Video: Appalachian State Stuns Troy with 53-yard Hail Mary to Win Game
Sep 17, 2022
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 10: Camerun Peoples #6 of the Appalachian State Mountaineers rushes for a touchdown during the second half against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field on September 10, 2022 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Appalachian State is carving out a niche as the most exciting team in college football this season based on how its first three games have ended.
Saturday was the latest chapter in the Mountaineers' story, as Christan Horn caught a 53-yard Hail Mary as time expired to earn a 32-28 win over Troy.
Appalachian State's first three games of the season have been decided by a combined total of nine points. Each of the three games have played out in distinctly different fashion.
It lost the season opener to North Carolina 63-61. The game saw both teams combine for 62 points in the fourth quarter, including 40 by the Mountaineers. They had a chance to tie the score with nine seconds left in regulation, but Chase Brice was stopped short of the goal line on a two-point conversion attempt.
Last week was a defensive slugfest between Appalachian State and Texas A&M. Head coach Shawn Clark's team held on for a 17-14 win by holding the ball for more than 41 minutes and a missed field goal by Caden Davis with 3:43 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Saturday was one of the biggest days in the history of Appalachian State football. ESPN sent its College GameDay crew to Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone, North Carolina. The home team gave its fans and a national television audience something to remember with a dramatic finish.
The Mountaineers started this season unranked, but they were among the teams that received votes in the Associated Press Top 25 and Coaches Poll this week. After a win over Troy, they could find themselves in the new rankings that will be released Sunday.
App State Football Team Had to Sleep in Hotel Hallways, Lobby After Win vs. Texas A&M
Sep 11, 2022
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 10: Kaleb Dawson of the Appalachian State Mountaineers celebrates defeating the Texas A&M Aggies 17-14 at Kyle Field on September 10, 2022 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Appalachian State's celebration of its upset win over No. 6 Texas A&M did not last long before things turned into a nightmare.
Pete Thamel of ESPN reported mechanical issues with the team plane led to travel issues that delayed the Mountaineers' return home until Sunday.
Rather than fly home as triumphant victors, players had to sleep in the lobby and hallways of a hotel in College Station because rooms were all booked. The team wound up flying out of Texas at 4:30 a.m. ET and did not arrive back at campus until around 11 a.m.
A week after getting into a 63-61 shootout with North Carolina, Appalachian State utilized a ground-and-pound strategy to escape with a 17-14 win over Texas A&M. The Mountaineers offense controlled possession for more than 41 minutes, while the defense forced two critical Aggies turnovers.
The victory was the first against a Top 10 opponent since 2007 and just the third win over a ranked opponent in program history.
"The key was belief," Mountaineers coach Shawn Clark told reporters. "You have to believe in yourself and believe in this program. I told them take the logo off of the helmet, take the logo off the field and let's go play football."
While the travel issues put a damper on their Saturday night, it's likely players arrived Sunday morning to a hero's welcome. Videos of the student body taking to the streets in celebration went viral on social media, and it's unlikely those enthusiastic fans would allow their players to come home without the warmest possible reception.
No. 6 Texas A&M Stunned by Unranked Appalachian State After Missing Late FG in Upset
Sep 10, 2022
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 10: Haynes King #13 of the Texas A&M Aggies looks to pass during the first half against the Appalachian State Mountaineers at Kyle Field on September 10, 2022 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
After a season-opening win against Sam Houston State last weekend, the No. 6 Texas A&M Aggies were upset by the unranked Appalachian State Mountaineers 17-14 on Saturday at Kyle Field in College Station.
Texas A&M was previously 10-0 against non-Power 5 schools in Jimbo Fisher's tenure.
It marked the second upset victory by a Sun Belt Conference team on Saturday after Marshall defeated No. 8 Notre Dame 26-21 in South Bend, Indiana, earlier in the afternoon.
Saturday's win is also App State's second-ever win against an AP Top 10-ranked team and the first in 15 years. The Mountaineers previously defeated the No. 5 Michigan Wolverines back in 2007.
