BOONE – App State wasted little time showing what its revamped roster could be capable of Saturday.

The Mountaineers overwhelmed Maine on both sides of the ball, piling up 647 yards of offense and forcing two turnovers in a 55-3 victory before 33,664 fans at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

Quarterback Malachi Singleton led the way for App State, completing 22 of 24 passes for 291 yards and three touchdowns as the Mountaineers built a 31-0 halftime lead and never allowed the Black Bears to make the game competitive. App State finished with 348 passing yards and 299 rushing yards while averaging 9 yards per offensive play.

Maine, meanwhile, managed 250 total yards and 12 first downs. Quarterback Eddie Buehler completed 18 of 32 passes for 198 yards but was intercepted twice, while the Black Bears were held to 52 rushing yards on 28 attempts.

App State's first possession ended with a turnover deep in Maine territory, but that proved to be one of the few opportunities the Mountaineers failed to capitalize on.

Treyaun Webb opened the scoring midway through the first quarter with a 2-yard touchdown run that capped a four-play, 78-yard drive. James London then extended the lead to 10-0 with a 31-yard field goal early in the second quarter.

From there, Singleton took control.

He found tight end Darrin Fugitt for a 5-yard touchdown with 9:32 remaining in the second quarter, pushing the advantage to 17-0. Less than six minutes later, Singleton connected with Samuel Pickett III for a 14-yard touchdown. Pickett struck again just before halftime, hauling in a 7-yard scoring pass with seven seconds left to send App State into the locker room with a 31-point cushion.

That final first-half score was set up by one of the game's biggest defensive plays.

Maine had moved into App State territory late in the second quarter before Buehler was intercepted by Caleb Pitts at the App State 30. Pitts returned the interception 15 yards to the 45, giving the Mountaineers enough time to add another touchdown before the break.

The pressure continued after halftime. Colton Phares intercepted Buehler on Maine's opening possession of the third quarter after pressure from Dre Walker, and App State answered with a seven-play, 69-yard drive. Jaquari Lewis finished it with a 12-yard touchdown run for a 38-0 lead with 9:14 remaining in the period.

Maine finally broke through with 51 seconds left in the third quarter when Samuel Tremblay converted a 40-yard field goal, completing an 18-play, 52-yard possession and cutting the deficit to 38-3. It would be the Black Bears' only scoring drive of the afternoon.

App State's reserves kept the offense moving in the fourth.

Henry Hasselbeck helped direct a 75-yard drive that ended with receiver Nate Branch racing 36 yards for a touchdown, increasing the lead to 45-3. Three minutes later, Jackson Grier broke loose for a 28-yard touchdown run to make it 52-3. London added a 32-yard field goal with 2:12 remaining to complete the scoring.

Pickett finished with five receptions for 76 yards and two touchdowns, while Fugitt caught four passes for 47 yards and a score. Branch contributed 55 receiving yards and 44 rushing yards, including his touchdown.

App State spread its rushing production throughout the lineup. Lewis led the Mountaineers with 69 yards on 11 carries, while Ja'Quez Cross added 66 yards and Hasselbeck rushed for 53. The Mountaineers scored four times on the ground and three times through the air.

For Maine, Rashawn Marshall led the rushing attack with 37 yards on 13 carries. The Black Bears' longest offensive gain came on a 47-yard Buehler completion to Corey Rideout in the fourth quarter, but the possession ended on downs.

The result gave App State a convincing opening victory in its second season under head coach Dowell Loggains, while Maine fell to 1-1.

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.

BOONE - Appalachian State was seconds away from securing bowl eligibility, but a late penalty erased a would-be game-clinching touchdown and opened the door for Arkansas State’s 30-29 comeback win Saturday at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

Leading 26-23 with under two minutes to play, App State appeared to seal the game when J.J. Kohl delivered a fourth-and-one touchdown strike to Dillon Galloway from the Arkansas State 6. Kidd Brewer Stadium erupted – until an illegal-formation flag wiped the score off the board. Backed up to the 11, the Mountaineers settled for a 29-yard Dominic De Freitas field goal with 1:34 left, extending the lead to six instead of ten.

That margin proved fatal.

Arkansas State (6-6, 5-3 Sun Belt) raced 75 yards in seven plays, with quarterback Jaylen Raynor completing five straight passes in a rapid 52-second march. His 34-yard strike to Corey Rucker put the Red Wolves on the doorstep, and Kenyon Clay scored from a yard out with 42 seconds remaining. The extra point gave Arkansas State its first lead since early in the fourth quarter.

App State (5-7, 2-6) still had a final chance, but De Freitas’ 45-yard field goal attempt on the last snap fell short, ending the Mountaineers’ bowl hopes in the first season under head coach Dowell Loggains.

Before the chaotic finish, App State had turned the game around after trailing 16-13 at halftime. Kohl opened the third quarter with a sharp seven-play, 66-yard scoring drive capped by a 16-yard touchdown pass to Sam Mbake, part of a strong day for the sophomore quarterback. He finished 26-for-39 for 271 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.

Mbake caught nine passes for 68 yards, while Jaquari Lewis paced the ground game with 108 rushing yards on 22 carries.

De Freitas kept the Mountaineers in front for much of the second half, hitting five field goals from 48, 45, 43, 38 and 29 yards. His only misses were the desperation kick at the end and a second-quarter attempt that Arkansas State blocked.

App State’s defense repeatedly bent but held Arkansas State to field-goal range on key possessions in the second half. Kevin Abrams-Verwayne led the way with 10 tackles and 2.5 sacks, part of a unit that produced several backfield stops before Arkansas State’s final, decisive possession.

