By Matt Present. BOONE, N.C. — Playing on its home turf for the first time in 35 days, App State Soccer increased its unbeaten streak to five consecutive games, following a 2-2 draw with Coastal Carolina at The Valley.
The Mountaineers (5-3-4, 2-0-2) wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. Less than four minutes into the contest, Olivia Simon jumped a passing lane to win possession and threaded a pass through the legs of a Chanticleer defender to find Izzi Wood, who drilled it into the top-right corner of the goal.
Coastal Carolina (5-4-5, 1-1-3) equalized the score in the early minutes of the second half. Yasmin Azar was able to beat her Mountaineer defender down the sideline and fed a pass in front to Eleanor Ashton, who was able to tap it home to tie the score at 1-1.
App State’s Hayden Petrick (5) maneuvers the ball vs. Coastal Carolina on Oct. 10, 2024. Photo by Joseph Chapman, courtesy of App State Athletics
Following the equalizer, App State generated numerous scoring chances in the minutes that followed, their efforts paying off with a go-ahead goal in the 62nd minute. Off a Stephanie Barbosa corner kick, Ellie Garrison leapt in the air and headed the ball to Wood, who delivered a header of her own into the back of the net.
The goal was Wood’s eighth of the season, tying her for the Sun Belt Conference lead. It was also goal No. 23 of her career, moving Wood into fifth place on the App State all-time scoring list. She has now scored seven goals in her last seven games.
Mountaineer goalkeeper Sarah Wommack, Oct. 10, 2024, vs. Coastal Carolina. Photo by Joseph Chapman, courtesy of App State Athletics
App State carried the 2-1 lead into the closing minutes but, with two minutes to play, Coastal Carolina’s Ashton came through with a brace of her own, curling a free kick just inside the near post to level the score at 2-2.
App State outshot the Chanticleers 14-6 overall and 8-4 in shots on target, led by six shots from Wood and five from Garrison.
Noteworthy: Ella Hoover made her first career start for the Mountaineers, while Shannon Studer returned to action after missing her past three games due to injury.
The Mountaineers will be back in action on Sunday when they face off with Marshall at 1 p.m. in Huntington, W. Va.
By David Rogers. HUNTINGTON, W.V. — Dominating time of possession in a football game is important — but not as important as keeping your time-deprived opponent out of the end zone.
App State had possession 10-plus minutes more than host Marshall in Joan C. Edwards Stadium but could not contain The Thundering Herd in a 52-37 Sun Belt Conference loss.
Kudos to Marshall University for a pre-game display of human compassion: proceeds from a student car-smashing fundraiser are earmarked for the App State Disaster Relief Fund.
App State QB Joey Aguilar. Photo courtesy of App State Athletics
Hard to Overcome
Two turnovers (both pass interceptions), four quarterback sacks, seven pass breakups, nine quarterback hurries and eight tackles for loss by the Marshall defense were problematic for the visiting Mountaineers, compounded by 15 penalties for 158 yards. Combined, they all but short-circuited App State scoring opportunities.
Without question, the App State offense led by QB Joey Aguilar was able to move the football, the senior signal caller completing 26-of-44 passes for 293 yards but two TDs offset by the two pass interceptions.
In 35:24 time of possession (compared to just 24:26 for Marshall), the Mountaineers rolled up 473 yards of total offense but had a hard time stopping The Thundering Herd’s quick-strike offense led by backup QB, Braylon Braxton, standing in for an injured Cole Pennington.
Braxton didn’t act like a fill-in, serving as Marshall’s leading rusher in carrying the ball 15 times for 140 yards and two TDs. Complimenting his day’s work: completing 8-of-14 pass for 129 yards, three TDs and no INTs.
Kanye Roberts (14) scores App State’s first TD at Marshall on Oct. 5. Photo courtesy of App State Athletics
The Mountaineers were playing for the first time in 16 days after Hurricane Helene struck the western North Carolina mountains a week earlier with massive flooding from torrential rainfall and high winds causing an unprecedented amount of destruction in the High Country and classes being canceled at least for the foreseeable future.
The home game on Sept. 28 vs. Liberty was also canceled and practices cobbled together as best they could under the circumstances as coaches, staff, and players dealt with the storm damage, including loss of power, internet capabilities and significant property damage. To play a college football game at any level while balancing personal needs in a natural disaster with game preparation is nothing short of courageous, even if it helped restore a sense of normalcy for the university and its supporters.
