Tag: Appalachian State

Appalachian State basketball standout commits to Georgia

The Georgia Bulldogs added a commitment from the 2023 Sun Belt defensive player of the year

The Georgia Bulldogs and head coach Mike White continued to build their roster for the 2024 season on Wednesday with a transfer from the Appalachian State Mountaineers. Justin Abson, the 2023 Sun Belt defensive player of the year, announced via X that he has committed to the Dawgs.

Abson is a 6-foot-9, 235 pound forward originally from Pompano Beach, Florida. He scored 7.9 points per game along with 7.1 total rebounds per game and averaged a remarkable 2.8 blocks per game, which was third nationally. He will contribute most on the defensive side but shot 61.9 percent from the field and can be a solid offensive piece in Athens as well.

Abson gives the Dawgs their second transfer addition of this offseason cycle, joining De’Shayne Montgomery from Mount St. Mary’s, and their first addition at the forward position. Abson chose the Dawgs over Michigan and Xavier, who were also active in his pursuit.

App State trolled James Madison’s bowl ineligibility after upsetting the unbeaten Dukes

App State has jokes

The Game of the Year (so far) in college football took place in Harrisonburg, Virginia on Saturday as AP No. 18 James Madison saw it’s perfect season come to an end at home against Appalachian State, 26-23, in overtime.

This game had everything. With ESPN’s College GameDay on hand, the Dukes came back from a 17-5 deficit in the fourth quarter thanks to a 4th-and-18 conversion, a last-minute touchdown and a successful two-point try that tied App State at 20 just before the clock expired. The Mountaineers held JMU to a field goal to start overtime and then ended the game on an eight-yard touchdown pass from Joey Aguilar to Kaedin Robinson.

For James Madison, an undefeated season was pretty much all the Dukes had to play for this year. Due to NCAA rules prohibiting programs from bowl game eligibility for two years after transitioning from FCS to FBS, James Madison will not be able to participate in any postseason contests.

The NCAA denied the school’s request for a waiver earlier this week. Obviously, this is quite a shame for a JMU team that has more than earned the opportunity to appear in a bowl game. But it was also perfect fodder for an App State social team that couldn’t wait to pour some salt in the Dukes’ wounds after handing them their first loss of the year.

So much pain in so few words.

Appalachian State vs. Wyoming Cowboys: Game Preview, How to Watch, Odds, Keys, Predictions

A preview of the App. State Mountaineers vs. Wyoming Cowboys on Sept. 23, 2023, including how to watch, betting odds, keys and predicitions.

Appalachian State vs. Wyoming Cowboys: Game Preview, How to Watch, Odds, Keys, Predictions

Contact/Follow @KayceeClark and @MWCwire

The Wyoming Cowboys concludes their non-conference schedule with a visit from the Appalachian State Mountaineers.

Only the third all-time meeting between these programs, Wyoming hopes to extend its non-conference home winning streak to double digits. The last Group of 5 team to beat the Pokes at War Memorial Stadium was Eastern Michigan back on Sept. 12, 2015, head coach Craig Bohl’s second season in Laramie.

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WEEK 4: Appalachian State Mountaineers (2-1, 0-0 Pac-12) vs. Wyoming Cowboys (2-1, 0-0 MW)

WHEN: Saturday, September 23rd— 5 PM MST / 7 PM EST

WHERE: War Memorial Stadium (29,181)

TV: CBS Sports Network

STREAMING: Get a free trial with FuboTV

RADIO: Cowboy Sports Network

SERIES RECORD: Cowboys are 1-1 against the Mountaineers since 2004. 0-1 since Appalachian State joined FBS.

LAST MATCHUP: Oct. 3, 2015 – Mountaineers won in Boone, North Carolina 31-13

WEBSITES: GoWyo.com, the official Wyoming athletics website; AppStateSports.com, the official Appalachian State athletics website.

