Postgame Notes From App State's Win Vs. ETSU

APP STATE POSTGAME NOTES
 
TEAM
 
Appalachian State increased its home winning streak to 11 games, a total that ranks fourth among the nation's Group of Five programs. The total ranks in the top 10 for all FBS programs, and Clemson is the FBS leader at 26.

App State's current seven-game winning streak is tied for the nation's third-longest with Ohio State, behind Clemson (16) and Army (10).
 
App State won its first home game of a season for the sixth straight year, and App State is 13-0 in its last 13 season openers played at home dating back to 1974.
 
App State scored touchdowns on all six of its trips inside the red zone.
 
App State had 11 true freshmen make their college debuts: Christian Wells, Dashaun Davis, Raykwon Anderson, Ben Williams, Nicholas Ross, KeSean Brown, Brendan Harrington, Jourdan Heilig, Christian Johnstone, Lyle Hiers and Craig McFarland. Johnstone was the starting long snapper, Harrington and Ross covered the game-opening kickoff and Wells had a fourth-quarter touchdown catch.
 
DEFENSE
 
App State has held its opponents to less than 20 points in each of its last nine home games. That run includes the last two home games of 2017, all six home games in 2018 and the 2019 opener.
 
Senior defensive tackle E.J. Scott, junior cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles, junior defensive end Demetrius Taylor, sophomore cornerback Shaun Jolly and sophomore inside linebacker Trey Cobb made their first career starts for App State's defense.
 
When sophomore George Blackstock and redshirt freshman Nick Hampton combined on a first-half sack, it was the first time posting a stat in that category for both players.
 
Scott's two tackles were both stops behind the line of scrimmage for a total of 7 lost yards.  Blackstock, another defensive tackle, recorded a career-high five tackles.
 
Senior linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither, who tied for No. 8 nationally among non-DBs with the seven pass breakups in 2018, added two more PBUs in the 2019 opener.
 
Jolly made a career-high six tackles, including one for a loss.
 
Defensive end Caleb Spurlin recorded the first pass breakup of his career.
 
OFFENSE
 
Junior receiver Thomas Hennigan, who has started all 27 games of his career, posted a career-high seven catches for 79 yards. His previous high was six on two occasions as a true freshman in 2017 (vs. both Texas State and New Mexico State).
 
App State rushed for at least 200 yards for the seventh straight game. It had 277 yards on 41 attempts against ETSU.
 
Darrynton Evans, who rushed for at least 100 yards in seven of the final nine games last season, totaled 99 rushing yards on only 14 attempts against ETSU.
 
Redshirt freshman offensive lineman Cooper Hodges started as App State's right tackle in his first career game appearance.
 
Junior receiver Jalen Virgil scored the first rushing touchdown of his career on an end-around. He made his second career start (after UMass in 2017) and scored his fourth career touchdown.
 
Graduate transfer Keishawn Watson made his App State debut in the second quarter and caught a pass for 7 yards on that possession. He finished with two catches for 22 yards.
 
Another graduate transfer, offensive lineman Joey Cave, made his App State debut.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS
 
Junior punter Xavier Subotsch had a punt of 54 yards and put two of his three punts inside the 20. The longest punt of his career was a 58-yard kick against Texas State in 2017.
 
Chandler Staton had three touchbacks on kickoffs.