BOONE, N.C. – After strong non-conference schedules, Saturday's matchup between Appalachian State (7-2, 5-0 Sun Belt) and Troy (7-1, 4-0) was circled on the Sun Belt schedule as one of the key dates in the 2016 Sun Belt season. Expectations held true halfway through the conference season and the Mountaineers track to southern Alabama with the lead in the Sun Belt race on the line to face. Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The game will be carried on ESPN3.
With both teams still have tests remaining (App hosts UL Monroe and travels to New Mexico State, Troy hosts Arkansas St., and travels to Texas State and Georgia Southern), Saturday's winner takes a big step toward a Sun Belt Championship.
Both teams have been mostly dominant in Sun Belt play to this point. The game features the top two scoring offenses and scoring defense in the league. App State has allowed only 41 total points in conference play and leads the league in scoring at 16.9 points per game (8.4 in league play). Troy has the top scoring offense at 39.4 ppg.
Both teams have won six consecutive games since losses to ACC foes in September.
APP NOTES
- The Mountaineers are trying to match conference history with a win, App has won nine consecutive road games in league play. North Texas owns the league record of 10, set in 2002-2004.
- The Apps are now 24-4 in their last 28 games and 22-1 against G5 opponents dating back to 2014.
- Only Michigan (41) has allowed fewer points among FBS teams than App State (42) since Oct. 1.
- Senior OLB Kennan Gilchrist (Abbeville, S.C.) was named the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week. Gilchrist had two sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss in App State's 35-10 win over Texas State on Saturday.
- RB Marcus Cox became the second App State back with over 4,500 career yards. He now has 4,617 career rushing yards, 192 shy of Kevin Richardson to become App's all-time leader. Cox went over 4,500 yards for his career on his first carry. He had his 48th career rushing TD in the opening quarter, scoring from 37 yards out. It was his 26th career 100-yard game.
- QB Taylor Lamb tied a career high with four passing TDs, matching his total from ODU ('15) and Arkansas State ('15). Lamb moved into second all-time at App with 59 career passing TDs, tying Richie Williams.
- App has held back-to-back opponents to under 200 total yards. Texas State had 197 total yards.
- App's starting defense allowed their first TD drive of the season, albeit on a 2-play, 3-yard drive following a blocked punt. App is allowing 8.4 ppg in Sun Belt play.
- App had a season high 13 TFLs against Texas State and is averaging 9.3 TFLs over their last four games
-App State-
