By David Rogers. ORLANDO, Fla. — Just about the only App State Football personnel for whom the Cure Bowl weather was really “miserable” on Dec. 16 were the guys charged with laundering the uniforms after the Mountaineers’ 13-9 win over Miami (OH). Boys will be boys and celebrating a victory by diving and sliding through a paint and mud-filled lake at midfield — previously known as the event logo — is fun, fun, fun, even if names and numbers afterwards are unrecognizable.
According to weather reports distributed at halftime of the Avocados From Mexico Cure Bowl, more than 1.45 inches of rain fell on FBC Mortgage Stadium on the campus of the University of Central Florida — just during the first half. And the torrential downpour continued throughout the second half, with a brisk wind keeping the American flag above the stadium flying stiff-straight.
Without question, the inclement weather was a factor in the game. The two teams combined for 13 fumbles in the sloppy conditions, five of them lost as turnovers. The Mountaineers had seven fumbles (two lost) and the RedHawks mishandled the ball six times, losing three. Even where the fumbles were not lost, many were drive-killers.
Ultimately, this game hinged on the ability of App State quarterback Joey Aguilar to defy the odds and pass the football vs. two RedHawks QBs that couldn’t. “Joey California” completed 19 of 33 passes for an improbable 211 yards. There were no touchdown passes to add to his season total but the only real blemish to the performance was an interception on his first pass of the afternoon. Aguilar also rushed five times for 14 yards, including the game’s first TD that didn’t come until less than five minutes remained in the third quarter.
By comparison, Miami’s two QBs, juniors Henry Hesson and Maddox Kopp, combined for 6-of-10 passing for just 44 yards. Known as a rushing team, Miami did get 180 yards on the ground from junior running back Rashad Amos, including the RedHawks’ lone TD in the third quarter, but overall the App State defense — with some help from the soggy conditions — limited Miami’s offensive production to just 227 total combined yards, 183 of it on the ground and almost all by Amos.
Meanwhile, the Mountaineers featured a more balanced attack, including a career high rushing by junior running back Anderson Castle. The former star quarterback at Watauga High School carried the ball 20 times for 119 yards, making several key plays to pick up first downs and extend Mountaineer drives. Castle emerged as the feature back on the night, with significant contributions from sophomore Kanye Roberts, who actually started the game at running back. Roberts carried the ball 10 times for 48 yards. Nate Noel, who was limited midway through the season with a lower body injury, reportedly entered the transfer portal on Dec. 7.
After the game, both head coach Shawn Clark and quarterback Joey Aguilar credited the team’s intentional practices in adverse weather and conditions for being ready to play in the downpour.
“Come October,” said Clark, “we never know what kind of weather we are going to get in Boone.”
Aguilar added, “We practice in the rain and sometimes even dunk balls into buckets of water to make it even more of a (challenge).”
App State finishes the 2024 season as the Cure Bowl champion with a 9-5 overall record, 6-3 in Sun Belt Conference play.
POST-GAME NOTES FROM APP STATE SPORTS
- With a 9-5 final record, App State has won nine or more games in eight of the last nine seasons and three of four seasons under head coach Shawn Clark.
- App State improved its record in bowl games to 7-1 since moving up to the FBS ranks. The Mountaineers have earned bowl berths in eight of nine seasons since their first year of eligibility in 2015, including an NCAA-record seven berths in the first seven seasons.
- This was App State’s fourth bowl win over a MAC team in as many tries, including the second against the MAC Champion (Toledo in 2017).
- This was the fourth time in its FBS history that App State has defeated a team with 10 or more wins. Miami was 11-2 entering the game. The previous wins were against No. 18 JMU earlier this year (10-0 entering game), Louisiana (10-2 entering the 2019 Sun Belt Championship Game) and Toledo (11-2 entering the 2017 Dollar General Bowl).
- This was App State’s seventh one-possession game of the year. The Mountaineers won three of them, while an additional 48-38 win over Southern Miss was decided in the closing seconds as well.
- In driving rain all day long, there were 13 fumbles and five fumble recoveries on a sloppy FBC Mortgage Stadium field.
- The 13 points marked App State’s lowest winning point total since a 13-10 win at Furman in 2003.
- The teams were even with three turnovers apiece. Under head coach Shawn Clark, the Mountaineers are now 18-1 when winning the turnover battle, 6-12 when losing, and 11-4 when they have the same number of turnovers as the opponent.
- Team captain and safety Nick Ross played in his 66th career game, tying the school record held by Thomas Hennigan, Caleb Spurlin and Xavier Subotsch (all 2017-21).
OFFENSE
- Joey Aguilar was named Cure Bowl MVP after passing for 211 yards on 19-of-33 completions and rushing for 14 yards, including App State’s lone touchdown on a 9-yard run in the third quarter.
- Aguilar capped his incredible first season as a Mountaineer with school records of 3,757 passing yards, 33 passing touchdowns, 294 completions and 461 attempts.
- Even in terrible conditions, Kaedin Robinson still put on a show with nine catches for a career-high 118 yards, hauling in all but two passes thrown his way.
- Anderson Castle rushed for a career-high 119 yards – his first career triple-digit game – including some big first downs to seal the victory on the Mountaineers’ final drive. His previous high was 67 rushing yards vs. Robert Morris in 2022.
DEFENSE
- The nine points scored by Miami tied the fewest allowed by App State this year (31-9 win against Marshall on Nov. 4).
- App State’s defense held the RedHawks to 227 total yards, including 44 passing, and only 11 first downs. Miami was 3-of-11 on third downs and 0-of-1 on fourth down.
- The Mountaineers forced one Miami fumble (forced by Nate Johnson) and recovered three total (by Nick Ross, Santana Hopper and Ronald Clarke).
- Caden Sullivan and Ross tied for the team lead with 10 tackles apiece. It was a career high for Sullivan, while it increased Ross’ season total to 105.
- App State had sacks by Hopper and Montez Kelley that were instrumental in keeping Miami from moving the chains.
SPECIAL TEAMS
- Michael Hughes made both of his field-goal attempts, despite the elements, from 29 and 22 yards out. He finished the season with 19 makes on 22 attempts. His 19 field goals are tied for second-most in a season in program history.
- Mitchell Lake punted three times for a 43.7-yard average, including a long of 53, for his highest game average of the season.
