The Deeper Than Hate Rivalry between Georgia Southern and App State will occur in Boone this Thursday for the 39th all time meeting between the two teams
The Deeper Than Hate Rivalry between Georgia Southern and App State will occur in Boone this Thursday for the 39th all time meeting between the two teams. Georgia Southern was the victorious squad last season, 29-20. This season App State opens as a six and a half point favorite. The Eagles are coming off a bye week last weekend but lost the previous weekend to Arkansas State, 34-24. App State also is coming off a bye week and also fell victim to a loss the previous weekend, Old Dominion 24-21. Both teams find themselves 1-3 in SBC play and near the bottom of SBC East standings, a win for a bowl opportunity is pivotal for both squads.
Georgia Southern
The Eagles defense has been a large portion of this season’s problems. Southern is currently allowing opponents to score 35.38 PPG. The Eagles defensive leaders will look too step up in this rivalry game. Brandon Tyson leads the team with 58 total tackles, followed by former App State Mountaineer, Brendan Harrington with 57 respectively. MJ Stroud will need to be a factor with his 3.5 sacks this season along with a 15.5% pressure rate coming off the edge.
Georgia Southern’s offense got off to a rocky start to the season, but they have significantly improved over the past month. A large part of that success has been because of wide receiver Camden Brown, who has been one of the best receivers in the country with 642 receiving yards, nine touchdowns, and 16 yards per catch. Dalen Cobb and Marcus Sanders Jr have also been important pieces to this offense through the air. On the ground, OJ Arnold has played solid the last two weeks and is now up to 512 rushing yards, three touchdowns, and a 5.8 yards per carry average. The ground game will need to be solid for the Eagles offense to succeed in Boone.
Quarterback JC French IV will also be a big factor. French, who battled a turnover problems for much of the season, has thrown for five touchdowns and zero interceptions over the past two weeks. If French can take care of the ball and get it to some of his explosive offensive skill position players, the Eagles will stand a better chance for victory.
App State
The Mountaineers have been a bit inconsistent this season, but have been able to put up a solid amount of points the last few weeks. Though they have lost their last two games, they have scored 58 total points, including 37 against Coastal Carolina three weeks ago. Unfortunately, it still resulted in a loss for the Mountaineers.
Quarterback AJ Swann missed part of October due to injury but was back last game against ODU, where he went 12-of-16 for 140 passing yards, and two touchdowns. Swann had a strong start to the season but has since thrown six interceptions in his last four games. Swann’s number one target has been Jaden Barnes, who has 445 receiving yards, six touchdowns, and 10.9 yards-per-catch on the season. Dalton Stroman has 410 receiving yards and is now the biggest target on the field, since the team lost 6’4″ 240 pound Izayah Cummings to injury in the Old Dominion game. Cummings had 374 receiving yards before the season ending injury. On the ground, Rashod Dubinion has been an elite running back with 756 rushing yards, four touchdowns, and 5.5 yards-per-carry. The Mountaineers will look to keep him active against this Eagles defensive front.
Defensively Kevin Abrams-Verwayne, Aiden Benton, Brayshawn Littlejohn, and Caleb Sandstorm have been big factors, combining for 10 total sacks this season. If the defensive front can create pressure on JC French, the Mountaineers can take the pressure off Swann and the offense.
Overall this should be an exciting game in a series that is always competitive. Neither teams have lived up to this season’s expectations, but both can make a bowl game with a few wins, and that starts Thursday night on the mountain. The atmosphere may be the best in the nation between two teams that are just 1-3 in their conference. The best part is, it’ll be featured in primetime Thursday night on ESPN2.
Georgia Southern at App State
Kickoff: Thursday, November 6th 7:30 EST
TV: ESPN2
Radio: Georgia Southern Sports Radio or APPVISION
Ticket: Tickets can be found here
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