By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Every win in college football is a good win — but shouldn’t this one have been cleaner and more dominating?

After a 74-yard touchdown pass from redshirt junior QB AJ Swann to redshirt senior wide receiver Dalton Stroman on the first play of the football game, App State fell mostly flat, clearly not living up to expectations in a 20-13 win over a tiny FCS opponent in Lindenwood, the St. Charles, Mo. school with an enrollment of just 7,500 and recently elevated from NCAA Division II to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) of NCAA Division I.

The Mountaineers’ offense produced 503 yards of total offense but somehow survived four turnovers (3 fumbles and an interception), as many as a dozen dropped or errantly thrown passes, and a teamwide nine penalties for 80 yards.

Six of those penalties were on the offense, five of them pre-snap (false start and illegal formations), in the first, third and fourth quarters.

A Look Back to the Future?

In the mid-2000s and even the early days of FBS, App State was the 2025 edition of Lindenwood football: wannabe giant killers, the game underdogs who played bigger than their reality and reputation. They didn’t back down from Michigan in the Big House, in 2007. Fast forward to 2016 when they lost to Tennessee in overtime; to 2018, when they took Penn State to OT; to 2019, when the Mountaineers defeated both North Carolina and South Carolina on the road; to 2022, when the Boone boys trekked to College Station and upset Texas A&M; and to thrilling, one-score losses to North Carolina in 2022 and 2023.

Those Mountaineer exploits aptly describe the Lindenwood Lions on this day, against arguably the most talented App State team in years thanks to the transfer portal and an NFL-pedigreed coaching staff.

Lindenwood redshirt senior quarterback Nate Glantz, a 2024 transfer into the Lions program from McNeese State, spent the 2022 season on the Iowa State roster after earning National Junior College Player of the Year honors as a freshman quarterback at Iowa Western Community College. Against the Mountaineers in front of a sold-out Kidd Brewer Stadium, Glantz was his grittiest, completing six big pass plays to help keep the Lions in the game.

None of those plays were bigger than on 4th-and-14, with 3:47 remaining in the game and trailing App State, 20-6. Glantz took the snap from center, eluded would-be tacklers going backwards to midfield, rolled right and heaved a 50-yard pass to the end zone where wide receiver Rico Bond outjumped three Mountaineer defenders for a TD. The play and subsequent PAT brought the Lions to within a touchdown of their hosts, 20-13.

Lindenwood was successful on an onside kick attempt and with 3:28 remaining with good field position at the App State 46-yard line, the Lions had a sniff of a potential upset, Mountaineer-style.

Once again, though, the App State defense came to the fore. On 4th-and-7, Glantz ran out of miracles. Under pressure, he rolled right and made a desperation heave that was picked off by redshirt junior defensive back Elijah McCantos, a 2024 transfer from Illinois.

With under two minutes remaining, App State’s offense just had to make one first down before running out the clock.

Credit the Mountaineer Defense

Although App State senior running back Rashon Dubinion carried the ball 25 times for 194 yards rushing and redshirt senior wide receiver Dalton Stroman caught three passes for 141 yards and the game’s opening TD, while redshirt junior QB AJ Swann completed 19 of 36 passes for 294 yards and a pair of TDs, it is hard to overlook the four turnovers, dropped passes, errant throws and pre-snap penalties. What seemed to be a key turning point was early in the first quarter, when a Lindenwood defender punched the ball out of the arms of Stroman just before he crossed the goal line after his second long reception.

Often put in difficult situations, the Mountaineer defense won the day and turned back the Glantz-led Lindenwood offense for most of the game, even forcing a pair of Lion turnovers. Altogether, the Mountaineer defense rolled up 16 tackles for loss, 7 pass breakups, 10 QB hurries, and 8 QB sacks to complement a forced fumble and two pass interceptions.

To be sure, App State head coach Dowell Loggains will have plenty of teaching opportunities next week as the Mountaineers prepare for their Sun Belt Conference opener at Southern Miss on Sept. 13, before a bye week ahead of more non-conference action on the road at Boise State (Sept. 27), then back home to face Oregon State on Oct. 4.

GAME STATS (StatBroadcast)

By Katherine Jamtgaard. CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — The App State volleyball team posted its first program victory over Virginia, 3-2 (25-14, 25-23, 23-25, 24-26, 16-14) on Saturday and rose to 6-0 on the season. Saturday’s victory at the Cavalier Classic also marked the Mountaineers’ first win over an ACC team since 2015, when the Black and Gold swept Clemson.

App State started strong, taking the first two sets before Virginia stormed back to take the third and fourth set. The Mountaineers’ true grit showed in the fifth and final set as they fought off several Cavalier match points with a late 5-0 run to clinch the match.