Among the highlights:
App State kept the game close in the early going, even going ahead, 10-7, after reserve placekicker Jackson Moore’s 42-yard field goal midway through the first quarter got the Mountaineers on the board, then running back Kanye Roberts capped off a 14-play, 94-yard drive early in the second period with a 10-yard TD run around the left side.
A swing pass by Aguilar to Roberts on the left side was, unfortunately, a little behind the running back. In reaching back, Roberts bobbled it in the air where it was gathered in by Marshall linebacker J’Coryan Anderson and returned 13 yards for a “Pick 6” TD. That was the first play from scrimmage after The Herd’s Jordan Houston converted a short pass from Braxton into a 75-yard TD sprint down the left sideline, the two plays not only putting Marshall back on top, but giving the home team a 21-10 lead they would never relinquish.
Among the bright spots for the Mountaineers was converting 6-of-6 fourth downs, turning them into first downs and extending drives. One of those was a 4th-and-5 situation on the Marshall 21 yard line, an Aguilar pass to wide receiver Dalton Stroman cutting across the middle for a TD, the first of two TDs thrown to the junior WR. The second TD pass was a 27-yarder in which Stroman drug his right foot in the end zone just after securing the catch.
Aguilar helped extend drives with his legs, too, serving as the Mountaineers’ top rusher on the day with 10 carries for 55 yards. Running back Ahmani Marshall also carried the ball 10 times for 48 yards and a pair of TDs, while Roberts toted the pigskin 13 times for 35 yards and the team’s first TD.
By midway through the third quarter, Marshall led by three touchdowns, 38-17, but the Mountaineers effectively traded scoring opportunities with their hosts, scoring 20 more points in the last 19 minutes of play.
With reported uncertainty as to where App State will play its remaining home games given the hurricane-related damage to Boone and the surrounding area, the Mountaineers’ next scheduled contest is at Louisiana on Saturday, October 12, 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.
All game statistics compiled and distributed courtesy of StatBroadcast
By Matt Present. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In a hard-fought, sporadic contest that was moved to the campus of Queens University in Charlotte due to the effects of Hurricane Helene, a late App State goal from Kyli Switalski in the 72nd minute of play evened the score at one apiece, forcing a 1-1 draw on Friday night against Georgia State. The goal was the freshman’s second of the year.
The draw allowed App State (5-3-3, 2-0-1 SBC) to remain unbeaten in Sun Belt play, making them one of three teams with an unblemished conference record as of Friday’s games.
Izzi Wood (4) maneuvers the ball past a Georgia State defender on Oct. 4. Photo by Kristin Shaffer, courtesy of App State Athletics
Despite being held scoreless for 72 minutes to start the game, the Mountaineers were not held quiet on offense as they tallied 12 shots, 10 coming in the second half alone, with four being on goal. Izzi Wood generated several scoring chances herself, which included two shots almost consecutively in the 58th minute.
Georgia State (1-6-5, 0-1-3) opened the scoring with a late first-half goal off the left foot of Aaliyah Faddoul, the Panthers’ leading scorer. It was the only goal to get past Mountaineer keeper Sarah Wommack all night.
Mumu Guisasola (22) leads the App State celebration after Kyli Switalski’s goal in the 72nd minute of App State’s match vs. Georgia State on Oct. 4. Photo by Kristin Shaffer, courtesy of App State Athletics
Action picked up significantly in the second half of this high-tempo contest as App State controlled the ball in attacking position for most of the period before Switalski’s goal. Shots came from all over with both Ellie Garrison and Sydney Snowden taking shots at the net, but the score held serve.
It wasn’t until a free kick after a foul on the Panthers did the Mountaineers’ persistence pay off. From just outside the box, Switalski took the free kick chance and rifled a shot to the lower third of the net, finally helping the Mountaineers break through on the scoreboard.
After the equalizer, App State remained aggressive, firing three more shots at the net in the final 18 minutes. A rocket off the foot of Stephanie Barbosa nearly gave the Mountaineers a late lead, but it missed just high.
As part of App State’s 12 shots, nine came from the trio of Wood, Barbosa and Garrison.
The Mountaineers are scheduled to play Thursday, Oct. 10 against Coastal Carolina. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m., tentatively at the Ted Mackeroll Soccer Complex.
