POSTGAME NOTES: App State 26, Charlotte 21
App State improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2019, when the Mountaineers started 7-0 on their way to a 13-1 final record.
Following a three-plus hour delay, this game featured the latest kickoff in Kidd Brewer Stadium history at 9:32 p.m.
App State improved to 5-0 all-time against Charlotte, including 3-0 in Boone.
As an FBS program, the Mountaineers are now 11-0 against current American programs, including a 5-0 mark against Charlotte, 4-0 vs. East Carolina, 1-0 vs. North Texas and 1-0 vs. UAB.
This was App State's 101st win since it became a postseason-eligible FBS member in 2015, tied for 11th-most nationally in that span.
Cornerback Dre Walker earned his first career start.
OFFENSE
Malachi Singleton completed 28 of 42 passes for a career-high 331 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He added 14 yards on the ground and even caught a 14-yard pass from fellow QB Henry Hasselbeck. His back-to-back second-half touchdown passes to Chris Lofton and Jackson Grier extended the Mountaineers' lead from 13-7 to 26-7. Singleton spread the ball to 10 different receivers, while himself being App State's 11th different pass catcher on the night.
Lofton led the receiving corps with six catches for 90 yards – both season highs – including his first App State touchdown.
Grier's 7-yard score with 12:08 left in the contest was the first touchdown catch of his college career. He scored a rushing touchdown in the opener against Maine.
Jaquari Lewis has scored a touchdown in each of the team's three games. He paced the App State rushing attack against the 49ers with 11 carries for 46 yards.
DEFENSE
App State's defense limited Charlotte's offense to two touchdowns, 247 total yards and 36 rushing yards. The 49ers converted only 1 of 11 third-down attempts and 1 of 3 fourth downs.
Devin Henderson led the team with a career-high eight tackles.
Khalil Conley and Dre Walker had the Mountaineers' two interceptions. Walker picked off a fourth-quarter pass for the second straight contest.
Caleb Sandstrom – already the team leader in sacks – had another sack and 1.5 TFLs among his three total tackles.
Eric Adams recorded a pair of PBUs.
SPECIAL TEAMS
James London continued his strong season with field goals made from 41 and 47 yards and no misses. He booted all five of his kickoffs for touchbacks, and he converted both PATs. London has made six of seven field-goal attempts this season, with the only miss an attempt at a school-record 59-yarder.
In addition to his interception on defense, Walker came up big on special teams when he tackled Charlotte's holder after a bad fourth-down snap.
