BOONE, N.C. – Appalachian State capped the second of consecutive 10-win seasons in FBS play on Saturday night with a wild 31-28 win over Toledo in the Camellia Bowl. Quarterback Taylor Lamb rushed for a career high 126 yards and a touchdown and threw another TD to earn the Bart Starr MVP Award in the win.
The win capped a second consecutive season with 10 wins and back-to-back bowl wins. App becomes the first program to win bowl games in their first two bowl eligible seasons in transitioning to the FBS.
Stretch of Success – App is 27-5 dating back to the Troy game in 2014, which sparked a 6-0 finish and double digit wins each of the last two seasons. Only Alabama, Clemson, and Ohio State have won more games that App during the span. Western Kentucky is also 27-5 during the same stretch. App is also 10th with 21 wins the last two seasons without the benefit of playing extra games in a conference championship.
Under Satt – App improved to an impressive 26-2 in games against Group of Five opponents under Head Coach Scott Satterfield dating back to the middle of 2014. App is also 6-0 in their in non-conference G5 games in the last 2.5 seasons. The win, coming in his 50th game as App's head coach, pushes Satterfield to 32-18 overall at App. Prior to last season's bowl game App did not have a win against the Mid-American Conference. App is now 3-0 against the MAC.
Cox Hits 5,000 – Running back Marcus Cox rushed for 143 yards and a touchdown in the win to eclipse a number of career milestones. Cox went over 5,000 yards for his career in the first half, becoming only the 22nd player in FBS history to do so. His 5,103 career yards are the most all-time at Appalachian and are 16th in FBS history, behind Wisconsin's Monte Ball and ahead of former Heisman winner George Rogers (South Carolina). Cox helped the Apps run out the clock with 15 yards on the final possession, going over 1,000 yards for the season in only nine games. He went over 1,000 yards in each season of his career, one of fewer than 10 players to do so in FBS history. He was the No. 2 active career rushing leader for the FBS his entire senior season.
Lamb Legs Out MVP – Quarterback Taylor Lamb had 126 yards rushing and a rushing touchdown in App's bowl win. The 126 yards rushing were a career high and included a 13-yard touchdown run on fouth-and-1 to take a 21-14 lead in the third quarter. Lamb and Cox both went over 100 yards rushing in the win, giving the Apps two backs over the century mark in five of their final six games. App had done so four times in the previous two seasons.
Moore's Season – Sophomore running back and Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year Jalin Moore earned the honor. He finished the season with 1,402 yards, the eighth most in school history and has 2,133 yards through two seasons.
Legion of Boone – App State finished the season with 20 interceptions which will likely land the Apps in the Top 5 nationally in picks for the 2016 seasons. Freshman Clifton Duck finished with five and senior corner Mondo Williams had four. Both were First Team All-Sun Belt selections. The interceptions were a major part of an App defense that will likely finish in the Top 10 nationally in scoring defense (currently 9th, 17.8 ppg).
Dominant Starts – App outscored opponents 222-112 in the first half during the 2016 season. The Mountaineers led half their games by double figures at the break.
2017 Season Opener – App opens the 2017 season on Sept. 2 against Georgia in Athens, Ga. App's complete 2017 schedule will be released in the spring.
-App State-