“We had a tremendous weekend in Charlottesville with two five-set victories over very tough teams,” said head coach Chad Sutton. “This marks the second tournament championship in as many weeks. Our women competed hard and never gave up. No matter what the situation was, they continued to climb and push forward. I could not be more proud to coach these women and excited to be heading home as winners.”

A trio of Mountaineers collected Cavalier Classic All-Tournament Team honors, led by senior Maya Winterhoff, who earned her second MVP honor of the season. The Charlottesville, Va. native slammed down 30 kills (3.0 k/s) on a clip of .538 on the weekend and went up for 12 blocks (one solo, 11 assist). Joining Winterhoff on the all-tournament team as key contributors were junior Maria Contreras and redshirt sophomore Delanie Grevengoed. Contreras tallied 28 assists (2.8 a/s), 17 kills with a hitting percentage of .324, seven blocks, and five digs. Grevengoed made 15 kills for the Black and Gold and went up for five blocks.

App State 3, Virginia 2

Against Virginia, a quartet of Mountaineers made double-figure kills, led by Winterhoff who tallied 16 on a hitting percentage of .452. Fellow senior Ali Morris made 15 kills and served up three of App State’s six aces. Contreras, who matched with sophomore Bella Hutchens with 10 kills apiece, registered her first double-double of the season with 16 assists. Redshirt senior Addison Heidemann notched her 12th career double-double with a team-high 24 assists and 10 digs. Junior Caroline Farthing made a team-high 11 digs, while sophomore MeMe Davis and freshman Bella Dafforn each made 10. App State outpaced Virginia in kills (62-53) and assists (56-51). The Mountaineers also held the Cavaliers to a hitting percentage of .147.

The Mountaineers were quick to erase a 6-2 deficit in the first set with a 5-0 run, which featured kills from Morris and Contreras. Building off a pair of Contreras kills, a Morris kill, and a block from the duo of Contreras and Winterhoff, App State took an 11-7 lead. With a late 7-1 surge that included kills from Hutchens, Morris, and Winterhoff, as well as a pair of Morris aces, the Black and Gold secured the first set, 25-14. Over the duration of the first set, the Mountaineers recorded a team hitting percentage of .367.

App State’s momentum carried into the second set as the Black and Gold jumped to a 4-1 lead with kills from junior Akila Hardie, Morris, and an ace from Davis. Building off a pair of Winterhoff kills, a Morris ace, and a block from the duo of Contreras and Winterhoff, the Mountaineers extended the lead to 10-5. The Cavaliers managed to catch up to the Mountaineers and take a 20-18 edge. With a trio of kills from Morris, Winterhoff, and Heidemann, App State edged ahead, 23-22. A kill from Winterhoff and Cavalier error sealed the set for the Mountaineers, 25-23.

In the third set, the Mountaineers and Cavaliers tied on nine occasions and swapped the lead five times. Late in the set, App State broke a 17-17 tie with a Morris kill and Dafforn ace. Virginia managed to reach set point with a 3-0 run, and despite a kill from Grevengoed, the Cavaliers flipped the script and took the set, 25-23.

The Mountaineers took an early 5-1 lead in the fourth set as Heidemann set Hardie and Winterhoff up for kills. The Cavaliers answered with an 8-1 run for the only lead change in the set. App State managed to catch Virginia at 23 all after a block from the duo of Hardie and Grevengoed and a kill from Morris, but Virginia managed to take the set, 26-24.

Much like the fourth set, App State started the fifth with a 5-1 run as Grevengoed, Winterhoff, and Morris slammed down kills. A trio of kills from Hutchens knotted the score on three occasions as the Cavaliers tried to establish a lead. Virginia managed to pull ahead with a 4-1 run to reach set and match point (14-11). The Mountaineers answered with a 5-0 run that featured a pair of Contreras kills and a block from the duo of Contreras and Winterhoff, to snatch the set 16-14 and the win, 3-2, from the Cavaliers. During the fifth set, App State maintained a team hitting percentage of .375.

Looking Ahead

The Mountaineers will head to Kennesaw, Ga. for the Kennesaw State Invitational on Sept. 12 and 13. App State will take on Michigan State at 2 p.m. on Friday. Saturday’s match against Kennesaw State is set for noon and will be available to stream on ESPN+.

By Katherine Jamtgaard. CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The App State volleyball team rose to 5-0 on the season after a gritty, come-from-behind 3-2 (27-25, 21-25, 23-25, 25-23, 15-6) victory over VCU at the Cavalier Classic on Friday. It marks the Mountaineers’ third five-set victory of the 2025 campaign.

