David Katzenmaier

football
Oct 24, 2024 10:04 p.m

BOONE, N.C. – App State returns to the Rock on Saturday, uniting a fan base with a football program as they work together to strengthen each other while supporting a High Country community facing historic challenges.

The Sun Belt Conference game with Georgia State at 1 p.m. at Kidd Brewer Stadium marks the Mountaineers' first home game in 37 days – and their first Saturday game in Boone since the opener on Aug. 31, more than 56 days.

After playing a Thursday night home game against South Alabama on September 19th, the effects of Hurricane Helene on September 27th and beyond led to the cancellation of the home game against Liberty on September 28th, and the Mountaineers played back-to-back road games, before there was a bye last weekend. On Saturday, both App State (2-4, 0-3) and Georgia State (2-4, 0-3) will look for a breakthrough in league play.

To continue to support recovery efforts in the Highlands, fans should consider carpooling to the game to reduce road traffic and take advantage of AppalCart or rideshare services when possible. Also consider purchasing tailgate supplies from local businesses.

• Give home
  App State Fans – As the High Country and all of Western North Carolina continue to recover from Hurricane Helene, App State invites everyone to consider this weekend “Home Giving” and donate to two local charities supporting the recovery efforts in our area Support the community directly.

  Donate to the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation or Quiet Givers today, or visit them on your way to Saturday's football game against Georgia State at Jerry Moore Plaza outside Kidd Brewer Stadium.
  

• SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES
  App State Fans – If you are traveling to Boone for the football game against Georgia State on Saturday, we encourage you to support local High Country businesses as they recover from the impact of Hurricane Helene on our region. Below is a list of App State Athletics' official partners.

  Restaurants
  Arby's, Best Cellar – Ragged Inn, Blowing Rock Town Tavern, Bojangles, Booneshine Brewing Company, Casa Rustica, Chick-fil-A, Clean Eatz, Dan'l Boone Inn, Hungry Howies, Jamba Juice/Auntie Anne's, Linville Falls Winery, Makoto's, Mellow Mushroom, McDonald's, Panera Bread, Penn Station East Coast Subs, Pepper's, Rivers Street Ale House, South End Brewing, Stick Boy Bread Company, Subway, The Beacon, The Canteen at Rhodes Motor Lodge, The Cardinal, Vicious Biscuit, Wendy's

  Food Partner
  Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Ingles, Lowes Foods

  Retail partners
  Alumni Hall, App State Campus Store, Mast General Store, Mountaineer Mania, Sports Fanatic, Yosef's Locker

In the last few weeks, the head coach's volunteer effort among coaches, supervisors and players has increased Shawn Clark'S The program included unpacking and organizing donated goods at a local church and loading generators and other supplies onto helicopters from a humanitarian aid organization.

The Mountaineers have lost three straight games, including back-to-back road contests, since coming back into the game after using Helene, but the defense was staggering in a 34-24 loss in which Louisiana scored on 33.7 touchdown drives , significantly better off and 32 yards after App State turnovers. The Mountaineers limited the Ragin' Cajuns to 364 total yards and one turnover with an interception in the fourth quarter Jordan Favors and were led in duels by Brendan Harringtonwho made his first start in a league game since November 27, 2021.

On offense, four of App State's five turnovers occurred in the fourth quarter, negating a balanced performance that was missing earlier in the season. The Mountaineers rushed for a season-high 180 yards on Oct. 5 at Marshall and then added a career-high 148 rushing yards Kanye Roberts in Louisiana.

App State holds a 10-0 record in the series against Georgia State, which has its own schedule oddities in 2024. Led by first-year head coach and former Georgia assistant Dell McGee, who was hired in late February, the Panthers played in their hometown of Atlanta in each of their first five games. The App State game is the second of four straight road games.

Georgia State followed a season-opening loss at Georgia Tech with four straight home games, including a 36-32 win over Vanderbilt, to improve to 2-1, but home losses to Georgia Southern and Old Dominion last week preceded a Thursday night loss at Marshall.

In that game, the Panthers were trailing 28-20 when they gained possession with 9:28 left and advanced to the Marshall 10 before a fourth-down incompletion with 1:52 remaining capped a 14-play march. Moments later, Marshall sealed the victory with an 88-yard touchdown run.

Georgia State made a change at quarterback after quickly falling behind 18-0, trading to Akron and Georgia Tech transfer Zach Gibson to replace Penn State and Pittsburgh transfer Christian Veilleux. Gibson threw for 192 yards with two touchdowns in relief while gaining at least 5 yards on six different rushing attempts, and Freddie Brock's 124 rushing yards on 18 carries included a gain of 56 yards.

Brock played at Maine before joining Georgia State's program in 2023 and rushed for 276 yards in a bowl win against Utah State last year after rushing for just six total runs in the regular season.

Georgia State's defense is allowing 194.2 rushing yards per game, but the Panthers have been disruptive in the backfield thanks to the efforts of outside linebacker Kevin Swint (four sacks, 5.5 TFLs) and defensive tackle Henry Bryant (three sacks).