Our community and many in our region have been impacted by the effects of Hurricane Helene in devastating ways. I echo Chancellor Norris’ heartfelt thanks to emergency responders, volunteers, utility providers and many others for their response to this crisis. We are also deeply grateful for the outpouring of support and assistance we are receiving from individuals, universities and organizations around the country.
As Watauga County Emergency Services Director Will Holt, Town of Boone Mayor Tim Futrelle and Chancellor Norris shared in a press conference yesterday, this is an unprecedented situation for App State and the High Country. Our immediate focus is the well-being of students, staff and our community, as well as recovery efforts, both short-term and long-term.
We are grateful to report that all student-athletes and athletics staff have been accounted for and are safe. Some have lost their homes. Many are without power, water and cell service, and have experienced damage to their property and possessions.
We appreciate everyone keeping our beloved home in your thoughts. Please consider giving to the App State Disaster Relief Fund to support Mountaineer students, faculty and staff.
Below are a few updates from the athletics department in regards to our current operations.
In the midst of the active emergency response in our area, our situation remains fluid as it relates to team practices and scheduling for home and away events.
Fall sport teams have sporadically resumed practice and competition, with schedules being altered as needed to practice or play away from Boone or to reschedule home events for later dates. Stay tuned to AppStateSports.com and individual sports’ social media accounts for timely updates.
Football is preparing for its upcoming trip to Marshall this weekend.
There has been damage sustained at some facilities, most notably Varsity Gym and the Holmes Convocation Center. Damage assessment and cleanup began immediately and are ongoing.
We ask for everyone’s patience regarding football ticket implications from the Liberty game cancellation and other ongoing event ticket implications.
We will continue to provide updates about scheduling, tickets and facility access as the picture becomes clearer.
One of the hallmarks of Mountaineers is our resilient spirit. Together we will get through this. We are Mountain Strong.
By Layne McNary. CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The App State Field Hockey team defeated the Central Michigan Chippewas 2-1 on Sunday.
The Mountaineers (5-3) never trailed in the Sept. 29 matchup, with Lise Boekaar and Darby Reyburn finding the back of the cage.
Although the game was moved due to weather from Hurricane Helene, it was still a memorable day for the Mountaineers, as Reyburn found the back of the cage for the first time in her collegiate career.
How it Happened
1st: The Mountaineers dominated the bulk of the offensive possession, tallying 15 shots in the period to Central Michigan’s (3-6) zero. Both teams ended the period scoreless, as App State forced 11 saves from Central Michigan goalkeeper Coletta Beeler in the period.
2nd: It was more of the same in the second, as the Mountaineers forced eight shots in the period to Central Michigan’s one. Lise Boekaar scored the first goal of the game from a penalty stroke, giving the Mountaineers a 1-0 lead in the second. Central Michigan’s Pauline Klep scored late in the period, tying the game at one going into halftime.
3rd: The Mountaineers held firm in the third period, applying offensive pressure to the Chippewas in the period. App State forced seven corners and four saves in the period. Reyburn found the back of the cage from a Boekaar pass, scoring the first goal of her career.
4th: The final period was scoreless for both teams, as neither App nor Central Michigan forced a penalty corner. The Mountaineers still tallied four shots in the period, testing the goalkeeper twice. The Mountaineers finished Sunday’s game defeating Central Michigan 2-1.
Up Next
The Mountaineers travel to Davidson Sept. 30, facing off against Bellarmine at noon. Tomorrow’s matchup is making up Friday’s game that was canceled due to weather.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Just about any thing that could go wrong… well, it went wrong for App State in the first half of its Sun Belt Conference opener against South Alabama at Kidd Brewer Stadium on Sept. 19. Only a “Hail Mary” pass from quarterback Joey Aguilar to wide receiver Dalton Stroman as time expired before intermission prevented a first half shutout by the Jaguars. And it didn’t get any better in the second half for the Mountaineers.
South Alabama brought all the fight to the Rock on this night, leaving town with a 48-14 conference win in front of another sell out crowd of 34,133.
DJ Thomas Jones catches an early TD pass from South Alabama QB Gio Lopez. Photographic image by Flaco Suarez-Robles for High Country Sports
Again?