App State 3, VCU 2

A trio of Mountaineers slammed down double-figure kills against the Rams, led by senior Ali Morris, who tallied 15. Fellow senior Maya Winterhoff made 14 kills on a clip of .667, in addition to a team-high eight blocks (one solo, seven assists). For a second consecutive match, sophomore Delanie Grevengoed recorded 10 kills and a hitting percentage of .400. Three Mountaineers also tallied double-figure assists, led by redshirt senior Addison Heidemann, who made 24 assists. Sophomore MeMe Davis posted the Mountaineers’ first double-double of the season and her career with a team-high 16 digs and 15 assists. Junior Maria Contreras tallied 12 assists. Heidemann, Davis and sophomore Bella Hutchens combined for six of App State’s eight kills, each contributing two.

The Rams established an early, 15-8 lead in the first set but the Mountaineers steadily chipped away at the deficit. Building off kills from Morris, Contreras and Winterhoff, as well as a block from the duo of Contreras and Winterhoff, App State narrowed the deficit to 17-15. VCU managed to reach set point, 24-20, but the Black and Gold answered with a 5-0 run to take a 25-24 edge. Davis secured the set, 27-25, with a kill.

App State and VCU knotted the score 17 times and swapped the lead on five occasions in the second set. As the Rams took a 22-19 lead, a kill from Morris and a solo block from Winterhoff brought the Mountaineers within one of the Rams’ late lead, but VCU eventually recovered and took the set, 25-21.

The Mountaineers managed to tie the score twice in the third set, but the Rams’ momentum from the previous set carried into the third. Down 23-17, App State went on a 6-0 run that featured kills from Morris, Grevengoed and Winterhoff, as well as back-to-back aces from Davis, which tied things up at 23 all. Despite the run from the Mountaineers, VCU broke the tie and took the set 25-23.

In the fourth set, App State and VCU matched 10 times and traded the lead six times. The Black and Gold opened the set with a pair of kills from Grevengoed and Morris. Down 15-13, the Mountaineers built off a kill from Morris and consecutive kills from Hutchens to push ahead, 16-15. With the help of a 6-1 scoring run, App State reached set point, 24-20. VCU managed to hold App State to a trio of set points, but Grevengoed set Winterhoff up for a kill to seal the set, 25-23, for the Mountaineers.

App State established a 4-0 lead early in the fifth set as a pair of Heidemann aces sandwiched back-to-back kills from sophomore Lou Johnson. For the duration of the fifth and final set, App State commanded the lead. With a 7-1 run that featured kills from Hutchens, Grevengoed and Morris, the Black and Gold jumped ahead, 11-2. Contreras set Winterhoff up for a kill to bring App State to set and match point (14-5). The duo of Morris and Hutchens went up for a block to seal the set, 15-6, and the win, 3-2.

Looking Ahead

The Mountaineers will take on Virginia at 2 p.m. on Saturday. The match will be available to stream on ACCNX. Both App State and Virginia enter Saturday’s contest unbeaten.

By Layne McNary. CLEVELAND, Ohio — App State Field Hockey senior Lise Boekaar was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Week, the conference announced Tuesday.

“We are so proud of Lise and her efforts this weekend,” said head coach Emily Dinsmore. “She was a force on the attacking end and set her teammates up for success. Lise will be the first to say that this weekend was a team effort and winning this award is an honor for the whole team.”

Boekaar is now tied for second all-time at App State in career assists with 22, while also matching her single-season assist total of seven from last year in the opening weekend alone.

Boekaar posted an impressive opening weekend, having a hand in all 10 Mountaineer goals over two games.

Against Towson, Boekaar had a career performance, tallying two goals and five assists in the opening game. Her work in the midfield helped the Mountaineers score seven goals, tying the program record for goals in a season opener, which was last set in a 7-1 win over Wake Forest in 1981.

Her strong weekend continued against Georgetown, where she scored a goal and assisted on the other two as the Mountaineers won 3-1 to close out the weekend. Over the first two games of the season, Boekaar has three goals and seven assists, which both lead the MAC.

Boekaar is now tied for second all-time at App State in career assists with 22, while also matching her single-season assist total of seven from last year in the opening weekend alone.

The Mountaineers will look to remain in the win column as they host the Davidson Wildcats on Sunday in the home opener. The game is scheduled for noon at Dr. Jan C. Watson Field at the Brandon & Erica M. Adcock Field Hockey Complex.

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Adrenaline was running high and a raucous crowd was abuzz on Sept. 2 in the Holmes Convocation Center. It may not have been the prettiest volleyball — but pretty enough as App State swept by visiting Elon, 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-20).

