Appalachian State surges for win, keeps quest for Sun Belt title going

Appalachian State is one step closer to a share of a conference title.

App State (7-4, 6-1 Sun Belt Conference) cut Georgia State loose from the four-team cluster at the top of the Sun Belt in a 31-10 victory on Saturday.

The Mountaineers scored two quick third-quarter scores while holding the Panthers (6-4, 5-2 Sun Belt) to a lone second-half field goal. App State and Georgia State were two of four teams that entered the weekend with 5-1 conference records.

App State hosts Louisiana on Dec. 2 in Boone, and a win would give the Mountaineers at least a share of the Sun Belt title for the second straight season. App State shared the title with Arkansas State in 2016.

The Mountaineers quickly opened up a 10-7 halftime lead by adding two passing touchdowns in the first six minutes of the third quarter.

During App State’s first drive of the second half, a 58-yard run by running back Jalin Moore eventually set up a 6-yard touchdown pass from Taylor Lamb to tight end Collin Reed.

On the following drive, App State safety A.J. Howard intercepted an overthrown ball by Georgia State’s Conner Manning. Howard caught the ball at the App State 34 and ran it to the Georgia State 5. Lamb hit Ike Lewis for a 4-yard touchdown two plays later.

The second-half surge offset some of the Mountaineers’ earlier struggles.

Two of App State’s first-half drives started in Georgia State territory. The first ended terribly. App State defensive lineman Caleb Fuller broke through and blocked a punt three minutes into the first quarter, putting the Mountaineers on the Panthers’ 34. But Lamb tossed his first interception for the only play of the drive.

Lamb threw two interceptions in the game, finishing with 107 yards. He had thrown just four interceptions all season entering Saturday’s game.

The Mountaineers’ second short drive opportunity ended more successfully, thanks to Lewis’ hands. Starting on Georgia State’s 41, App State got two third-down catches from the senior wide receiver on a seven-play drive that ended with a Moore 3-yard rushing touchdown with 11:52 in the second quarter for a 7-0 lead.

Moore had 109 yards rushing by halftime and finished with 239 yards. His 58-yard run in the third quarter was App State’s longest rushing play of the season. Moore has only eclipsed the 100-yard mark twice this year. He had 241 against New Mexico State and 114 against UL Monroe.

App State rushed for 323 yards, the highest total Georgia State has allowed this season.

This story was originally published November 25, 2017 at 6:08 PM with the headline "Appalachian State surges for win, keeps quest for Sun Belt title going."