BOONE, N.C. – Appalachian State (1-2) treks toward the banks of Lake Erie on Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff at Akron (2-1) in what is likely to be a pair of conference championship contenders come November. American Sports Network and ESPN3 will carry the game.
GAMEDAY CENTRAL
TV: ASN/ESPN3 (Watch Here) - Jeff McCarrahger (PxP), Michael Young (Analyst)
TV CLEARANCES (Where to watch)
ASN: Listen Live - Adam Witten (PxP), Pierre Banks (Analyst), Karl Anderson (Sidelines)
Both teams entered 2016 off of historic bowl wins and have already experienced their share of highs and lows through just three weeks of the season. App State hopes to dust off last weekend's loss to Miami and revert back to the form that had it in the receiving votes column of the Coaches' Poll following a 31-7 win over Old Dominion on Sept. 10.
Akron hopes the points will keep coming in bunches like they did last week during a 34-point second quarter that led to a 65-38 win over Marshall. It was an impressive bounce back following a 54-10 loss at Wisconsin in week two.
App State head coach Scott Satterfield knows his team faces an important test this weekend trying to close out non-conference play with a win, and he liked their sense of urgency when they returned to the practice field Sunday afternoon.
“I think (after the Miami game) the guys were even at a point on Sunday where they were ready to get back out here and get back to work,” Satterfield said on Tuesday. “We're at a point now (at 1-2) where there's a sense of urgency. We've got one more non-conference game and we need to play well to get ready for (Sun Belt) play.”
If last week is any indication, Akron will provide as tough a test as the Mountaineers will see in Sun Belt play. Zips' quarterback Thomas Woodson threw four TD passes and piled up 379 yards passing in the Zips upset of Marshall. Akron returned a fumble and blocked a punt for touchdowns in the second quarter, then later adding a pick-six in the closing minutes of the win.
After an 8-5 season a year ago and a win in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl over Utah State, Akron is trying to make a statement as it's conference season begins as well.
“This is huge for us,” Satterfield added. “(Akron) is a really good football team. What they did last week to Marshall, who is also really good, was impressive. They've got a lot of guys back from a good team last season. We've got a huge challenge ahead of us. The bottom line is to play well right before we get ready for conference play.”
Getting the offense back into the high gear that put up 24 points and over 300 yards in the first half against Old Dominion will go a long way toward a successful road trip.
The Mountaineers showed sparks against Miami on Saturday, but a holding call on a determined 74-yard TD run by Marcus Cox erased one score and a bad snap at the goal line after an impressive drive late in the second quarter forced a field goal.
Alongside Cox, and 89 yards on 23 carries from Jalin Moore on Saturday, tight end Barrett Burns has been one of App State's key offensive weapons the last two games. He had a 24-yard TD reception against Miami and has seven catches for 127 yards in the last two games.
RED ZONE WAR – Akron is a perfect 9-for-9 in red zone scoring this season, while App State is 14th nationally in red zone defense. The App have held opponents to 67 percent (6-of-9) in the red zone.
NEW TO OHIO – It's hard to believe given the football programs in Ohio, but App State will play football in Ohio for the first time in program's history. The Apps have only faced teams from Ohio twice previously, Youngstown State in the 2006 FCS Playoffs in Boone and last year's Camellia Bowl win over Ohio. The two schools are separated by just over 400 miles.
UP NEXT - App hosts Georgia State next Saturday in their home Sun Belt opener. Kickoff has been set for noon. American Sports Network and ESPN3 will have the telecast. The Panthers, who are off this week, are 0-3 on the season with losses to Ball State, Air Force and Wisconsin.
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