Each of the three sets had a similar personality: the Mountaineers started shaky and The Phoenix jumped to an early lead, App State rallied to tie and inch ahead, and then the Mountaineers edged ahead without fully taking control, but played just well enough to maintain the lead and secure the victory.

Among the most visible offensive stalwarts on this night was the dynamic duo of setter Addison Heidemann and middle blocker Maya Winterhoff. A redshirt senior setter from Diller, Neb., and 2024 transfer from Iowa State, Heidemann recorded 36 assists over the three sets, while Winterhoff finished with 14 kills and a .545 hitting percentage. She added six critical blocks for her evening’s work.

“We are a talented team,” said App State’s head coach Chad Sutton after the match, adding, “We just have a few holes in our play right now. We’re not cleaning up. It is early (in the season) and we are all new with six transfers to go with the returners and a new staff. We need to clean it up. We talked about it (in the locker room afterwards). It takes a little bit of time. I’m sure the girls were jazzed up for the home opener. We have to get to a point where the adrenaline is running high and we are comfortable with it and play within ourselves.”

Sutton reserved high praise for Heidemann and Winterhoff.

“To take over a program with perhaps the best middle blocker in the conference and a grad setter with experience gives us time to develop other people, so we can be successful now and later. We are very blessed to have both of those girls,” said Sutton, in his first year at the helm of the App State volleyball program.

Sutton also observed the growing role of Watauga High School alum, Caroline Farthing.

“We talked about it a couple of weeks ago,” Sutton shared. “We were struggling to pass the ball. Even when we were struggling tonight, we needed a couple of players to step up and Caroline did that. She has really settled in on serve receive and passing. We just talked about it in the locker room, how proud we are of Caroline for really filling a void and need on the team. She stepped up in a big way.”

For Winterhoff, at least, the Sept. 2 home opener had a purpose.

“We knew Elon had a tough weekend, so they were looking for their first win tonight,” said the 6-2, senior middle blocker from Charlottesville, Va. “We knew they were going to put up a fight, but we didn’t want that first win to come against us.”

“Addie is my best friend off the court,” said Winterhoff of her setter, “so that makes it just that much easier on the court. We trust each other. It may not be perfect every time but I know she has my back and I have her back.”

“Being able to set for somebody like Maya is the best feeling in the world,” said Heidemann. “She is always up. I can always hear her, wherever I am on the court. We have such a great connection that even when I am falling off the court, I can still find her. That is rare for a hitter and setter.”

Next up for the Mountaineers is a trip to Winterhoff’s hometown, Charlottesville, Va., for a pair of matchups against Virginia Commonwealth on Sept. 5 (2 p.m.), then against tournament host Virginia on Saturday, Sept. 6 (2 p.m.). They follow that up on Sept. 12 in north Atlanta against Michigan State (2 p.m.), then against tournament host Kennesaw State on Sept. 13 (12 noon).

Their early season road trips aren’t quite done, as they are slated to play North Carolina in Chapel Hill on Tuesday, Sept 16 (6 p.m.), before returning home to host Duke and Davidson in the Mountaineer Classic on Sept. 19 (6 p.m.) and Sept. 21 (2 p.m.), respectively.

STATISTICAL LEADERS VS. ELON

• Kills: Maya Winterhoff (14), Keionna Mackey (12), Delanie Grevengoed (10)
• Assists: Addison Heidemann (36)
• Digs: MeMe Davis (21), Addison Heidemann (6), Keionna Mackey (6), Bella Dafforn (6), Ali Morris (5) Caroline Farthing (5)
• Blocks: Maya Winterhoff (6), Delanie Grevengoed (3), Lou Johnson (3), Keionna Mackey (2)

BONUS PHOTOS (click any image for SLIDE SHOW mode)

All photographic images by David Rogers for High Country Sports

By Bret Strelow. BOONE, N.C. — A record-setting debut led App State quarterback AJ Swann to be named the Sun Belt Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week, a Manning Award Stars of the Week honoree and a member of the Davey O’Brien Award’s Great 8.

Swann completed 31 of 46 passes for 368 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in App State’s 34-11 win against Charlotte in the Duke’s Mayo Classic held at Bank of America Stadium. He is one of eight quarterbacks to be recognized by the Manning Award, and being included on the “Great 8” list leads to inclusion on the Davey O’Brien Award Midseason Watch List.

Making his first appearance for the Mountaineers after starting his career at Vanderbilt and spending last season at LSU, Swann set a record for passing yards by a quarterback in his App State debut and accounted for the seventh-highest total by an App State quarterback in the FBS era.

