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TROY, Alabama — App State beat long odds to advance to the title game. Now they must defeat West Division champion Troy to earn another conference championship ring.
The Mountaineers (8-4, 6-2), who ended the regular season with five straight wins, will take on the host Trojans (10-2, 7-1) on Saturday at 4 p.m. The aim is to further extend the record. Sun Belt Championship Game televised by ESPN. The weather forecast calls for rain throughout the day and temperatures in the low 70s.
App State is seeking its fifth overall Sun Belt title and third win in the Sun Belt Championship Game, which was first held in 2018. He is the only FBS program in the nation to make his four appearances in the conference championship game over the past six seasons. Alabama, Boise State, Clemson, Georgia, Oregon and Utah.
App State head coach: “This is going to be a great football game.” Sean Clark Said. “It’s going to be a challenge for us to go there in a hostile environment. We’ve played there before and they have a great fan base with great support from the students. “When you play here, it’s one of those games.” If you’re at that level, you want to be in a conference championship and play in an environment like that. ”
Troy is 21-2 since the well-documented Sept. 17, 2022 visit to Boone. App State hosted ESPN’s College GameDay for the first time then, and then won 32-28 on a 53-yard Hail Mary. christian horn. The Trojans rose from there to win the 2022 Sun Belt title, but their only losses this season were against Kansas State (42-13 in Week 2) and James Madison (Week 3). (16 wins, 14 losses).
Troy’s current nine-game winning streak includes seven straight in the Sun Belt, with only a 31-24 victory over Louisiana decided by less than 18 points. The Trojans have a balanced offense, allowing just 16.7 points per game (10th nationally) and 300.1 yards per game (12th nationally) under the guidance of former App State assistant Greg Gasparato. Considering that, they have an overwhelming defense just like JMU.
“They have both great players and great coaches,” Clark said.
JMU’s run-stuffing defense was as effective as advertised in slowing down App State’s ball carriers, but the Mountaineers moved the ball effectively and won the Sun Belt Rookie of the Year award in overtime. I won. Joey Aguilar He threw for 318 yards and three touchdowns. The offensive line showed great protection for Aguilar in JMU’s win, but it will be another tough test as Javon Solomon (14 sacks this season) and others rush the Trojan quarterback.
The Trojans are allowing just 102.1 yards per game on the ground (or 3.1 yards per carry), and the odds are even higher. Nate Noel rejoin the mix with kanye roberts, anderson castle Friends after Noel missed the final game of the regular season.
App State’s defense has allowed just 15.3 points per 60 minutes over the past four games (all wins against bowl-bound teams), but Troy quarterback Gunnar Watson has struggled with the Sun’s workhorse production. , averaging 261.8 passing yards per game. Belt Offensive Player of the Year Kimani Vidal (112.4 rushing yards per game).
Watson threw only five interceptions during the 26-touchdown regular season, but the Mountaineers rank tied for ninth in the nation with 15 interceptions, including eight in the last four games.
“We’re playing faster and with more confidence,” Clark said. “I think you could tell through the second half of the season that our kids were enjoying playing soccer again.”
Jabre Barber (5-foot-10, 174 pounds) leads the team with 60 catches (21 more than the team’s second-highest total) and 855 yards (327 more than the team’s second-highest total) However, he also leads the team with six catches. The 4-foot, 204-pound Chris Lewis has scored touchdowns on nine of his 29 receptions.The App State player is the only Sun Belt player with more touchdown receptions than Lewis this season. kadin robinson.
Considering the first quarter was the lowest-scoring quarter of the season for both App State (64 points, at least 107 points in every other quarter) and Troy (outscored opponents a combined 48-41 for the game). And a quick start could be important. 1st quarter). For the seventh straight game, the Mountaineers’ first drive ended with a punt.
“Coach Sumrall is a great football coach and if you know John on a personal level, I think his team carries that personality,” Clark said. “They’re tough, they’re disciplined, they play the game the right way and they don’t beat themselves up.”