AKRON, Ohio – Running back Jalin Moore made history on Saturday and Appalachian State (2-2) walked away with a high-scoring 45-38 win over Akron (2-2) at Infocision Stadium.
Moore was a workhorse, rushing for the sixth-highest total in school history. He posted 257 yards on 39 carries, which also ties for the fourth most rushing attempts in a single game. The sophomore tailback spearheaded a rushing attack that piled up 307 rushing yards.
Quarterback Taylor Lamb exploded in the first half, tossing three touchdowns, two only 93 seconds apart, as App State seized control at the break. Lamb would complete 22-of-30 passes on the day and add a 1-yard TD run on the final play of the half. Lamb spread the wealth, finding nine different receivers en route to 280 yards passing.
App racked up 360 yards of offense, building a 31-14 lead at the half, but Akron didn't go quietly. A pass interference penalty on 4th-and-17 on a jump ball in the end zone kept the Zips alive in the third.
Moore recorded Appalachian's final two touchdowns, including a 32-yard jaunt to give the Mountaineers a 45-31 lead with 8:45 to play, but the Black and Gold would need one final stop in the final minutes. Sacks by Dezmin Reed and Antonious Sims, who had two on the day, stopped Akron's final drive before it could ever get started.
Clifton Duck recorded a career-high 13 tackles and had an interception to turn back Akron's opening possesion. His counterpart Mondo Williams also picked off a pass, setting up a quick strike TD on a 37-yard TD toss from Lamb to Zy Letman.
Lamb and the App State offense seemed to capitalize on every opportunity. Wide receivers T.J. Watkins and Brad Absher both hauled in key receptions in some of their first action of the season. Watkins brought in four catches for 41 yards and didn't have a catch coming into the game, while Absher picked up a huge third-down conversion to set up Moore's final TD run.
App State finished the game with 587 yards of offense and held the ball for almost 34 minutes.
Akron never let up on offense. Quarterback Thomas Woodson complete 31-of-43 passes for 353 yards and three touchdowns, but was intercepted twice. Sims' two sacks were half of App's four in the win.
App opens Sun Belt Conference play next Saturday at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Kickoff is at noon. The American Sports Network and ESPN3 will have the telecast.
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