The 368 yards rank as the fifth-highest total by an FBS quarterback this season and the third-highest total by an FBS quarterback against an FBS opponent, behind only the 419 yards from Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson (against Auburn) and the 401 yards from WKU’s Maverick McIvor (against Sam Houston State).

Swann’s 31 completions are tied for the eighth-highest total in a game by an App State quarterback.

By Layne McNary. TOWSON, Md. — The App State Mountaineers defeated the Georgetown Hoyas 3-1 to close out opening weekend on Sunday.

The Mountaineers once again never trailed, taking control in the second half.

“Really proud of the resilience and effort our team gave today,” said head coach Emily Dinsmore. “We had some opportunities on cage that didn’t fall our way, but our team stayed united and got the job done. Thankful to be 2-0 on the weekend and we are looking forward to our first home game on Sept. 7.

Frederique Grimbergen, Lise Boekaar, and Baylie Phillips all scored in today’s matchup, with all goals coming in the second half.

With two assists, Boekaar now has 22 in her career, tying her with Taylor Cimbalist for second all-time. She also ties her single-season assist total of seven from last season, which puts her at tenth all-time in that category.

How It Happened

• 1st Quarter: Both teams were held scoreless. The Mountaineers generated two corners but failed to score on two shots.
• 2nd Quarter: It was more of the same, with the Mountaineers earning three corners and getting one shot on goal but couldn’t break the scoreless tie. Claire Grenis made a save on a penalty corner to keep the Hoyas off the scoreboard.
• 3rd Quarter: Grimbergen broke the scoreless tie late in the period, scoring her first goal of the season, assisted by Boekaar. The Mountaineers kept the pressure on, generating four corners and four shots on goal.
• 4th Quarter: The Mountaineers opened the period with a goal from Boekaar, her third of the weekend, extending the lead to two. Phillips then scored the third goal for the Mountaineers, assisted by Boekaar in a memorable moment that came on her birthday, as App State closed out the game with a 3-1 win.

Match Notes

Goals

• App: Boekaar (1), Grimbergen (1), Phillips (1)
• GU: Lee (1)

Assists

• App: Boekaar (2)
• GU: Yodh (1)

Winning Goalkeeper – Claire Grenis (2-0): 2 saves, 1 goal allowed
Losing Goalkeeper – Ella Fahey (1-1): 7 saves, 3 goals allowed

Up Next

The Mountaineers will return to the High Country to host the Davidson Wildcats next Sunday for the first home game of the season. First touch at the Dr. Jan C. Watson Field at the Brandon & Erica M. Adcock Field Hockey Complex is slated for noon.

By Matt Present. CLEMSON, S.C. — App State Soccer dropped a non-conference match 3-0 at Clemson on Sunday to close out the opening month of play.

The Tigers (2-1-2) got on the board first in the 10th minute of play when Juju Harris was able to tuck a low angle shot just underneath the crossbar.

App State (3-2) battled hard defensively throughout the match with timely tackles, highlighted by efforts from Sydney Snowden and Reagan Sturgill, and a couple of impressive saves from Anna Claire Jacobi.

Snowden and fellow defenders Morgan Chapman and Maddie Williams played all 90 minutes for the Mountaineers. Izzi Wood led App State with two shots on target, while Kyli Switalski added a pair of shot attempts. Hanna Skogsfors made her collegiate debut in goal, playing the final 14 minutes of the contest.

Clemson added on in the 65th minute when Clemson’s Emily Brough won the ball near the top of the box and fed a pass across to Renee Lyles for the finish. The Tigers added a penalty goal in the 69th minute.

App State will return to action on Thursday, Sept. 4 when the team hosts East Carolina (1-2-2) for Senior Day at The Valley. First touch is now set for 4 p.m. and the pregame ceremony will take place at approximately 3:30 p.m. The contest will be broadcast on ESPN+.

By Katherine Jamtgaard. CHARLESTON, S.C. — The App State volleyball team posted a pair of five-set victories over College of Charleston (3-2 (18-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-21, 15-7)) and Eastern Kentucky (3-2 (19-25, 25-21, 15-25, 25-18, 16-14)) in Charleston on Saturday.

The weekend was highlighted by a career milestone from redshirt senior Addison Heidemann as well as a trio of Mountaineers landing on the C of C Classic’s All-Tournament team. Closing out competition at the C of C Classic, the Mountaineers will enter their home opener against Elon on Tuesday with a 3-0 record.

“This was a hard-fought start to our season, especially opening with wins against two conference champions from last season. The confidence that we will take from this will serve us well with our goals for this season and beyond,” said head coach Chad Sutton. “The maturity this team showed to battle through adversity and be intentional in their choices is a very positive sign for what seems to be limitless possibilities. I’m excited for what’s to come and love this group.”