GAME NOTES: Wyoming | Appalachian State

ODDS: Wyoming -3

OVER/UNDER: 43 points

Players to watch

Andrew Peasley OR Evan Svoboda

Questions marks are still circling the quarterback position for Wyoming after the first start for Evan Svoboda at Texas last week. Bohl announced on Sept. 18 at his weekly media press conference that Andrew Peasley was “day-to-day.” However, there hasn’t been any establishment of when a decision will be made on who will start, but Bohl does know it will come down to one decision.

“The measure is going to be, can he throw at a high capacity?” Bohl sad. “When I say high capacity, can he make the throws that he’s going to need to make, for us to win.”

With Peasley’s status currently unknown, it could be Svoboda’s second start against the Mountaineers. He handled the pressure well despite a ranked matchup and the 101,000 fans of DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium. Svoboda completed 17 of his 28 attempts for 136 yards with an interception. However, there wasn’t many chances taken to show Svoboda’s arm strength down the field. After two full weeks of practice in a potential starting role, the deep shots will most likely be there against Appalachian State.

If Peasley does start, how healthy will he be? He doesn’t just bring his passing ability but the team’s second leading rusher with 111 yards and a touchdown. As a threat through the air and on the ground, the Cowboys would need to be nearly certain re-injury is unlikely.

Harrison Waylee

­After now being named the starting running back for Wyoming, how does the Northern Illinois transfer build off his ninth career 100-yard game? Bohl added in his media presser this week that Waylee “separated himself,” but the focus is now on him for the Appalachian State defense. He also has not had consecutive games rushing for 100 yards since Sept. 4, and 11, 2021 when he ran for 144 and 179, respectfully.

In addition, the Wyoming offensive line that paved the way for 155 rushing yards and only one sack against Texas last week. A similar performance could allow Waylee to have another break out game for the Cowboys.

If Waylee doesn’t preform, watch out behind him too. The Pokes still have the team’s leading rusher Sam Scott, the explosive D.Q. James and Jamari Ferrell working as a running back by committee.

The Cowboy defensive front

While not a specific player, the Pokes are going to focus on shutting down the Mountaineers most explosive player on offense, Nate Noel. He currently leads the country in rushing yards per game, at 145, and carries per game, with 20. Noel is also second in NCAA FBS in total rushing yards with 435. Some of the defensive players to watch for in particular are LB Shae Suiaunoa, DTs Jordan Bertagnole, Cole Godbout and DE Sebastian Harsh.

Godbout also has quietly been moving up Wyoming’s career tackles for loss list, currently with 24. He is tied for eighth with Ward Dobbs. Keep an eye out for Godbout to move up that list even more.

Keys to the game

Control the clock

Wyoming has done a fantastic job through three games on making sure they control the game. Slow and calculated drives wear down the opponent’s defense and prevents their offense from being able to score any points. The Cowboys currently rank 13th in the country for their time of possession, averaging 33 minutes and 30 seconds per game, which includes a 10:22 drive last week at Texas. If Wyoming keeps the ball out of the Mountaineers hands, a difference of 3,887 feet higher than Boone, NC can let a lot of players get exhausted.

Pressure, pressure, pressure

Appalachian State doesn’t allow pressure to threaten their offense. The team is 31st in the NCAA for rushing yards per game at 196.7. Their line has also only allowed only three sacks so far. Wyoming’s defense has to get in the backfield to disrupt QB Joey Aguilar or any form of the running game with Noel. Without this disruption, the Mountaineers have potential to dominate on offense. This is the same offense that went to double overtime with No. 17 North Carolina (UNC) and allowed zero sacks, in comparison to UNC’s first game with nine sacks.

Positive turnover margin

Wyoming is currently -1 in the turnover margin while Appalachian State is +3. Giving the ball away is not the way to win football games. This comes to both sides of the ball, don’t give the ball to the Mountaineers on mistakes and make sure to force them yourself. In a tight game, the Pokes will need to turn the tide in their favor.

