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A sold-out crowd, divisional rivals, and a history-making win against a ranked opponent. There’s not much else you can really ask for from midweek college football.
Coastal Carolina’s streak of 18 straight regular season wins came to an end on Wednesday in Boone when they lost to Appalachian State by a score of 30-27. App State’s victory marked their first win against a ranked opponent since their famous victory in 2007 over #5 Michigan. In other words, this was their first win over a ranked team as an FBS program
Coastal Carolina jumped out to a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Appalachian State responded in the second quarter with two touchdowns, but were quickly countered by two field goals by CCU’s Massimo Biscardi of 50 and 46 yards respectively.
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App State’s Chase Brice continued to heat up in the third quarter with a 28-yard touchdown to Corey Sutton. Coastal Carolina took the lead back shortly after when the Chants capped an 83-yard drive with a one-yard Shermari Jones touchdown run. On App State’s ensuing possession, App State’s Camerun Peoples broke free for a 43-yard touchdown run. The Mountaineers would botch the extra point attempt so the score would be tied.
Since Chandler Staton wasn’t able to actually kick that extra point attempt, his perfect season without a missed field goal or extra point would continue.
Both teams struggled to break through in the fourth quarter, trading punts and turnovers well into the final period. With about three minutes left, Brice and the Mountaineers put together a strong drive to get inside the ten yard line, setting up Staton for the game-winning field goal. Staton also tied the school record for carer made field goals with that kick.
Brice would finish the day 18 of 28 for 347 yards and two touchdowns. In total, the Mountaineers outdid the Chants in yardage 575 to 346. Another staple of the win was App State’s ability to defend the run, holding Coastal Carolina to only 55 yards rushing, well below the Chants’ average of 263.5 per game.
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There are plenty of instances where fans tune into Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday night G5 football games just to hear a sound vaguely resembling a crowd and a contest low in entertainment value. This was the opposite of that and Hump Day evening was better for it.
Appalachian State improve to 5-2 continues their season on October 30 when they host ULM. Coastal Carolina drop to 6-1 and host Troy on October 28.