Senior Maya Winterhoff and sophomores Lou Johnson and MeMe Davis earned spots on the C of C Classic All-Tournament for their efforts on the weekend. The trio started all three of the tournaments’ matches and appeared in all 13 sets for the Mountaineers. Winterhoff earned the distinction of Tournament MVP after totaling 37 kills on the weekend, averaging 2.85 per set, with a hitting percentage of .456. She also made 12 blocks (three solo, nine assists). Johnson made 24 kills with a hitting percentage of .419 and totaled six blocks (two solo, four assists). Davis tallied 49 digs, averaging 3.77 per set, and served up six aces. She also made seven assists and two kills on the weekend.

App State 3, College of Charleston 2

Saturday’s morning match against the Cougars was highlighted by a career milestone from Heidemann, who surpassed 1,000 collegiate career assists. She made a team-high 56 assists as well as seven digs, four blocks, three kills, and one ace. Four Mountaineers recorded double-figure kills, led by Winterhoff, who slammed down 17 with a clip of .560. Winterhoff also led the team in blocks, totaling six (two solo, four assists). Fellow senior Ali Morris and sophomore Bella Hutchens matched with 15 kills apiece, followed by Johnson who made 10 kills. Davis tallied a team-high 20 digs.

The Mountaineers and Cougars tied on nine occasions and swapped the lead five times in the first set, but College of Charleston found momentum with a 5-0 run to take the set, 25-18. In the second set, App State and C of C tied 11 times and swapped the lead twice. The Black and Gold managed to meet the Cougars at 20 all with a kill from redshirt sophomore Delanie Grevengoed, but the Cougars answered with a 4-0 run. Despite holding the Cougars to two set points, College of Charleston took the second set 25-22.

The Mountaineers fought through a tight third set, tying twice and trading the lead twice. Hutchens opened the set with a kill before C of C took a steady lead. App State kept pace with the Cougars and managed to edge ahead, 23-21, with a 4-0 run built off back-to-back kills from Morris, an ace from Davis, and a kill from Winterhoff. A Cougar attack error brought App State to set point and a kill from Winterhoff secured the set for the Mountaineers, 25-23.

Despite five ties and two lead changes early in the fourth set, App State broke a 16-16 tie with a kill from Morris and a block from the duo of Winterhoff and Hutchens. The Mountaineers built off a kill from Winterhoff, a pair of consecutive kills from Hutchens, and a Heidemann ace to take a 22-18 lead. With a pair of kills from Johnson, App State reached set point (24-20). The Cougars managed to hold App State to one set point, but Morris capped the set with a kill (25-21).

App State commanded the fifth set, defeating the Cougars, 15-7 to capture the match 3-2. The Mountaineers held the Cougars to a hitting percentage of .056, while hitting .421 during the final set. The Mountaineers opened with a 2-0 lead as Morris made a kill, which was followed by a Cougar error. App State broke a 4-4 tie with an 8-1 run that featured a pair of Winterhoff kills, a pair of Hutchens kills, a pair of Winterhoff aces, and a block from the duo of Winterhoff and Heidemann. Davis made a kill to extend App State’s lead to 13-7. Back-to-back kills from Johnson sealed the set, 15-7, and clinched the match 3-2, for the Mountaineers.

App State 3, Eastern Kentucky 2

Senior Keionna Mackey played a key role in the Mountaineers’ gritty afternoon victory against Eastern Kentucky. Mackey led the Mountaineers in kills (13) and served up four of the Mountaineers’ eight aces. Winterhoff and Morris also contributed double-figure kills. Heidemann and junior Maria Contreras combined for 37 of App State’s 46 assists. For a third consecutive match, Davis led the Black and Gold with 17 digs and was followed by freshman Bella Dafforn, who made a career-high 11 digs. The Mountaineers led EKU in aces (8-3) and blocks (13-10).

App State steadily chipped away at EKU’s early lead in the first set, managing to knot the score thrice, but it wasn’t enough as the Colonels found late momentum and broke an 18-18 tie with a 7-1 run to take the set, 25-19.

The Mountaineers battled through a tight second set, tying the score on 12 occasions with the Colonels. After the Colonels took a 12-8 edge with a 6-0 run, App State answered with a 4-0 run that tied things up at 12 all. Building off kills from Grevengoed and Winterhoff, a block from the duo of Winterhoff and Morris, an ace from Dafforn, and a solo block from Contreras, App State caught up with EKU at 17 all. Mackey slammed down five kills and made a solo block to clinch the set for the Black and Gold, 25-21.