It has become an all too familiar story for the Mountaineers in 2024: go down big in the first half, even in the first quarter. Against Clemson, App State trailed 35-0 at the end of the first quarter and 56-13 at halftime before losing, 66-20. Against East Carolina, the Mountaineers had to shrug off a 16-0 first quarter deficit and score 21 unanswered points to eke out a come-from-behind, 21-19 win in Greenville on Sept. 14.
The Mountaineers’ first half woes didn’t improve in Week 3, with South Alabama passing and running their way to a 28-0 lead until Stroman’s “Hail Mary” TD reception as time expired on the first two quarters. Then the Jaguars piled it on in the second half. For the night, just about any USA offensive player who touched the ball carved out big chunks of yardage, if not scores.
App State running back Anderson Castle (1) was held to just 36 yards rushing on 6 carries vs. South Alabama and catching 3 passes for only 10 yards. Photographic image by Flaco Suarez-Robles for High Country Sports
Defensively, App State missed tackles, left gaping holes for Jaguar ball carriers to run through, and blew pass coverage in the secondary. Offensively, the South Alabama defensive line controlled the line of scrimmage, offering few opportunities for App State’s purported stable of good running backs and kept pressure on Mountaineer quarterback Joey Aguilar.
Giving credit where credit is due
While App State fans can bemoan the missed tackles and lack luster execution, nobody should discount the performance of South Alabama. If nothing else, by scoring 48 points on offense and limiting the Mountaineers on defense, the Jaguars proved that last week’s 87-10 shellacking of FCS contender Northwestern State was not a fluke and might even have been a foreshadowing of things to come for head coach Major Applewhite’s team.
South Alabama QB Gio Lopez scrambles and sprints for a TD against App State on Sept. 19, 2024. Photographic image by Flaco Suarez-Robles for High Country Sports
In the Jaguars’ first two games, a 58-32 loss to North Texas and a 27-20 loss at Ohio, South Alabama was without the services of starting QB Gio Lopez, a stout 6-0, 220-lb. redshirt freshman. When he wasn’t throwing laser-like passes (16-24, 154 yards, 2 TDs and 0 INTs), Lopez was bouncing off would-be tacklers and rambling for big gains on the ground. On QB keepers, the Jaguars’ field general tucked the ball and ran seven times for 105 yards, including three “chunk plays” of 50, 19, and a 31-yard scramble to the left for a TD, early in the second quarter.
To a large extent, South Alabama did what App State usually tries to do: control possession of the football, extend offensive drives, keep the opponent’s offense off the field and score touchdowns.
A lot of the work being done by the Jags came in the form of a 5-10, 219 lb. freshman running back, Fluff Bothwell. There was nothing “fluffy” about him. He pounded through the Mountaineer defense for 116 yards on 14 carries, including two TDs. His first touchdown came midway through the first quarter, a 22-yard romp that finished off what could only be described as a Bothwell-featured offensive possession. He preceded the TD rush with runs of 7 and 20 yards. It was a 6-play, 60-yard scoring drive that took just 2:01 of the clock and Bothwell accounted for 49 of those 60 yards. Credit Applewhite’s scheme and the O-line blocking, to be sure, but Bothwell was also running through would-be Mountaineer tacklers.
App State QB Joey Aguilar saw a lot of pressure from South Alabama on Sept. 19. Photographic image by Flaco Suarez-Robles for High Country Sports
Bothwell’s second TD came midway through the third quarter, a 14-yard dash into the end zone to complete a 6-play, 67-yard drive, requiring 3:04 in terms of time. It formally put the game out of reach, the Laith Marjan PAT giving South Alabama a 41-7 lead. With that, there was a steady stream of black-and-gold clad Mountaineer fans already leaving the stadium. Bothwell’s Q3 TD featured not only the big freshman, but a balanced offensive possession with Lopez completing passes of 17 and 22 yards to go along with 4- and 20-yard rushes by Bothwell before his TD run.
App State will lick its wounds and hope to regroup before facing a talented Liberty University team in a non-conference encounter between what were expected to be two Group of 5 heavyweights.
South Alabama elevated its Sun Belt Conference title hopes with the win and will take its show on the road for a Sept. 28 test at LSU.
The Mountaineers were the widely touted, preseason favorite to win the East Division of the Sun Belt. They have a lot of work to do to keep those hopes alive after the opening loss to South Alabama.
