BOONE – Appalachian State University has named Dowell Loggains as its new head football coach. Loggains, a veteran offensive coordinator with extensive experience in the NFL and college football, brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Mountaineers.

Most recently, Loggains served as the offensive coordinator for the South Carolina Gamecocks. Prior to his time in Columbia, he was the tight ends coach at his alma mater, Arkansas. Loggains has also coached at the collegiate level, including stops as offensive coordinator with the Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, and Chicago Bears.

App State Director of Athletics Doug Gillin expressed excitement about the hiring of Loggains. "We are very excited for Dowell Loggains to be the next leader of App State Football. He brings experience as a leader and play-caller at the highest levels of professional and college football. He is a great recruiter and believes strongly in building relationships. He is aligned with our core values of academic integrity, competitive excellence, social responsibility and world-class experience. This is a great day for App State." 

Loggains is known for his innovative offensive schemes and his ability to develop quarterbacks. His hiring is expected to elevate App State's offensive attack and help the Mountaineers continue their recent success.

BOONE – In a decision that reverberated through the hallowed halls of Mountaineer football, Appalachian State University announced Monday the departure of head coach Shawn Clark, concluding a tenure deeply rooted in both personal history and institutional pride.

Clark, a 49-year-old alumnus who bled black and gold, had been more than just a coach – he was a living embodiment of Appalachian State's football tradition. A two-time All-American offensive lineman during his playing days, Clark's journey from student-athlete to head coach represented the quintessential Mountaineer narrative of loyalty and advancement.

Athletic Director Doug Gillin's announcement carried a tone of respectful transition. "Shawn is a true Mountaineer," Gillin emphasized. "He has given his heart and soul to his alma mater, navigating numerous challenges with class and integrity."

The coaching trajectory that began in 2016 as an offensive line coach culminated in five full seasons at the helm, marked by significant achievements. Clark guided the Mountaineers to a Sun Belt Championship appearance in 2021, maintaining the program’s status as a consistent conference contender early in his tenure.

However, the 2024 season's 5-6 record ultimately became the tipping point. Despite previous successes – including bowl game victories and a 40-24 overall record – the program's leadership determined a change was necessary to maintain championship aspirations.

"The expectation for App State Football is to annually compete for a conference championship and a berth in the College Football Playoff," Gillin stated, signaling the program's uncompromising ambitions.

Clark's professional journey reads like a testament to persistence. From graduate assistant at Louisville to offensive line coaching roles at Eastern Kentucky, Purdue, and Kent State, he methodically built a reputation as a diligent, strategic football mind before returning home to Boone.

His most significant achievements include leading the Mountaineers through the unprecedented COVID-19 disrupted 2020 season, where he guided the team to a 9-3 record and a dominant Myrtle Beach Bowl victory. The 2021 season further solidified his coaching credentials, with a 10-4 record and an East Division title.

As Appalachian State commences a national search for its 23rd head coach, Clark's legacy remains complex – a period of growth, resilience, and competitive spirit that bridged the program's past and its future aspirations.

See the full list of coaching changes here: 

BOONE – Senior Day at The Rock turned into a celebration of milestones and triumphs as the Appalachian State Mountaineers clinched the East Division title with a commanding 55-27 victory over arch-rival Georgia Southern. The win secured their spot in the Sun Belt Championship Game against West Division champion Troy, setting the stage for a championship pursuit.

Despite falling behind 14-3 in the opening quarter, the Mountaineers orchestrated a remarkable comeback, fueled by the arm of quarterback Joey Aguilar, who threw four touchdown passes in the game. Aguilar’s performance not only propelled App State to victory but also etched his name in the program’s history as the single-season record-holder with an impressive 33 touchdown passes heading into the postseason.

The turning point of the game came in the second quarter when App State, trailing 14-10, launched a relentless offensive assault, scoring 38 unanswered points over 16 minutes. The Mountaineers’ defense played a crucial role, capitalizing on turnovers, including three interceptions. Tyrek Funderburk was instrumental in the defensive effort, contributing two interceptions that set the stage for immediate scoring opportunities.

The halftime ceremony added extra flair to the Mountaineers’ resurgence, as the legendary No. 14 jersey of Hall of Fame quarterback Armanti Edwards was officially retired. Edwards, whose short and direct message to the crowd was a resounding “Thank you! Go App!” witnessed his beloved team transform an 11-point deficit into a commanding 41-17 lead by the end of the third quarter.

The Mountaineers’ five-game winning streak to close the regular season, including an overtime victory against James Madison, showcased their resilience and determination to earn a spot in the Sun Belt title game for the fourth time since 2018.

App State’s offensive prowess was on full display, with Aguilar’s 296 passing yards and a balanced rushing attack that accumulated 236 yards on the ground. Kanye Roberts, Anderson Castle, and Maquel Haywood each contributed rushing touchdowns, showcasing the team’s versatility.

The defense, led by standout performances from Tyrek Funderburk and Jordan Favors, played a pivotal role in shutting down Georgia Southern and forcing turnovers that translated into crucial points for the Mountaineers.

As the final whistle blew, App State had not only secured a convincing victory but also established themselves as a force to be reckoned with as they head into the Sun Belt Championship Game, fueled by a perfect blend of offensive firepower and defensive resilience.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Next Week

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BOONE – 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.