BOONE, N.C. — The state's youngest FBS programs are preparing to face off for the second straight year and the first time in Boone.
On Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in Kidd Brewer Stadium, Appalachian State (1-0) will host Charlotte (1-0) during a White Out game at The Rock.
Early in their sixth FBS season, the Mountaineers have gone 4-0 in bowl games during their first four bowl-eligible seasons and are looking to extend a streak of three straight Sun Belt Conference championships. After two years as an FCS independent, Charlotte made its FBS debut in 2015 as a member of Conference USA and went 5-7 last year before bringing in new head coach Will Healy from Austin Peay.
Healy (34 years, 7 months) and App State's
Eliah Drinkwitz (36 years, 4 months) are the third-youngest and sixth-youngest FBS coaches in the country, respectively.
Today, we'll look at how the offense from App State potentially matches up against the defense from Charlotte:
App State Offense vs. Charlotte Defense
For App State, it starts with a focus on running the ball more effectively against Charlotte's defense this season.
Zac Thomas completed all 14 of his pass attempts for a career-high 295 yards in a 45-9 win at Charlotte last season, but the Mountaineers rushed 35 times for only 139 yards while having a punt return and defensive fumble recovery account for two of their three second-half touchdowns.
"We watched last year's tape against them, and we have to be much better in the trenches," Drinkwitz said. "We didn't run the ball good enough against them last year, so it'll be a tough matchup."
The 49ers ranked ninth nationally for the whole season by allowing just 105.7 rushing yards per game, and Gardner-Webb totaled 159 rushing yards on 35 attempts in Charlotte's 49-28 win to open the 2019 season. With the arrival of Healy, there are a pair of co-defensive coordinators in safeties coach Brandon Cooper, who spent three years with Healy at Austin Peay, and defensive line coach Marcus West, who was also at Austin Peay before spending last season as Minnesota's defensive line coach.
App State's leading rusher in last year's game had 38 yards, but
Darrynton Evans followed a strong finish to the 2018 season (seven 100-yard games in the last nine contests) with 99 rushing yards on only 14 carries in the 42-7 win against East Tennessee State.
Daetrich Harrington added 48 yards on only six carries, while
Marcus Williams Jr. had 41 yards on seven attempts.
"Through spring and camp, we knew, whenever somebody's name is called, they're going to produce," Evans said.
The Mountaineers scored touchdowns on all six of their red-zone trips against ETSU, didn't commit a turnover, didn't punt in the second half and had just one pre-snap offensive penalty (a false start) during their first game in Drinkwitz's scheme.
App State ran 66 plays against ETSU and had 41 rushing attempts, but it also totaled three touchdown passes while completing 68 percent of its throws. Drinkwitz said he aims to do a better job with his play-calling to help Thomas find an early rhythm.
Some of the defensive standouts in Charlotte's 4-2-5 scheme include senior safety Ben DeLuca, who has seven forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries in his career, and cornerback Marquill Osborne, a transfer from Tennessee.
App State redshirt freshman
Cooper Hodges performed well in his first start as a right tackle, often facing ETSU defensive standout Nasir Player, and Charlotte has a talented defensive end in 6-3 senior Alex Highsmith. He has eight career sacks.
"They've got a very good scheme," Drinkwitz said, "and have a very good set of players."