The Aggies and Mountaineers were tied 7-7 entering halftime. Appalachian State running back Ahmani Marshall posted the first touchdown of the afternoon on a four-yard run in the second quarter.
App State took a 14-7 lead in the third quarter when quarterback Chase Brice connected with Henry Pearson for a nine-yard score. But, once again, Texas A&M responded quickly when Achane returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown.
This looks familiar?
9️⃣6️⃣-yard kickoff return for a TD for @ffvmousvon_!
Appalachian State's Michael Hughes responded with a 29-yard field goal to give the Mountaineers a 17-14 lead, and when Texas A&M's Caden Davis tried to respond with a 47-yard field goal, he missed, which sealed the win for App State.
Aggies quarterback Haynes King completed 13 of 20 passes for 97 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions in the loss. He also rushed for 23 yards on eight carries.
Achane led A&M running backs with 66 rushing yards and a score, while Evan Stewart led receivers with five catches for 48 yards. Achane also had two kick returns for 120 yards and a touchdown.
Brice, the Mountaineers signal-caller, completed 15 of 30 passes for 134 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed for 10 yards.
Camerun Peoples led App State running backs with 19 carries for 112 yards, while Dashaun Davis led receivers with four catches for 39 yards.
Texas A&M managed just nine first downs compared to App State's 22. The Aggies also racked up seven penalties for 58 yards and had two fumbles, which factored into the loss.
Fisher's team will look to get back on track next weekend against Mario Cristobal and No. 15 Miami.
Bailey Zappe Sets 2 FBS Passing Records as WKU Beats App State in Boca Raton Bowl
Dec 18, 2021
BOCA RATON, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 18: Jerreth Sterns #8 of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers catches a 43-yard pass from Bailey Zappe #4 (not pictured) that broke the all-time single season passing yards record against the Appalachian State Mountaineers during the first half of the RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl at FAU Stadium on December 18, 2021 in Boca Raton, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Western Kentucky scored a 59-38 victory
over Appalachian State in the 2021 Boca Raton Bowl on Saturday at FAU Stadium in
Florida.
A shootout was expected between the
Hilltoppers and Mountaineers, who combined to average 77.6 points per
game during the regular season, and the offenses delivered in a game that
featured 1,246 total yards and 13 touchdowns.
WKU quarterback Bailey Zappe stole the
spotlight with 422 passing yards and six touchdowns en route to setting
the new NCAA FBS single-season records in both categories. He
finishes the 2021 season with 5,967 yards and 62 scores through the
air.
Zappe captured the yards record in the
second quarter:
Christian Wells (ASU WR): 86 receiving yards, 1 TD
The sides traded scores at a rapid rate until it
was 24-24 late in the second quarter.
Western Kentucky seized control with a 21-0 run spanning from late in the second quarter
until midway through the third. An 86-yard touchdown run by
Whittington shortly after halftime really helped turn the tide in
favor of the Hilltoppers.
Appalachian State couldn't keep pace as
its offense sputtered in the second half.
WKU, which started the season 1-4,
finished the campaign by winning eight of its last nine games to post
a 9-5 record. The Hilltoppers also improved their bowl record to 5-2
since 2014.
Zappe is a name to watch as the 2022
NFL draft moves closer. What he lacks in size (6'1''), he makes up for
with arm talent, specifically his throwing accuracy, and the ability
to command a fast-paced passing attack. He could be a developmental
middle-round pick in April.
Meanwhile, Appalachian State wrapped up
its season at 10-4 following back-to-back losses in the Sun Belt
Championship Game and the bowl game. It's also the team's first
bowl loss since moving to the FBS level in 2014 after six straight
wins.
The Mountaineers have still won at
least nine games in seven consecutive years while emerging as one of
the nation's premier Group of Five programs.