EKU maintained a steady lead in the third set. Despite App State’s efforts, EKU reached set point with a late 4-0 run. A kill from Johnson held the Colonels at set point, but it wasn’t enough as EKU took the set, 25-15.

App State opened the fourth set with a kill from Hutchens and an ace from Mackey. The Mountaineers established an 11-2 lead with an impressive 8-0 run that included kills from Winterhoff, Davis, and Morris, a block from the duo of Morris and Winterhoff, and solo blocks from Winterhoff and Contreras. The Black and Gold held the lead for the duration of the set, never allowing a tie. As EKU narrowed the deficit to 22-18 with a 4-0 run, Mackey locked in, making a kill and serving back-to-back aces to take the set, 25-18, for App State.

In the fifth and final set, EKU jumped to an early 4-0 lead. The Mountaineers patiently chipped away at the deficit, narrowing it to 10-9 after kills from Mackey, Winterhoff, a block from Johnson and Mackey, and a solo block from Johnson. Kills from Johnson and Morris, in addition to a Colonel error, knotted the score at 12 all. The momentum shifted in App State’s favor as kills from Winterhoff and Morris pushed the Mountaineers ahead, 14-13. EKU managed to tie the score at 14-14, but a pair of Colonel errors sealed the set (16-14) and win (3-2), for App State.

Looking Ahead

The Mountaineers return to Boone for their home opener against Elon on Tuesday. First serve is slated for 6 p.m. Fans are encouraged to pack Holmes and there will be a free t-shirt giveaway for all fans as well as free food for students. The match will also be available to stream on ESPN+.

By David Rogers. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — And so, the Dowell Loggains Era for App State Football begins. A lot of preseason questions were answered in the Aug. 29 Duke’s Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium, where the Mountaineers dominated Charlotte in all phases of the football game, 34-11.

As much or more than any college football game in 2025, this matchup was unique, featuring two high level programs with new head coaches and coaching staffs, as well as historic levels of roster turnover. More than 100 of the teams’ combined rosters were new to their programs. We counted 43 FBS-level transfers on the Charlotte roster, 33 on App State’s. Throw in some junior college, FCS and even NCAA Division II transfers, as well as a slew of promising freshman recruits, and both coaching staffs faced similar indoctrination challenges. In preparing for this game, both head coaches afterwards described the challenges of preparing for the contest, not fully knowing what they would face in an opponent.

The game produced several storylines:

• Loggains and his staff of assistants — with plenty of NFL and major college coaching experience on their resumes — are the real deal, in all three phases of the game.
• On offense, App State produced a pass-heavy, yet balanced attack that rolled up 586 yards of net total yards (404 passing, 182 rushing), the team’s most prolific offensive output since against Georgia Southern in 2022, a 51-48 double-overtime loss to the Eagles in which App State produced 629 yards of total offense.
• LSU transfer A J Swann emerged as the Mountaineers’ starting quarterback after a months-long competition with redshirt sophomore and Iowa State transfer J J Kohl, as well as strong consideration for 2024 Southern Miss transfer Billy Wiles, redshirt freshman Matthew Wilson, and true freshmen Noah Gillon and Gregory Fee. Loggains revealed after the game that he told the QBs of his decision on Thursday, Aug. 28.
• Swann responded with a record-breaking performance for an App State QB making his debut, completing 31-of-46 passes for 368 yards and three TDs and zero interceptions, plus adding 25 rushing yards at key moments. Kohl came in to lead the last two offensive possession in the fourth quarter, completing two of four passes for big gains of 19 and 17 yards, for 36 yards.
• Swann and Kohl combined to complete passes to 10 different receivers, led by Jaden Barnes (6 catches, 134 yards and 1 TD on 8 targets) and Dalton Stroman (8 catches for 88 yards on 11 targets). Other receivers included Izayah Cummings (5 catches, 57 yards), running back Rashod Dubinion (5-31), tight end David Larkins (3-27), William Fowles (2-30), Jackson Grier (1-19), Kanen Hamlet (1-19, TD), Alex Sanchez (1-1, TD), and Doopah Coleman (1).
• Running back Rashod Dubinion was the focus of App State’s rushing attack, carrying the ball 22 times for 111 yards and 1 TD.
• On defense, App State defensive coordinator D J Smith’s unit smothered Charlotte, limiting the 49ers to 218 net total yards, 142 passing and just 76 rushing. With the Mountaineers leading, 14-3, and less than 25 seconds remaining in the first half, defensive back Ja’Den McBurrows produced the game’s only turnover with an interception of 49er QB Conner Harrell near midfield. Harrell was pressured by redshirt senior defensive lineman Kevin Abrams-Verwayne.
• McBurrows and redshirt sophomore defensive back Zyeir Gamble were the team leaders in tackles, with six each, followed by redshirt sophomore linebacker Colton Phares, with five.
• On special teams, freshman placekicker Dominic De Freitas won the 4-way kicking competition with redshirt sophomore Jackson Moore, redshirt junior Carter Everett, and redshirt senior Cash McVay — and responded with field goals of 47 and 35 yards in the season-opening game for 2025..
• Punter Ian Ratliff only had to punt three times, but put two of them inside the Charlotte 20 yard line. He totaled 110 yards.