Prediction

This will be a very tight and entertaining game. If both teams play at their highest potential and like they have in previous weeks, it will be one of the best Group of 5 matches, at least of the week. It won’t be filled with fireworks through the air, but dominant rushing attacks from both sides. However, Wyoming will have the more dominant with Waylee, Scott and James. Cowboys head into conference play 3-1.

Wyoming 24, Appalachian State 20

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What UNC head coach Mack Brown said after win over App State

UNC head coach Mack Brown is very thankful his team pulled out a win against a pesky App State squad. Check out some of his postgame quotes.

Saturday night’s UNC-App State game in Chapel Hill was nothing short of amazing.

It was reminiscent of last year’s back-and-forth thriller in Boone – teams trading offensive blows, defense coming at a premium and rowdy fans.

The Tar Heels came out on top, once again, but not without drama.

After UNC’s defense gave up the opening touchdown of overtime to App State’s Nate Noel, UNC’s offense responded with a rushing score of its own from Omarion Hampton, who enjoyed a career-high 234 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

Drake Maye gave the Tar Heels the lead for good immediately after Hampton’s score, finding paydirt on a 13-yard read option, making it 40-34. UNC’s ensuing 2-point conversion failed, but the defense made a rare stop on fourth down moments later to seal the win.

The victory was Tar Heel head coach Mack Brown’s 101st victory in Chapel Hill. It was certainly a win, however, that had him on the edge of his seat like everyone in Kenan Stadium.

Check out what Brown had to say after the back-and-forth thriller, which reminded us we need a UNC-App game every season:

Late defensive stand, Hampton carry Tar Heels to double-OT victory

UNC and App State traded punches all night. The Tar Heels eked out a win, thanks to their running game and a late defensive stop.

In UNC’s season-opening win against South Carolina last week, it was British Brooks’ turn to lead the Tar Heels’ deep rushing attack.

UNC fans also were rarely on the edges of their seats, as the Tar Heels’ defense limited the Gamecocks to three second-half points and sacked Spencer Rattler nine times.

Tonight’s home opener against App State featured another dangerous rusher in Omarion Hampton, but the Tar Heels’ defense looked a lot more like Swiss cheese.

Despite allowing the visiting Mountaineers to rack up nearly 500 yards and take the lead on five separate occasions, UNC rode a 234-yard, 3-touchdown performance from Hampton and made its first fourth down stop in double-overtime, to down App State by a 40-34 mark and move to 2-0.

The Tar Heels won the overtime coin toss and chose to defer, giving the Mountaineers the football first. Starting running back Nate Noel marched App right down the field, giving it a 33-27 lead with his 7-yard touchdown run. Kicker Michael Hughes converted on the extra point to make it 34-27.

UNC responded immediately with Hampton’s third and final touchdown of the game. Tar Heels kicker Ryan Coe, who missed a potential game-winning field goal to end regulation, cashed in on his extra point to tie things at 34.

Per rules of college overtime, Carolina got the ball back. App State held UNC quarterback Drake Maye in check for most of the game, limiting him to 208 passing yards, but fell victim to his 13-yard, read-option touchdown run that proved to be the eventual, game-winning score.

When Carolina needed a big-time play, its best player delivered.

The Mountaineers stopped UNC’s ensuing 2-point attempt, sending a wave of panic throughout Kenan Stadium. The game story was writing itself – Carolina punches the ball into the end zone, only for defense to falter again.

Knowing the magnitude of this matchup and what moving to 2-0 meant for the future of their season, however, the Tar Heels’ defense rose to the occasion on the ensuing drive.

UNC made Aguilar uncomfortable and contained App’s strong ground game. Aguilar threw an incomplete pass on first down, the Heels prevented Noel from gaining the edge on second down and Alijah Huzzie, the East Tennessee State transfer, made a game-saving tackle on third down.

