POSTGAME NOTES: #15/18 Coastal Carolina 34, App State 23
App State lost its first conference game of the season. The Mountaineers are 4-1 in Sun Belt play for the third straight year. They went on to host and win the league championship game each of the previous two years.
App State dropped its first game against a nationally ranked Sun Belt team. The Mountaineers are 0-6 against ranked teams since joining the FBS ranks. The program's lone win over a nationally ranked FBS team was the historic 34-32 upset of No. 5 Michigan in 2007.
App State's 60-14 record and 81.1 win percentage since the start of 2015 is No. 5 nationally behind just Clemson (76-6, 92.7%), Alabama (72-6, 92.3%), Ohio State (65-7, 90.3%) and Oklahoma (63-12, 84.0%).
App State dropped to 47-6 in its last 53 games vs. Sun Belt teams since the program jumped to FBS in 2014. Since 2014, the Mountaineers' 85.5 winning percentage (47-8 overall) against league foes is No. 4 nationally behind Ohio State (93.3%, 56-4), Clemson (91.7%, 55-5) and Alabama (91.5%, 54-5).
The Mountaineers lost their first November or December game since falling at ULM on Nov. 4, 2017.
This was Coastal Carolina's first win over App State in seven tries all-time.
DEFENSE
App State recorded four sacks and eight TFLs against the Coastal Carolina offense.
Senior DE
Demetrius Taylor racked up six tackles, 1.5 sacks and 3.0 TFLs, while also forcing a fumble. In his last three games, he has totaled 4.0 sacks, 7.5 TFLs and two forced fumbles.
Senior CB
Shemar Jean-Charles, the nation's leader in pass breakups, added one more to go with three tackles.
OFFENSE
App State lost a game in which it eclipsed 200 rushing yards for the first time since amassing 234 rushing yards in a loss at UMass on Oct. 28, 2017.
Sophomore RB
Camerun Peoples rushed for a career-high 178 yards on a career-high 27 attempts. He rushed for 171 yards and a TD on 20 carries in the first half. Peoples' previous career high was 102 rushing yards in the season opener vs. Charlotte.
Redshirt-freshman WR
Christian Wells caught two passes for 41 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown to close the first half and give App State a 17-9 lead at the break.
Senior WR
Malik Williams led the Mountaineers with 79 receiving yards on three catches. His 62-yard reception in the third quarter was the longest of his career and the longest pass play by App State this season.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Senior K
Chandler Staton tied his career high with three made field goals, connecting from 44, 36 and 45 yards. He missed a 50-yard attempt in the first quarter.