By Peyton Ash. BOONE, N.C. — A slow-start reminiscent of a week earlier at East Carolina, the Appalachian State Mountaineers sparred with the South Alabama Jaguars on Sept. 19, trading blows for Sun Belt Conference supremacy – but not landing anything and certainly not forging a come-from-behind win. USA prevailed, 48-14.
In front of another sellout crowd at Kidd Brewer Stadium, the Jaguars wasted no time in finding the end zone. Quarterback Gio Lopez torched the Mountaineers for a 50-yard run, then a play-action pass from Lopez to tight end DJ Thomas-Jones gave South Alabama an early lead, 7-0, (after the Laith Marjan PAT kick).
The Mountaineers’ first offensive possession could not hold up against an unrelenting Jaguar defense, forcing a punt back toward what proved to be an explosive South Alabama offense. Driving down the field, the Jaguars again wasted no time finding the end zone as running back Fluff Bothwell ran it in for a 22-yard touchdown.
You can’t sugarcoat it. That was an old-fashioned butt whooping.
“We have to make plays,” said head coach Clark. “ Go out and set the tone of the game… We have to make plays and that falls directly on the coaches.”
Forced to punt again, the Mountaineers found themselves down, 14-0, with 3:16 left in the first quarter. From inside the 10-yard line, the Jaguars put together a well-executed run game before a monster hit on USA quarterback Gio Lopez by Santana Hopper, forced a fumble that was recovered by App State’s Shawn Collins.
The Mountaineer optimism slowly faded as the South Alabama defense forced another punt. Punter Conner Maynard put the ball within the ten-yard line once again, providing a measure of Mountaineer hope for a defensive stop.
With 5:30 remaining in the first half, Lopez brushed off a handful of App State defenders, found an open lane down the Mountaineer hash and sprinted into the endzone from 31 yards out.
Upon getting the ball back, a promising Mountaineer march down to the South Alabama seven-yard line was abruptly halted when App State quarterback Joey Aguilar threw a critical interception, the Jaguars’ cornerback Jordan Scruggs stepping in front of the receiver and cracking a 96-yard INT return. App State wide receiver Christan Horn stopped Scruggs short of the goal line, but was flagged for a horse collar tackle that put the ball at the Mountaineer 2-yard line. A play later, it was punched into the end zone by South Alabama running back Kentrel Bullock.
The home field energy advantage had dissipated at Kidd Brewer by this point, but returned at least momentarily when App State QB Joey Aguilar launched a 47-yard miracle pass downfield to Dalton Stroman for a Mountaineer touchdown, as time struck zero before halftime. The fog-ridden score of 28-7 wrapped up a South Alabama offensive masterclass for the first half.
Punt-after-punt for App State to begin the second half resulted in another pair of Jaguar touchdowns. One came on a cleanly executed “wheel route” caught by wide receiver Jamaal Pritchett in the front corner of the endzone. The second came from the efforts of running back Fluff Bothwell who ran 14 yards behind his tackles and through the Mountaineer defense for the TD.
A high snap from App State center Jack Hollifield resulted in a costly turnover, but this time the Jaguars could not capitalize. The score going into the fourth quarter remained at 41-7.
Running down the clock throughout each possession, the Jaguars’ smothering offense drove down the field and punched in another touchdown, this time by running back Iverson Celestine, who ran it in untouched from 16 yards out.
In the closing minutes of the fourth quarter, Mountaineer running back Maquel Haywood got into the end zone, resulting in a final score of 48-14, South Alabama.
“You can’t sugar-coat it. That was an old-fashioned butt whooping,” Clark said, addressing reporters after the loss.
The Mountaineers are set to face Liberty University (3-0) for another home game on Sept. 28. Prepping for the undefeated Flames includes taking time for players to heal, Clark said..
“We have to get healthy, we’re banged up a little bit right now but that’s not an excuse,” Clark said. “We have enough players to go out there and be competitive and win football games.”
By David Rogers. GREENVILLE, N.C. — Shrugging off a 16-point, first quarter deficit, App State scored 21 unanswered points — and then hung on to defeat East Carolina on Sept. 13, 21-19, in front of a near-capacity crowd of 46,117 at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
BONUS PHOTOS, GAME STATS AT BOTTOM OF ARTICLE
Oops, they did it again
This game’s beginning looked eerily like a week ago, when on the third play from scrimmage Clemson found the Mountaineer secondary asleep and completed a 72-yard, pass-catch-and-sprint for a touchdown with hardly a minute gone from the game clock. That set the stage for an avalanche of scoring for the Tigers, who took a 35-0 lead by the end of the first quarter, then kept piling on.