No. 20 Appalachian State Beats UAB 31-17 to Win 2019 New Orleans Bowl
Dec 22, 2019
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 21: Zac Thomas #12 of the Appalachian State Mountaineers throws a pass against the UAB Blazers during the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 21, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Appalachian State is the New Orleans Bowl champion for the second year in a row after beating UAB 31-17 on Saturday at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
The No. 20 Mountaineers have now won five straight bowl games, and this is the second straight season in which they've had to find a new head coach ahead of their bowl.
Eliah Drinkwitz moved on to Missouri after one year in charge, and Appalachian State announced Dec. 13 that offensive line coach Shawn Clark would succeed Drinkwitz effective immediately.
Appalachian State was far from perfect in Clark's head coaching debut. The Mountaineers were 2-of-13 on third down and committed 11 penalties for 131 yards.
App State's defense forced three turnovers and held UAB to 40 yards rushing while providing the spark for the team's second-half turnaround.
Notable Performers
Zac Thomas, QB, Appalachian State: 13-of-24, 142 yards, two touchdowns; nine carries, 29 yards
Thomas Hennigan, WR, Appalachian State: three receptions, 50 yards, two touchdowns
Tyler Johnston III, QB, UAB: 22-of-34, 298 yards, two touchdowns, one interception
Spencer Brown, RB, UAB: 14 carries, 39 yards
Austin Watkins, WR, UAB: 10 receptions, 159 yards, one touchdown
App State Capitalizes on Fortunate Breaks
Whether it was a result of the coaching change or the two-week break since its last game, Appalachian State was uncharacteristically poor in the first half and trailed 14-10 at halftime.
Some good luck helped the Mountaineers overturn the deficit and take control of the game.
Clark called a quarterback keeper on 4th-and-1 from the UAB 30-yard line with 12:14 left in the third quarter. Zac Thomas fumbled the snap, only to have Darrynton Evans pick the ball up in the backfield and run 31 yards to the end zone for a go-ahead score.
UAB’s defense is good, but it can’t stop the "QB fumble on the sneak - RB pick it up and run for 30 yards” play.
Looked like Appalachian St QB Thomas fumbled on a 4th and 1 keeper, and the ball bounced back to RB Darrynton Evans, who scooped it and ran 31 yards for a go-ahead TD. ... Bowl season. Mountaineers lead UAB 17-14, 3rd qtr
After a 49-yard field goal from Nick Vogel tied the game, Appalachian State turned defense into offense. Trey Cobb recovered a fumble by Tyler Johnston III and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown.
Appalachian State has now scooped up fumbles by its own QB and by UAB's QB in the 2nd half and advanced both for touchdowns of 31 and 24 yards. Mountaineers up 24-17.
Thomas capped off a 21-point quarter by hitting Thomas Hennigan for a 27-yard touchdown pass. Momentum had swung firmly in the Mountaineers' direction.
The final score is somewhat deceiving, as Appalachian State didn't dominate in the way some expected the team would. The Mountaineers took full advantage of their fortunate breaks in the second half, though, to pull away in what proved to be an anticlimactic win.
Blazers Can't Maintain Hot Start
UAB head coach Bill Clark couldn't have asked for a better way for his team to open the game.
The Blazers received the opening kickoff and marched 75 yards down the field in four plays. Johnston hit Hayden Pittman for a 25-yard touchdown pass. Johnston then doubled UAB's lead with another 25-yard pass, this time hitting Austin Watkins.
That was the high point of the game for the Blazers, as their offense quickly fell back to earth.
The team entered Saturday averaging a healthy 159.3 yards per game on the ground yet was unable to establish the run against the Mountaineers. That put too much pressure on Johnston, who had completed 58.1 percent of his passes and threw 14 interceptions in the regular season.
Johnston didn't have a bad game, but his fumble in the third quarter was costly. And what quickly grew to a two-score deficit felt much bigger with UAB's one-dimensional offense.
UAB’s offense has been awful since the first quarter. Not sure where they find 14 points.
UAB attempted to mount a late comeback, but their final drive ended when Watkins fumbled with 1:25 left in the game. App State ran out the remaining time on the clock to seal the victory.
