Georgia Southern Tops App State 25–23
Georgia Southern secured their first road victory of the season on Thursday, defeating Appalachian State 25–23 in their intense “Deeper Than Hate” rivalry matchup.
Key Performances
Quarterback JC French IV delivered his best game of the season, throwing for 352 yards and two touchdowns — one passing and one rushing in the second half.
“The O-line did an amazing job today protecting me and the receivers making plays. I probably could have had 450 if I just put it on the money.”
Running back OJ Arnold contributed 105 rushing yards, including crucial carries late in the game that helped seal the win for the Eagles.
Defensive Effort
The Georgia Southern defense faced a tough challenge against Rashod Dubinion, the Sun Belt’s leading rusher, but managed to hold him to just 40 yards on 12 carries. In total, the Eagles limited App State to only 77 rushing yards — their best defensive performance against the run this season.
Special Teams Impact
Freshman kicker Tripp Bryant proved pivotal, connecting on four of five field goal attempts from 21, 26, 23, and 24 yards. His final make early in the fourth quarter extended the Georgia Southern lead to 25–16 on a cold night in Boone.
With this victory, the Eagles improved to a 4–5 record and now sit just two wins away from becoming bowl eligible once again.
Author’s Summary
Georgia Southern earned a gritty 25–23 road win over App State behind JC French’s precision passing, OJ Arnold’s clutch runs, and Tripp Bryant’s reliable leg.