Postgame Notes From App State's Win Vs. Gardner-Webb

POSTGAME NOTES
 
Appalachian State posted its third-highest point total in program history. It won 115-0 against Piedmont in 1936 and 79-35 against Western Carolina in 2007. Both of those two games were also home games.
 
In the modern era, it was App State's largest margin of victory since a 66-0 shutout of Campbell in 2014.
 
The Mountaineers have scored four special teams touchdowns in three games. Before Steven Jones recovered his own punt block in the end zone and Clifton Duck reached the end zone on a 62-yard punt return Saturday, Thomas Hennigan had a 59-yard punt return for a touchdown against Charlotte in Week 2 and Darrynton Evans had a 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Penn State in Week 1.
 
Steven Jones blocked two punts to tie the school record also held by Dino Hackett (two blocks during his 27-tackle game against East Tennessee State in 1985) and Chuck Hill (two blocks against both Liberty and Western Carolina in 1987).
 
Steven Jones accounted for App State's first touchdown via a punt block/return since Scott Cornatzer recovered a blocked punt in the end zone against Chattanooga in 2001.
 
App State has had a pair of 100-yard backs in two straight home games, as D'Andre Hicks (150 rushing yards on 11 carries) and Jalin Moore (119 rushing yards on eight carries) reached that mark against Gardner-Webb. Moore had 110 yards and Daetrich Harrington gained 118 in last year's home finale against Louisiana.
 
Appalachian rushed for 432 yards (its highest total since posting 441 and 469 in back-to-back games against Troy and Georgia State in 2014) and finished with 692 total yards (its highest total since posting 697 against Presbyterian in 2008).
 
Jalin Moore's 81-yard touchdown was the longest carry of his career. He had a 63-yard gain at New Mexico State in the 2016 regular-season finale.
 
After completing all 14 of his passes for 295 yards at Charlotte in his last outing, Zac Thomas started 4 of 4 for 83 yards Saturday, giving him 378 yards and four passing touchdowns during his streak of 18 straight completions.
 
Backup quarterback Peyton Derrick is 8-of-8 passing for his career after he went 7 of 7 for 68 yards Saturday. He had the first touchdown pass of his career and first rushing touchdown of his career.
 
Thomas, Derrick, Jacob Huesman, Zeb Speir, Jackson Gibbs and Tanner Wilson all played at quarterback against Gardner-Webb. Speir had his first career completion, a 9-yard pass to Brad Absher.
 
Senior receiver Brad Absher had a career-high three catches. He entered the game with two career receptions.
 
D'Andre Hicks and Darrynton Evans had the first touchdown rushes for their careers. Evans has scored twice on kickoff returns. True freshman Camerun Peoples played for the first time in his career and gained 53 yards on nine attempts.
 
Redshirt freshman Jermaine McDaniel Jr. recorded the first two sacks of his career with a pair of first-half takedowns.
 
Kaiden Smith, a sophomore safety, recorded the first interception of his career. Desmond Franklin picked off a pass for the second straight game.
 
App State players making their debuts included Camerun Peoples, Jackson Gibbs, Tanner Wilson, Mike Price, Jordan Mitchell, Weston Gillespie, Will Israel, Braden Collins, Jake Henry, Trey Ross and Jordon Earle.