Georgia State has yet to beat Appalachian State on the gridiron, they are 0-12 since the two teams began facing each other in 2014
It’s a tough pill to swallow in Atlanta for Georgia State fans as the Panthers move to 1-5 on the season, falling to the App State Mountaineers 41-20 on homecoming weekend.
Georgia State has yet to beat App State on the gridiron. The Panthers are 0-12 since the two teams began facing each other in 2014.
Defenses were on display to start the game, Georgia State forcing a punt on the first Mountaineer drive of the game and Appalachian State would return the favor on the ensuing drive by blocking a 28-yard Braeden McAlister field goal to keep the game scoreless.
DeNigel Cooper blocks the 29-yard field goal to keep us scoreless in Atlanta!#GoApp pic.twitter.com/sphahtjUFS
— App State Football (@AppState_FB) October 11, 2025
After a pair of punts, the Mountaineers would strike first near the end of the first quarter with a 12-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback JJ Khol to wide receiver Davion Dozier, capping off a 13-play drive that started at the Appalachian State 3-yard line. At the start of the second quarter, it was shaping up to be another defensive slugfest similar to the week prior for Georgia State, both teams trading punts up until the end of the half where the Mountaineers would score a field goal and another touchdown to make the score 17-0 heading into the half.
In the third quarter, TJ Finley would throw an interception on the first Georgia State drive out of the half and would be replaced by junior Cameran Brown for the rest of the game. Finley finished the day 13-for-26 with 91 passing yards and one interception. App State would score two more touchdowns before Georgia State struck back with one of their own on an 8-yard run by Brown.
Cameran Brown ensures Georgia State will not be shut out with an 8-yard scramble into the end zone.
Receptions for Lane Wadle and Grant Hollier on that touchdown drive, so some good moments for the young tight ends.
Two-point try is no good, it’s 31-6, 4:40 left in the 3rd
— Brady Weiler (@bradymweiler) October 11, 2025
App State would be held to only one more field goal in the fourth quarter and despite a late 22-yard touchdown pass from Brown to Jevon Robinson, the Mountaineers would cruise to victory. The App State passing attack, specifically the tight end duo of seniors Izaya Cummings and David Larkins, would prove to be too much to handle for the Panther defense. Cummings led the way, with six receptions for 94 yards and a score, for a receiver room that went for a combined 311 total yards through the air.
After replacing Finley in the third quarter, Brown went 19-for-35 with 212 passing yards and two touchdowns through the air and a third on the ground. The Panther receiver room had a monster 303-yard game as a unit with senior wide receiver Ted Hurst continuing his strong season, notching his second 100-yard receiving game this season by hauling in nine catches for 101 yards.
The Georgia State defense held App State rushing attack to 124 yards combined, their second lowest amount allowed and lowest allowed against an FBS opponent this season. Linebacker Josiah Robinson was the top dog on defense, leading the team with eight tackles (one solo) and followed up by defensive tackle Bishop Robinson with seven tackles (two solo).
Georgia State head coach Dell McGee spoke on the emotions of his team and how they play a factor in their game.
“Very very fragile team right now,” said McGee in his postgame press conference. “We play off of emotion, we play off of momentum, and we don’t seem to get momentum early and when things kind of snowball.”
McGee also stated that a lot of new guys got a chance to play and will have their film reviewed for a possible increase in playing time.
First-year head coach of the Mountaineers Dowell Loggains praised the performance of his tight ends after their monster game.
“Yeah, we just felt like we had good matchups versus their safeties and linebackers,” stated Loggains in his press conference. “We felt like that’s why we can win at tight end.”
Despite the slow start at the beginning, Loggains expressed happiness with the way his offense performed.
Georgia State will head to south to Statesboro where they’ll meet cross-state rival Georgia Southern for the second edition of the Georgia Grown Bowl. Georgia Southern took the inaugural game last season when the two teams faced off in Atlanta. That game will kick off in primetime at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN+
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