BOONE, N.C. – Appalachian State returns to the practice field on Wednesday afternoon after back-to-back days off for the first time in a month. The Mountaineers worked out briefly on Sunday night following Saturday's win 17-3 win over Georgia State.
App's defense took care of the Mountaineers in their Sun Belt opener on Saturday. Four interceptions and a Sun Belt Special Teams Player of the Week honor to punter Bentlee Critcher powered App to their 14th win in 15 Sun Belt contests dating back to 2014. This week, for App head coach Scott Satterfield, the early part of the half week off has been about healing up from two months of camp and, almost, the first half of the season.
“We'rexcited about having a few days off,” Satterfield said Monday. “We can heal up a little bit before we get ready for UL Lafayette. We have some nicks and bruises at this point in the season, so break comes at a good time. We'll take (Monday and Tuesday) off, then get back at it on Wednesday.”
With the midweek affair at UL Lafayette on a Wednesday (Oct. 12, TV: ESPN2), App's bye week gets split into two half-weeks. App will practice tomorrow and then get back on a game-week schedule on Thursday to prepare for the Ragin' Cajuns'.
App played their first scoreless, opening half in over 20 years in the win over Georgia State on Saturday. Running back Jalin Moore broke the scoreless tie with a 45-yard touchdown run on the opening drive of the third quarter to give the Mountaineers all the points they would need in the win. The last time App was involved in a 0-0 game at the break was in a 10-3 win over Marshall in 1995 when current head coach then-quarterback Scott Satterfield had a 5-yard TD run to seal an App State win in Huntingdon, W.Va.
APP NOTES
- App controlled the second half, holding the ball for 20:09 and outgaining GSU 241-108. App held a 16-8 edge in first downs in the second half as well.
- P/KO Bentlee Critcher had a big day and kept GSU backed up. Critcher had a 42.7 average on six kicks, downed FOUR inside the 20 and had four touchbacks on four kickoffs. He backed up a 45-yard punt at the GSU 6 to flip the field and help App keep the Panthers backed up in a defensive opening half. Ten Georgia State possessions started off the foot of Critcher with an average field position of the 21-yard line.
- App's defense allowed a season-low 241 yards of total offense and held Georgia State out of the red zone for the day. App also picked off a season-high four interceptions, including one on the game's first and last possession.
- App has held teams not named Miami (Tenn, ODU, Akron, and Georgia State – three bowl teams from '15) to a total of 24 first-half points (6 ppg) while scoring 68 (17 ppg).
- RB Jalin Moore had 28 carries for 149 yards and a touchdown in the win. Moore has 406 yards and three TDs on 66 carries in the last two games.
- LB Eric Boggs had a team-high 10 tackles and an interception on the opening possession of the season. Boggs leads the Apps with 48 tackles though five games (9.8 per game).
- DB Mondo Williams had his third interception of the season to move into a tie for fifth nationally in interceptions per game (0.6).
- QB Taylor Lamb tossed his 54th career passing TD during a very efficient second half, going 8-for-15 for 98 yards and a TD second half.
TICKETS: Fans can purchase single-game tickets for remaining home games online by clicking HERE, visiting the athletics ticket office, which is located inside the Holmes Center or by calling (828) 262-2079.
YOSEF CLUB: Fans can also still enjoy the perks that come with being a Yosef Club member by joining for the 2016 membership year, which runs through Dec. 31, 2016. To join the Yosef Club today, click HERE or call the Yosef Club office at (828) 262-3108.
-App State-
