Georgia Southern Stuns #20 Appalachian State, 24-21

So, you remember all that talk about Appalachian State possibly being the first Sun Belt team to qualify for a New Years' Six Bowl Game.

Never mind.

Arch-rival Georgia Southern got big play runs from Wesley Kennedy III and Shai Werts to spook the Mountaineers on Halloween night, 24-21 at Kidd-Brewer Stadium in Boone, NC Thursday night.

It was the first win for the Eagles in Boone since 2007 and marked the second straight year Georgia Southern has beaten App when the Mountaineers were nationally ranked.

The Eagles (5-3, 3-1 Sun Belt) used their triple option attack to rush for 335 yards in the game, the most the Mountaineers have given up on the ground in four years.

Leading 10-7 at the half, Georgia Southern broke the game open in the third quarter when Kennedy broke free on a 68-yard touchdown run in the first possession of the second half.  Just minutes later, Werts scampered for 55 yards and another score.

Appalachian State (7-1, 4-1) came back with a pair of fourth quarter scores on passes from Zac Thomas to Corey Sutton to get within three points. But Georgia Southern stopped the Mountaineers on their final two possessions to secure the upset before 18,796 fans.

The game was played in rainy, windy conditions, with wind gusts to 40 mph.  The rain turned to snow flurries late in the game.

Kennedy led the Eagles with 145 yards on 13 carries and a pair of scores.  Werts added 83 yards on 13 totes, while J. D. King had 69 yards on 21 carries.

Thomas completed 25-51 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns for Appalachian State.  Darrynton Evans led the Mountaineers on the ground with 76 yards on 17 carries.

Either Georgia Southern or Georgia State can win the East division by winning their final four conference games.  App State must hope for both to lose in order to win their division.  App State travels to Georgia State on November 16th.