By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Helped by James Madison turnovers and penalties, App State overcame another early deficit to record an emotional, Senior Day win on Nov. 23, 34-20.
The Dukes started the game looking like the 8-2 record they brought to Kidd Brewer Stadium. An 8-play, 74-yard scoring drive on the game’s opening possession and another TD pass near the start of the second quarter put JMU up 14-0, looking too easy for the visitors from Harrisonburg, Va. Couple those with the Mountaineers’ three consecutive punts on its first offensive possessions, including two 3-and-outs, and this one had the makings of a lopsided loss.
But a forced fumble, a turnover on downs and a stellar defensive effort by the Mountaineers to hold James Madison to only another field goal in the second quarter turned the tide for App State. Three TDs plus a field goal by the Mountaineers before halftime gave the 34,012 mostly App State faithful something to cheer about, taking a 24-17 lead into the locker room for intermission.
And each of those second quarter scores had special elements. With 12:19 remaining in the half, placekicker Michael Hughes celebrated his return from injury with a 23-yard field goal. Tight end Eli Wilson, in his first action since being injured earlier in the season, was on the receiving end of a play action flare pass that found the fifth year senior wide open on the right side, punctuated by a high-stepping TD.
And it only got better. As the game clock was winding down before halftime, with the ball at the App State 36 on first down but just 1:23 remaining, senior QB Joey Aguilar dropped back and found wide receiver Makai Jackson racing down the sideline. The junior from Croydon, Pa., gathered the ball in over his right shoulder in stride at the JMU 22 and outsprinted the closest defender the rest of the way for a 64-yard TD completion. It was just the explosive offensive play the Mountaineers needed to get completely untracked, tying the game at 17-17 with another Hughes PAT kick.
Six plays later, after App State’s defense left the Dukes with a 4th-and-8 on their own 39 yard line, Cahari Haynes blocked the punt attempt and Michael Hetzel plucked the loose ball from the ground for a thrilling, “scoop and score” that further energized the AppNation crowd with just 48 seconds remaining before the half.
In a back and forth, mostly defensive second half, the Mountaineers limited James Madison to just one more field goal, an impressive 52-yarder and career long for Noe Ruelas. Also in the second half, App State added another 41-yard field goal by Hughes and an impressive, 10-play TD scoring drive to extend the lead.
On paper, James Madison outgained the Mountaineers in total yards, 400-361, and had possession for 34:05 vs. App State’s 25:55. But where the Mountaineers were 3-3 upon getting into the red zone, JMU was only able to convert on one out of two trips. Mostly, the Dukes fell victim to the early fumble, a late interception, the blocked punt and nine drive-killing penalties for 69 lost yards — while App State was never penalized even a single time.
Looking ahead, the Mountaineers have a Nov. 30 tilt at Georgia Southern. Currently at 5-5, App State needs a win in Statesboro, Ga. in the final regular season game to become bowl eligible.
Post-game notes, courtesy of App State Athletics
- With the victory, App State evened its season record to 5-5 and moved to 3-4 in Sun Belt play. A win at Georgia Southern on Nov. 30 would make the Mountaineers bowl eligible for the ninth time in 10 seasons as a postseason-eligible FBS member.
- This was App State’s 100th win since transitioning to the FBS level in 2014. The only FBS programs with more than 100 wins during that span are Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, Georgia, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Boise State and Oregon.
- App State improved to 14-5 all-time against JMU and won for the second straight year. The Mountaineers have a 2-1 edge in the series since both programs moved up to FBS.
- Attendance at Kidd Brewer Stadium was 34,012 for the Mountaineers’ final home game of the season. App State’s average home attendance of 34,622 this season is the second-highest average in school and Sun Belt Conference history behind last year’s average of 34,734.
- This was the 11th straight sellout at The Rock dating back to last season, and that includes the Sept. 28 contest that was canceled due to Hurricane Helene.
- The Mountaineers finished the home season with a 4-1 record at The Rock, making it the ninth time in the last 10 seasons with one or fewer home losses.
- App State won on Senior Day at Kidd Brewer Stadium for the 26th time in the last 27 years.
- The Mountaineers’ .838 home winning percentage since 2014 is eighth-best in the FBS behind only Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, Georgia, Oregon, Oklahoma and Memphis.
- This was the Mountaineers’ second win of the season after trailing by multiple touchdowns. App State rallied from down 14-0 against JMU and down 16-0 against East Carolina to earn 34-20 and 21-19 victories, respectively. The team also trailed ODU by a 17-7 margin before winning that game 28-20.
- App State improved to 20-1 when winning the turnover battle during head coach Shawn Clark’s tenure.
- Special guests at the game included retired NFL star and media personality, Jason Kelce, retired NFL player and App State alum, Daniel Kilgore, and current Tampa Bay Rays pitcher and App State alum, Jeffrey Springs.
- Safety Zyeir Gamble and wide receiver Michael Hetzel earned their first career starts.
OFFENSE
- Quarterback Joey Aguilar went 12-for-23 for 216 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. It was his seventh game this season with multiple touchdown passes and the 18th time in his 24 games as App State’s QB.
- In the first game without leading receiver Kaedin Robinson, Makai Jackson starred with five catches for a career-high 162 yards and a touchdown. It was the most receiving yards by a Mountaineer this season and the most since Christan Horn’s 165 yards against Southern Miss last year.
- Ahmani Marshall went over the century mark in rushing yards (108) for the fourth straight game, scoring his fourth touchdown in that span.
- Eli Wilson caught four passes for 32 yards and a touchdown after missing the previous two games with an injury.
DEFENSE
- For the second time in three games, Shawn Collins made a momentum-swinging strip sack. This time he recovered his own forced fumble that gave the ball to the Mountaineers and turned into a touchdown drive that cut the early deficit to 14-10.
- After allowing 14 points in the first 16 minutes of the game, App State’s defense held JMU to just a pair of field goals the rest of the way. The Dukes managed only 135 total yards after halftime.
- App State had four sacks on the day. In addition to Collins, Michael Fletcher had a pair of sacks, and Santana Hopper had one sack among his 2.5 tackles for loss.
- Jason Chambers snagged his first career interception with a big fourth quarter takeaway.
- Linebackers Brendan Harrington and Kyle Arnholt led App State with 11 tackles apiece, matching a career high for Harrington and setting a career high for Arnholt.
SPECIAL TEAMS
- Perhaps the biggest play of the day was App State’s first punt block returned for a touchdown since 2019, as Cahari Haynes burst through JMU’s line to block a second-quarter punt that was then knocked around and picked up by Michael Hetzel who carried it into the end zone. It was the Mountaineers’ go-ahead touchdown to completely erase an early 14-0 deficit and take a 24-17 lead into halftime.
- In his return to the field after missing five games due to injury, Michael Hughes connected on a 23-yard field goal in the second quarter and then a 41-yarder in the fourth quarter that was the game’s final score.
