Postgame Notes From No. 24 App State's Senior Day Win

POSTGAME NOTES: App State 35, Texas State 13
 
App State won on Senior Day at Kidd Brewer Stadium for the 22nd straight year. After a 25-19 home loss to Liberty in the 1997 finale, App State won its last 16 Senior Day games as an FCS program, with six of them coming vs. Western Carolina. The Mountaineers have won FBS regular-season home finales against Idaho (2014), Louisiana (2015, 2017), ULM (2016), Troy (2018) and Texas State (2019).
 
Since fifth-year seniors Akeem Davis-Gaither, Desmond Franklin, Victor Johnson, Collin Reed and Josh Thomas enrolled at App State, the Mountaineers are 51-12 overall, 35-5 against Sun Belt programs and 26-4 at Kidd Brewer Stadium.
 
App State is the first Sun Belt team to ever start a season 10-1 since the league was established as an FBS member in 2001. The Mountaineers have reached double-figure wins four times in their last five FBS seasons, going 11-2 in 2015, 10-3 in 2016 and 11-2 in 2018. App State's 11-2 records in 2015 and 2018 are the best by a Sun Belt team.

App State notched its 16th win in the last 17 tries. 
 
Since the 2015 season began, App State is No. 5 nationally in win percentage (81.0) and tied for No. 6 in total wins with its 51-12 record. The win total trails only Clemson (66-4), Alabama (65-5), Ohio State (59-6), Oklahoma (55-9) and Georgia (52-14). Wisconsin is 51-14 during the same span.
 
App State improved to 40-7 in league play since joining the Sun Belt in 2014. It is 40-5 in its last 45 league games (after an 0-2 start) and 41-5 in its last 46 games against Sun Belt teams — counting the inaugural Sun Belt Championship Game against Louisiana in 2018.
 
App State improved its series record against Texas State to 5-0, including 3-0 in Boone and 4-0 as Sun Belt counterparts.
 
OFFENSE
 
Corey Sutton scored on a 45-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter to put him in a tie for fifth place in App State history with 17 career touchdown receptions. Dexter Jackson had 17 from 2004-07.
 
Thomas Hennigan had a career-long reception of 60 yards in the first half, as he sprinted the final 52 yards of the play. His previous long of 55 yards occurred earlier this season against Coastal Carolina.
 
Darrynton Evans had three rushing touchdowns in a game for the third time this season. He also posted three against Charlotte and North Carolina.
 
Darrynton Evans surpassed 150 rushing yards in a game for the fourth time in his career and second time this season.
 
Darrynton Evans increased his season total to 14 rushing touchdowns. An App State player has rushed for at least 15 touchdowns in a season 10 times.
 
Running back Marcus Williams Jr. gained 78 yards on 15 carries, marking his third game of at least 75 yards in Sun Belt play this season. He surpassed 1,500 career rushing yards Saturday.
 
Darrynton Evans surpassed 4,000 career all-purpose yards (he's now at 4,201), and quarterback Zac Thomas eclipsed 4,000 career passing yards (he's now at 4,173). Both players are juniors.

DEFENSE
 
By giving up just 208 total yards, App State has held four Sun Belt opponents to less than 260 this season. The total Saturday ranks as the second-best statistical performance of the season, behind the 139 yards allowed at South Alabama.
 
Senior defensive tackle E.J. Scott recorded the first two sacks of his career on Senior Day.
 
Demetrius Taylor had a first-half sack to give him 6.0 this season and 12.5 in 36 career games.
 
Each of outside linebacker Noel Cook's two career interceptions have come against Texas State. His third-quarter interception Saturday set up the touchdown that gave the Mountaineers a 21-13 lead. Last year in San Marcos, Texas, his goalline interception with a 14-0 lead preceded a 95-yard scoring drive that gave the Mountaineers a three-touchdown advantage.