Eli Wilson goes up for a grab for App State at East Carolina. Photo courtesy of App State Athletics
Against ECU, the Mountaineers again allowed a deep post pattern TD, this one tossed by QB Jeff Garcia and cradled in stride by Winston Wright, Jr. for 65 yards and paydirt. While the Mountaineer offense had trouble even making first downs in their opening possessions, the Pirates added a 48-yard field goal by placekicker Andrew Conrad and a “pick 6” pass interception by Shavon Revel, Jr. On the INT, Aguilar was pressured by Omar Rogers, causing him to take a little bit off the ball and giving Revel an opportunity to step in front of the intended Mountaineer wide receiver, Dalton Stroman, at midfield and run it back 50 yards to the end zone.
As a man, you have to make a statement and toe the line.
Never quit
Those three early scoring plays by ECU had the home side fans thinking they already had the High Country visitors on the edge of walking the proverbial Pirates’ plank — and erasing the none too fond memories of lopsided losses to the Mountaineers in the last two meetings. But throwing in the towel because things don’t go right at the beginning of a football game is not in the App State DNA, which they have proven time and again over the years. Even though the first quarter had similarities to what happened a week earlier at Clemson, the Pirates are not the Tigers and the visiting Mountaineers were hellbent on proving it.
Joey Aguilar (4) passed for 424 yards against East Carolina, with 2 TDs and 2 INTs. Big plays of 15 or more yards accounted for 281 of those aerials. Photo courtesy of App State Athletics
Mountaineer cornerback Seth Robertson is a fifth-year senior transfer from Georgia Southern who had a key pass interception in the waning minutes to cut short an East Carolina drive that could possibly have won the game with either a field goal or touchdown. He told reporters after the game about the team’s performance and mindset after the disastrous opening quarter.
“As a man, you have to make a statement and toe the line. As a team, we came together at halftime,” he said. “You have to take it like a man.”
Stay in the moment and take it one play at a time.
Quarterback Joey Aguilar said of the deficit there was never a time when he thought, “Oh no, here we go again.”
“We always come back and finish strong,” he said. “That’s what we’re all about.”
Mountaineer wide receiver Makai Jackson caught a 36-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter that put his team ahead, 21-16. Of the team’s resilience and ability to come back, Jackson gave the coaches plenty of props for helping the team regain their composure.
“Coach (Shawn) Clark just pushed everyone to stay together, do their jobs, and not get too high or into panic mode,” Jackson recalled. “He said to stay level-headed, stay in the moment and take it one play at a time.”
For his INT, Robertson was quick to smile and credit his teammates on the defensive line.
“They get after it. Their pressure makes our job (in the secondary) a whole lot easier,” he said.
Brendan Harrington (8) stops an ECU runner at the line of scrimmage on Sept. 14. Photo courtesy of App State Athletics
While the defense sparkled in only allowing ECU to score a late field goal after the first quarter, that only explained a part of the Mountaineers’ resilience in forging the comeback rally.
After the Mountaineer offense’s first three possessions ended in two punts and a pass interception, quarterback Joey Aguilar led his unit to scintillating productivity, including 505 yards of total offense, 424 of them through the air.
Meanwhile, the aggressive Pirate defensive line throttled down the App State rushing attack, the quartet of running backs Anderson Castle, Kanye Roberts and Ahmani Marshall, along with Aguilar, managing only 81 yards combined on the ground, in 36 carries.
Through the air, Aguilar spread the ball around to nine different receivers, including the biggest games from Kaedin Robinson (7 carries, 129 yards), Christan Horn (5-108), Makai Jackson (6-86-1 TD), Eli Wilson (4-53-1 TD), and Dalton Stroman (2-21).
To offset two interceptions thrown by Aguilar, he also threw two TD passes. The first was a well-designed 6-yard pass to tight end Eli Wilson over the middle, capping the Mountaineers’ first scoring drive of 13 plays, covering 75 yards, and it took 5:38 off the game clock, Wilson securing the TD catch early in the second quarter.