Raynor, though, was the difference late. He threw for 363 yards and three touchdowns and repeatedly found Rucker, who caught 10 passes for 90 yards and two scores.

Arkansas State managed only 85 rushing yards, but Raynor’s accuracy and the Red Wolves’ quick-tempo passing game eventually broke through.

App State had controlled much of the early action, jumping ahead 13-3 in the second quarter after Kohl found Dalton Stroman for a 37-yard touchdown. But a late-half meltdown flipped momentum when Arkansas State scored twice in 17 seconds—first on an eight-yard pass to Rucker, then on a short-field strike to Tyler Fortenberry after a muffed kickoff.

The Mountaineers steadied themselves with a late field goal before halftime and carried the lead into the fourth quarter, but could never extend it far enough to withstand the penalty-marred final sequence.

The loss ended the Mountaineers’ season at 5-7 and denied them a chance to reach the postseason for the first time under Loggains.

BOONE – App State kicker Dominic De Freitas connected on a 23-yard field goal with 2:02 remaining to lift the Mountaineers past Marshall 26-24 on Saturday at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone, North Carolina.

The victory improved App State to 5-6 overall and 2-5 in conference play, while Marshall fell to 5-6 and 3-4. The game featured five lead changes and came down to a frantic final quarter that saw both teams commit costly turnovers.

App State's winning drive covered 35 yards in eight plays over 3:31, capitalizing on a Marshall fumble deep in Herd territory. Running back Jaquari Lewis carried the ball 33 times for 175 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Mountaineers' ground attack.

Marshall quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson accounted for two rushing touchdowns and threw for 146 yards, while running back Joshon Barbie added 102 yards and a score on 10 carries. Despite outgaining App State 438-276 in total offense, the Herd could not overcome two lost fumbles in the fourth quarter.

The game turned in the fourth quarter after Marshall had taken a 24-23 lead on Lorcan Quinn's 25-yard field goal with 5:29 left in the third quarter. The Herd appeared poised to extend their advantage when they drove from their own 1-yard line to the App State 40 in a seven-play drive that consumed more than three minutes. But running back Michael Allen fumbled at the App State 42, and Colton Phares recovered for the Mountaineers at the 39 with 5:33 remaining.

App State methodically moved into field goal range, with Lewis gaining 13 yards on first down to the Marshall 9. After three more plays, De Freitas came on for the game-winning kick, his second successful field goal of the afternoon.

Marshall had one final chance after receiving the kickoff at their own 25 with 2:02 to play. The Herd moved the ball to the App State 39 before Allen fumbled again with less than a minute remaining, effectively ending Marshall's comeback hopes.

The first half belonged to Marshall's offense, particularly Del Rio-Wilson. After App State took a 3-0 lead on De Freitas's 32-yard field goal, Marshall answered with an eight-play, 41-yard touchdown drive capped by Barbie's 5-yard run.

App State regained the lead early in the second quarter when Lewis scored from 18 yards out to make it 9-7, but Marshall responded with two quick touchdowns. Del Rio-Wilson rushed for scores of 16 and 4 yards on consecutive possessions, giving the Herd a 21-9 advantage with 8:14 left in the half.

The Mountaineers cut into the deficit before halftime with a 75-yard drive that ended with J.J. Kohl's 19-yard touchdown pass to David Larkins with 53 seconds remaining. The score pulled App State within 21-16 at the break.

App State seized momentum to start the third quarter with a 12-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that consumed 5:33. Lewis capped the march with a 5-yard run, giving the Mountaineers their first lead since the opening quarter at 23-21.

Marshall's response came on a nine-play, 64-yard drive that stalled at the App State 7, forcing Quinn's field goal attempt. The successful kick put Marshall ahead 24-23, setting up the tense fourth quarter.

Wide receiver Demarcus Lacey led all receivers with 12 catches for 134 yards, consistently moving the chains for Marshall. Del Rio-Wilson completed 13 of 21 passes for his 146 yards, while backup Zion Turner added 54 yards on 8-of-9 passing.

For App State, Kohl finished 19-of-27 for 134 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. Sam Mbake caught seven passes for 39 yards, while Lewis added five receptions for 39 yards to complement his rushing performance.

Marshall's defense registered two sacks and five tackles for loss, led by linebacker Jayland Parker's 15 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks totaling 24 yards. App State's defense forced three turnovers, including the crucial fourth-quarter fumble recoveries, and recorded two sacks.

The statistics told a stark story: Marshall converted just 5 of 12 third-down attempts and averaged 6.3 yards per play compared to App State's 3.9. Marshall possessed the ball for 30:09 to App State's 29:51. But the Mountaineers scored three points off turnovers while Marshall managed none, proving decisive in the close contest.

Marshall's offensive balance was evident with 238 rushing yards and 200 passing yards, but the team went 0-for-2 in the red zone with field goal attempts, including a blocked kick in the fourth quarter. App State converted all five red zone opportunities into scores, including three touchdowns and two field goals.

The loss marked Marshall's third defeat in conference play and fourth in their last six games overall. App State snapped a three-game losing streak with the victory.

Top Performers:

• Jaquari Lewis (App State): 33 carries, 175 rushing yards, 2 TDs; 5 receptions, 39 yards
• Joshon Barbie (Marshall): 10 carries, 102 yards, 1 TD
• Demarcus Lacey (Marshall): 12 receptions, 134 yards
• Carlos Del Rio-Wilson (Marshall): 13-of-21 passing, 146 yards; 14 carries, 71 yards, 2 TDs
• Jayland Parker (Marshall): 15 tackles, 2 sacks, 2.5 TFL