The Mountaineers were 5-for-5 on fourth down – up until Carolina made its most crucial stop in double-overtime to end yet another thriller.

While defense made the game-saving play, it was Hampton who played hero for UNC and kept it in the game. In Brooks’ absence, Hampton ran for 234 yards and three touchdowns, including the tying score in the first overtime. He was the reason Carolina had any semblance of consistency on offense, with Maye struggling to find rhythm and not throwing a single touchdown pass.

Regardless if Brooks returns to the field next week, it’d be hard to take carries away from Hampton based on tonight’s performance.

Hampton played superhero tonight and is the main reason Carolina remains undefeated.

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Tar Heels and Mountaineers knotted up at the half

The 2023 UNC-App State football matchup, so far, is not the offensive outburst like last year. Both teams are tied at 10 in the half.

The UNC football home opener against App State is certainly living up to its billing as one of Week 2’s more intriguing P5-G5 matchups.

It’s not the high-scoring affair we saw in Boone last year. Instead, it’s a defensive battle where both teams are forcing three-and-outs with tight pass coverage.

Despite the 10-10 tie at halftime and struggle to score, both UNC and App State ‘s run games are keeping them within striking distance of the end zone. The in-state opponents have already combined for 276 rushing yards.

Carolina’s lone touchdown came early in the second quarter, from a 68-yard Omarion Hampton speed burst downfield. The Mountaineers responded three minutes later with a Joey Aguilar play-action touchdown pass, giving them a short-lived, 10-7 lead.

UNC drove downfield for what looked to be a late second-quarter scoring drive, only for the App State defense to come up with more key stops. Luckily, the Heels have a solid kicker named Ryan Coe, who nailed a 47-yard field goal to know things up at 10.

If the second half goes like the first did, we’re in for an intense battle to the final whistle.

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WATCH: Omarion Hampton opens the scoring for UNC with 68-yard TD

Omarion Hampton starts the scoring party for UNC, speeding downfield for a 68-yard touchdown against App State.

For the kind of football game UNC and App State played in last year (63-61 UNC win), it was surprising to see both teams scoreless after the first quarter of today’s game.

Both schools had chances to score early – the Tar Heels failed to convert on a fourth-and-1 deep in Mountaineer territory, while App State kicker Michael Hughes missed a 40-yard field goal.

Hughes converted on his second chance, this time from 46 yards out, giving the Mountaineers a 3-0 lead four minutes into the second quarter.

That advantage was short-lived, however, as UNC’s offense finally woke up.

Omarion Hampton, starting at running back for the Tar Heels in wake of British Brooks’ new lower-body injury, bursted through the App State defense for a 68-yard touchdown run and a 6-3 UNC lead.

Not even at halftime yet, Hampton has has 95 yards and a score. It’s encouraging to see this type of production from Hampton, especially when Brooks, who was ruled out before the game, ran for 100 yards in the opener against South Carolina.

Will Hampton add any more touchdowns before the game is over? Stay tuned to find out.

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UNC Football names captains for home opener

Corey Gaynor, Kaimon Rucker, Ben Kiernan and suspended wide receiver Devontez Walker are game captains for UNC’s home football opener.

There’s no feeling for a college football team that compares to its home opener.

The players spend all offseason thinking about this moment – running out of the tunnel to thousands of cheering fans. Teams build the anticipation by swaying back and forth in their tunnels, the PA announcer channels the hype music and – BOOM – here comes your favorite team.

We’re already three weeks into the college football season and it’s now UNC’s turn to host its home opener.

The Tar Heels take on Appalachian State at 5:15 p.m. today, within the friendly confines of Kenan Stadium. When these two in-state rivals matched up last year in Boone, a combined 124 points were scored, most in an FBS matchup since UCLA’s 67-63 triumph at Washington State in 2019.

Adding onto the excitement of their home opener, the Heels named their game captains: center Corey Gaynor, jack linebacker Kaimon Rucker, punter Ben Keirnan and an honorary captain, the young man who has been wronged countless times by the NCAA, Devontez Walker.