Head coach Shawn Clark explained after the game that a major goal of the Mountaineers was to keep the ball out of the hands of ECU’s up-tempo, dynamic offense.
The second Aguilar TD pass came late in the third quarter, to Jackson, and finished off a 4-play drive that went 56 yards, requiring only 1:24. App State got possession in good field position after a short Pirate punt. Jackson caught the ball along the right sideline, near the 5-yard line before going into the end zone.
Watauga alum Anderson Castle (1) got the start at East Carolina on Sept. 14 and had key gains. Photo courtesy of App State Athletics
On paper, the Mountaineer rushing attack was a non-factor, but critical advances by each of the running backs gained key first downs during the comeback. After Robertson’s late INT, Anderson Castle had an important 10-yard dash through the line in the 4th quarter with under two minutes remaining in the game. Moving the chains with the first down gave the Mountaineers what they needed to run out the clock and deny East Carolina another offensive opportunity. Either a field goal or touchdown would have won the game for the Pirates, had they gotten the ball back and been able to move downfield.
But 281 yards of the Mountaineers’ offensive production came on chunk passing plays greater than 15 yards. Robinson had big plays of 17, 22, 19, 31, and 20 yards. Horn hauled in big gainers of 32, and 49 yards. Jackson was on the receiving end of 18, 15 and 36 (TD) yard aerials. And Wilson had a 22-yard reception to go along with his 6-yard TD catch.
Two App State starters on defense, outside linebacker Nate Johnson and defensive back Jordan Favors were ejected for targeting.
It will be a quick turnaround for the Mountaineers once they arrive home in Boone, preparing for their Sun Belt Conference opener at home against South Alabama on Thursday night, Sept. 19, at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.
The Jaguars are coming off setting a Sun Belt Conference, single-game scoring record after demolishing FCS contender, Northwestern State, 87-10, on Sept. 13. It was the first win for the program under new head coach Major Applewhite, a former star QB for the Texas Longhorns and later head coach, quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator for the University of Houston.
App State may get a glimpse of how they stack up against the team’s Sept. 28 opponent, Liberty, when the Flames host East Carolina on Sept. 21.
All game stats made available by StatBroadcast and East Carolina.
By Layne McNary. BOONE, N.C. — The App State Field Hockey team (2-3) fell to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (1-3) 4-1 on Sept. 13.
Despite the loss, it was still a day of firsts, as senior defender Sarah Perkins scored her first goal of the season and goalkeeper Claire Grenis finished Friday’s game with eight saves, a career-high for the senior.
How it Happened
1st: The first period started off tight, with both teams maintaining possession. Wake Forest pressed the attack, getting five shots and two corners in the period to App State’s zero. Wake Forest defender Mia Montag got the Demon Deacons on the board first, ending the period 1-0.
2nd: It was more of the same for the Mountaineers, as the offensive struggles continued in the second period. The Mountaineers held firm defensively, only allowing one shot on goal and a penalty corner in the period. Wake Forest midfielder Flo Tuthill scored at the end of the period, giving the Demon Deacons a 2-0 lead going into the half.
3rd: The Mountaineers’ defense continued to limit chances for Wake Forest, allowing only three shots in the period. The Mountaineers still struggled on the offensive end, finishing the period without a shot on goal. Wake Forest forward Lauren Storey extended the lead to 3-0 with a penalty stroke early in the period.
4th: The Mountaineer offense began to pick it up in the final period, earning three penalty corners and three shots. Wake Forest also came out hot, extending the lead to four with Storey’s second goal. The Mountaineers never quit, with defender Sarah Perkins scoring her first goal of the season from a Lise Boekaar pass. The Mountaineers fell to a score of 4-1.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — At least in football, Clemson is regarded as one of those national powers, a “Power 4” team that always seem to be in the conversation for winning a national championship. At least some of that panache carries over to the Tigers’ other sports teams where all the NCAA Division I schools are considered more equal. So, when a volleyball team carrying the Clemson brand comes to town, it raises the level of excitement.
BONUS PHOTOS AT BOTTOM (Click on any image for Slide Show Mode)
That certainly was the case on Sept. 12, for the estimated 600 fans on hand for App State’s first match of the weekend Black & Gold Invitational tournament hosted at the Holmes Convocation Center. In what can only be described as one of the most exciting athletic contests of the year in any sport, App State battled toe-to-toe with Clemson, the 3-0 loss to the Tigers a bit deceiving.
