-yard line with 59 seconds remaining.
French completed 18 of 27 passes for 171 yards, one touchdown and one interception for Georgia Southern. Arnold rushed 11 times for 152 yards, averaging 13.8 yards per carry. Sanders Jr. caught five passes for 72 yards and a touchdown.
Jaquari Lewis led the Mountaineers with 16 carries for 55 yards and added five catches for 35 yards. Linebacker Colton Phares paced the defense with 12 tackles, capping a season in which he recorded 101 stops.
Georgia Southern controlled possession for 30 minutes and 35 seconds and outgained App State 242-187 on the ground. The Eagles went 5-for-5 in the red zone, scoring two touchdowns and three field goals. Bryant converted all three field goal attempts, connecting from 23, 36 and 27 yards.
The Mountaineers went 3-for-10 on third down and turned the ball over four times via interception. Defensive back Dorrian Smith recorded two of Georgia Southern's four interceptions.
App State played with approximately 65 available players, including numerous athletes who returned to campus after initially entering the transfer portal. Five fifth-year seniors started for the Mountaineers alongside Johnson, a fourth-year senior, in what proved to be their final college game.
The loss snapped App State's three-game bowl winning streak and marked the program's ninth bowl appearance at the FBS level. Georgia Southern won its second bowl game in three seasons.
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