Georgia State Runs Over App State 39-23 in Boone

Georgia State walked into one of the toughest road environments in the Sun Belt on Saturday afternoon and left with a 39-23 win over App State. The Panthers leaned on a running game that wore the Mountaineers down over four quarters and a defense that kept making the big play every time App State threatened to take control, in front of 31,944 fans at Kidd Brewer Stadium. The win puts Georgia State one victory away from bowl eligibility, and the Panthers can get there next week against rival Georgia Southern.

The Panthers scored first with a 12-play, 49-yard drive that used up almost six minutes and ended with Samer Layous making a 45-yard field goal. App State answered right away, moving 75 yards in nine plays as Malachi Singleton completed all five of his passes, the last a 3-yard touchdown to Dillon Galloway. Georgia State responded with its own 75-yard drive, and Ayden Pereira found Grant Hollier for a 22-yard touchdown with 38 seconds left in the first quarter, putting the Panthers up 10-7.

Layous opened the second quarter with a 52-yard field goal to make it 13-7, but App State went back in front on a trick play when wide receiver Chris Lofton threw a 56-yard touchdown pass to Jamel Howse, and the Mountaineers led 14-13. Their lead lasted about three minutes. On 2nd-and-22 from the App State 23, Coby Owens picked off Singleton and ran it back 23 yards for a touchdown that put Georgia State up 20-14. The Panthers then put together their longest drive of the day, 14 plays and 73 yards over 6:55, and Pereira finished it with a 10-yard touchdown to DJ Riles with 39 seconds left before the half. The two-point try failed, and App State’s James London missed a 55-yard field goal as time expired, so Georgia State went into halftime up 26-14.

Both defenses took over in the third quarter. App State’s only points came from a 14-play, 61-yard drive that stalled in the red zone, and London kicked a 37-yard field goal with 1:46 left to cut the lead to 26-17.

Georgia State put the game out of reach early in the fourth. Pereira hit Rodshaun Dorsey for a 17-yard touchdown to finish a six-play, 75-yard drive and make it 33-17. On App State’s next possession, Owens intercepted Singleton for the second time, and Layous turned it into a 27-yard field goal for a 36-17 lead. The Panthers’ defense then stopped the Mountaineers on 4th-and-10 with a sack that forced a fumble. Layous missed a 46-yard attempt, and App State took advantage, with Singleton connecting with Lofton for 53 yards and then a 4-yard touchdown to make it 36-23. Layous answered with a 45-yard field goal with 4:33 left, his fourth make of the day, and the Georgia State defense ended App State’s last chance with a sack on 4th-and-8, sealing a 39-23 win.

Lanear McCrary Jr. led Georgia State’s ground game with 123 yards on 21 carries. Dennis Murray Jr. added 76 yards on seven carries, including a 56-yard run, and Qwantavius Wiggins had 50, as the Panthers ran for 265 yards and held the ball for 37:19. Pereira was efficient through the air, completing 10 of 17 passes for 115 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, and Riles led the receivers with four catches for 49 yards and a score. Layous went 4-for-5 on field goals with a long of 52. On defense, the Panthers held App State to 59 rushing yards on 25 carries and sacked Singleton five times. Xavier Esqillion and Richard Kramer had two sacks each, and Tyson McCrary led the team with seven tackles.

Lofton was App State’s best player, with six catches for 117 yards and a touchdown plus the 56-yard touchdown pass. Singleton completed 23 of 34 passes for 241 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Alex Mitchell led the Mountaineers with eight tackles.