App State middle blocker Elise Marchal (13) threads a kill shot between two Clemson defenders on Sept. 12 at the Holmes Convocation Center, in the opening match of the Black & Gold Invitational. Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
“Any time you are in two sets where the difference is two points, it could have gone either way,” said said a smiling Sarah Rumely Noble, disappointed in the loss but understanding what her squad had accomplished. “We could have capitalized on a couple of more moments in those sets but I am really proud of our offensive performance because we killed a lot of balls. We showed that we can kill balls against anybody. That has been a big focus for us as we have gone through the (early) season. I am excited at how we can progress through the season.”
We can kill balls against anybody.
Speaking to some of the statistical differences, Rumely Noble pointed out, “We had an identical number of service errors, nine. Clemson capitalized on a few more service aces (8-2). You know, it is hard when you are playing a strong team like that, you have to apply service pressure. We’re going to be OK with missing a couple but from a crowd standpoint (it is frustrating to see them).”
One of the more crowd-pleasing aspects of App State’s emerging style of play was the high number of quick-set kill shots and, ultimately, that speaks to the athleticism and skill of a setter and the frontline players’ skill and chemistry, being in sync.
Junior defensive specialist and libero Kenady Roper (15) receives a serve from Clemson and puts the ball in play. Looking on are Maya Winterhoff (2) and Maddie Smith (20). Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
“Our middles have been playing extremely well, so we are getting the ball to them really quickly. They have been really hard to defend. Maya (Winterhoff), our middle, had 11 kills tonight which is just incredible. That has carried us a ton. That (the quick-set kills) extends and opens up the rest of our offense,” said Rumely Noble, now in her second year at the help of App State’s volleyball program.
The Nitty Gritty
In the first set, App State clawed back from an early, 9-4 deficit to eventually tie the score at 11-11 on a Maya Winterhoff kill. The 7-2 run was jumpstarted by a service ace off the arm of setter Juliana Horta. The 5-10 freshman from Clayton, N.C. played a key role (service ace or assist) in six of the nine points of the run.
By earning the 11-11 draw and overcoming the deficit, it was “game on” for the two adversaries, exchanging the lead and forcing ties until the Tigers opened what seemed to be an insurmountable 22-19 lead.
And yet, the Mountaineers rallied on the strength of kills from Elise Marchal, Maddie Smith, and Winterhoff, closing the gap to 24-23 before Clemson’s Neea-Maria Joki fashioned her own kill shot got secure the set.
The second set was more of the same, although it initially looked like things would go App State’s way as the tournament hosts opened up an early, 5-2 lead on a pair of kills by Smith and one each by Winterhoff and Marchal, with Horta setting from the middle.
Clemson was not intimidated, closing the gap quickly with key kills by pin attacker Mia McGrath, a junior from Deerfield, Ill., who leads the Tigers on offense, now with 71 kills on the young season.
Block! Photographic image by David Rogers for High Country Sports
Once the visitors from South Carolina evened things up at 5-5, the match became a see-saw battle: exchanging leads, with multiple ties. App State’s biggest lead was at 15-13. Clemson’s biggest was only a single point advantage until finally beginning to gain some separation at 22-19 — a 3-pont gap that was quickly closed with a service ace by Kenady Roper, a block by Winterhoff and Marchal.
When Horta set up kills by Smith to take a late lead at 23-22 and again at 24-23, the Holmes Center excitement grew but Clemson’s six on the court rose to the occasion, finishing things off with a kill by McGrath off a set by freshman Katherine Sandt of Western Springs, Ill., and a final service ace off the arm of Devan Taylor, the Tigers’ senior libero from Spring, Texas to carve out a final set score of 27-25.
In the third set, Clemson gained separation early, to 19-10, before settling for a 25-15 final set score win.
Now 3-4, the Mountaineers will finish out the Black & Gold Invitational with a 6 p.m. match on Sept. 13 against Winthrop, then a final 4 p.m. encounter with Wofford on Saturday, Sept. 14.
Clemson meets Wofford at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 13 at the Holmes Center, then returns to the arena on Saturday for a 1 p.m. tilt vs. Winthrop.
BONUS PHOTOS
All photographic images by David Rogers for High Country Sports