Rucker was an absolute stud last week, generating two of the Tar Heels’ nine sacks and a game-high 5.5 tackles for loss.

Gaynor helped pave holes for a UNC ground game that combined for 168 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Kiernan only punted twice, but racked up 85 yards on his punts for a 42.5 yard average.

There’s no doubt that Walker will be cheered for the loudest when Carolina takes the field this afternoon. Expect to hear several “Free Tez” chants break out and for UNC players to be sporting those words on warm-up gear. You can best bet that if the NCAA is mentioned over the loudspeakers, fans will join in a chorus of boos.

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5 things to watch for in UNC home opener against App State

UNC hosts App State in its football home opener on Saturday, Sept. 9. Here are five things to watch for.

If you count “Week Zero,” we’re already two weeks into the college football season.

Doesn’t it seem like just yesterday, we were talking about how the first game was just days away?

There’s a full season of games ahead – and we haven’t even gotten into the thick of conference play. Week 2 matchups, which officially kick off tonight with Louisville hosting Murray State, are highlighted by the Alabama-Texas rematch at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9.

UNC played in Charlotte Week 1 against South Carolina, but now get to return home and entertain the Tar Heel faithful on Saturday against App State. The Tar Heels racked up 168 rushing yards and generated nine sacks – more than half of their 2022 total – against the Gamecocks. Carolina was just 3-3 in Kenan Stadium last year, but 11-2 the previous two seasons combined.

App State beat Gardner-Webb by three touchdowns in Boone last weekend, but struggled to do so, requiring a second-half comeback. Joey Aguilar came off the bench to throw four touchdowns in relief of starting quarterback Ryan Burger, who exited the game with a hand injury.

Carolina beat the Mountaineers in a 63-61 shootout on the field at Kidd-Brewer Stadium last year, with the two teams combining for 62 fourth-quarter points.

Will we see another high-scoring clash in Chapel Hill, a one-sided affair or something else on Saturday?

UNC Football: How to watch home opener vs. App State

The UNC football program will host App State on Saturday, Sept. 9 in a rematch of last year’s thriller. We’ll help you tune into this game.

The UNC football program and its fans are riding an emotional high, with the Tar Heels dominating South Carolina defensively in a 31-17, Week 1 victory under the bright lights of Bank of America Stadium.

UNC controlled the ground game with 168 rushing yards – 103 of those came from British Brooks in his first game since 2021. Drake Maye threw for 269 yards and two touchdowns. Most importantly, the defense – which shocked the entire college football world – generated nine sacks against Spencer Rattler.

The Tar Heels only faced one deficit, for two minutes in the second quarter, then took the lead for good on Kobe Paysour’s touchdown grab.

UNC returns to Chapel Hill this week for its home opener, as it clashes with App State in a rematch of last year’s thriller. The Mountaineers are coming off an exciting win over Labor Day Weekend, generating a comeback of their own over Gardner-Webb for a 45-24 victory.

If you can’t make it to Chapel Hill to join the Tar Heel faithful, we’ll tell you how you can tune in and cheer on the boys in baby blue:

UNC-App State TV, RADIO, AND STREAMING INFORMATION

WHAT: North Carolina (1-0, 0-0 ACC) vs. Appalachian State (1-0, 0-0 Sun Belt)

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 9 at 5:15 p.m. ET

LOCATION: Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, NC

TV: ACC Network (Watch and stream the game live on CW Sports)

ANNOUNCERS: Wes Durham (play-by-play), Tim Hasslebeck (color commentator), Taylor Tannebaum (reporter)

RADIO: Tar Heel Sports Network. Jones Angell, play-by-play;
Brian Simmons, analyst; Lee Pace, sideline

SATELLITE RADIO: SiriusXM (Channel 193

WEBSITE: fuboTV (try it free)

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