Once App State healed itself from self-inflicted wounds, including three penalties on offense and two more on defense just in the first quarter, the Mountaineers got into rhythm and never looked back. The only serious setbacks in the second half were two calls for targeting, resulting in the ejection of Elijah McCantos and Jaelin Willis, both penalties coming in the third quarter after video review.

The first targeting call came at the end of a 17 yard run by Charlotte’s QB, Harrell, for a first down at the App State 6-yard line. The penalty was enforced half the distance to the App State goal line, to the 3-yard line. Charlotte had momentum and appeared poised to score with a first down at the three, but on the very next play, the 49ers senior running back Cameren Smith was met in the backfield by blitzing defensive back Dylan Hasz (a junior transfer from Arkansas). The Mountaineer DB punched out the ball, which went flying back and toward the sidelines where it was scooped up by returning redshirt senior linebacker Kyle Arnholt and run back 8 yards, to the Mountaineer 23-yard line. Just like that, the damage from a targeting call was undone and the 49er scoring threat diminished.

What followed was the rare instance where Swann & Co. could not move the ball, recording a three-and-out, and punted the ball back to Charlotte, at their own 43. After an offensive holding call pushed the 49ers back to their own 33, what at first appeared to be brilliant defensive play by the Mountaineers turned into potential disaster. Harrell scrambled backwards under pressure by App State’s defensive lineman, Nick Campbell, forcing a fumble after a 28-yard loss. But near simultaneous contact by Jaelin Willis was judged to be targeting on video review. The senior linebacker transfer from Lenoir-Rhyne was tossed and the 49ers were given new life with a first down at their own 48.

This time, Charlotte was able to capitalize, fashioning a 12 play drive the rest of the way for their first and only TD of the night.

Even aided by those penalties and player ejections, Charlotte got little relief from App State’s relentless pressure. While Swann and the Mountaineer offense rolled up 586 yards of total offense, the App State defense limited Charlotte to just 218 net total yards, 142 passing (completing 33 of 50 pass attempts) and 76 net rushing yards (on 29 rush attempts).

The most potent offensive weapon for the 49ers on this night? Redshirt junior punter Bronson Long, a 6-4, 200 lb. transfer in 2023 from South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, who played high school ball in Gothenburg, Nebraska. On six punts, Long flipped the field position, averaging 48.3 yards per punt and 290 yards total. His longest was 57 yards, but he also had another that travelled more than 50 yards. One of his six punts pinned the Mountaineers back inside their own 20-yard line.

Things won’t get any easier for the 49ers when they host another new head coach team on Sept. 6: Bill Bellichick’s North Carolina Tar Heels, also in Charlotte, at Jerry Richardson Field.

Who is Lindenwood?

App State returns to Boone for a first home game of the 2025 campaign, hosting a new Division I (FCS) school in Lindenwood University, from St. Charles, Missouri. Like App State, the Lions’ colors are black and gold but that may be the only similarity for the Ohio Valley Conference member, with a student enrollment of 7,000. According to an entry in Wikipedia, the private university was founded in 1832 as the The Lindenwood School for Girls, and was the first women’s college west of the Mississippi.

With several steps in between, it became a co-ed school in 1969 and began an extensive expansion of academic, residential and athletic facilities in the mid-1990s. According to a St. Louis Post-Dispatch article in 2006, Lindenwood University was the fastest growing university in the Midwest from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s. The school’s endowment fund has grown since, from approximately $50 million in 2006 to more than $200 million today. It sits on a 500-acre campus overlooking downtown St. Charles and the Missouri River.

Lindenwood’s athletic rise has been relatively swift. Before moving to the FCS level, the Lions and Lady Lions competed (for most sports) in the Great Lakes Valley Conference of the NCAA Division II from 2019 to 2022. Previously, it was an NAIA member school competing in the Heart of America Conference. It was an NAIA member for 40 years before beginning the transition to NCAA DII in 2010.

For the full Wikipedia entry, CLICK HERE.

SELECTED GAME STATS (by StatBroadcast)