On a wet and cold day in Boone, North Carolina, the Appalachian State Mountaineers put on an incredible defensive effort to defeat the visiting Citadel Bulldogs 49-0.
The scoring began in the first quarter when Mountaineer quarterback Chase Brice found wide receiver Dashaun Davis wide open downfield for a 44-yard touchdown strike. The good quarter continued for Brice who scored off a read-option keeper near the end of the first to make it 14-0.
Building off a strong first quarter, the Mountaineers kept the touchdown party going with an Eli Wilson catch and run to go up 21 over the Bulldogs. After another Citadel three and out, Cam Peoples had a spectacular 73 scamper for a touchdown on the first play of the drive for the Mountaineers. After that, App State again got into the endzone, this time Christian Horn got his first touchdown of the game on a touch pass under pressure from Brice to put the Mountaineers up 35-0. Citadel just could
not get anything going on offense in the first half, not even gaining a first down until around 3 minutes before halftime. On the final play before halftime, Citadel quarterback Peyton Derrick heaved a pass deep to Jay Graves-Billups which would be their longest play of the game. However, Graves-Billups could not get into the endzone getting tackled short on a great heads-up play by the Mountaineers.
The second half ended up being slower, with The Citadel getting some long drives going and chewing up a lot of clock. Just when it looked like the Bulldogs were about to get on the board, Mountaineer cornerback Dexter Lawson Jr. intercepted the ball in the endzone to keep a goose egg in the score column for Citadel. Late in the third quarter, Chase Brice hit Christian Horn across the middle and Horn turned on the jets for an 80-yard touchdown connection. This ends up being Chase Brice’s longest pass of the season so far, even eclipsing the hail mary at the end of the Troy game which was 53 yards.
More of the same happened in the fourth quarter with the Bulldogs chewing up clock but never being able to tally a touchdown or even a field goal. The Mountaineers put in the backups with the game far out of reach. With this came the first touchdown for true freshman halfback Kanye Roberts who muscled in for a four-yard score.
Appalachian State improves to 3-2 on the season while The Citadel falls to 1-3 and is still winless on the road this year.
Chase Brice threw for 265 yards and 4 touchdowns while also adding a score on the ground. Cam Peoples ran for 102 yards and a touchdown on 4 carries with an outstanding 25.5 yards per carry. Christian Horn led the way in receiving for the Mountaineers with 132 yards and 2 touchdowns on only 3 catches having 44 yards per catch. Starring on defense for the Mountaineers was outside linebacker KeSean Brown who had 10 tackles and a sack on the day. Nick Ross forced a fumble for the Mountaineers while Dexter Lawson Jr. added an interception.
Peyton Derrick threw for 45 yards and an interception for the Bulldogs and had 10 yards rushing on 8 carries. Sam Llewellyn led the way on the ground with 41 yards on 10 carries. Jay Graves-Billups had a good game with 9 carries for 46 yards and 2 receptions for 42 yards. Destin Mack starred on defense with 7 tackles.