BOONE, N.C. — App State closes its nonconference schedule against an opponent that's become quite familiar with the landscape of the Sun Belt.
The Mountaineers (1-1) return to The Rock on Saturday for a noon game on ESPN+ against FCS member Campbell (0-2). Coached by former Carolina Panthers safety Mike Minter, the Camels led 20-6 in the third quarter of a 27-26 loss at short-handed Georgia Southern in their opener and trailed 28-15 in the fourth quarter of a 43-21 loss at Coastal Carolina last Friday on ESPN.
"We have to play our kind of football," App State head coach
Shawn Clark said. "We can't shoot ourselves in the foot and turn the football over."
On Friday, App State announced that it and AppHealthCare (the local public health agency) have identified three active cases of confirmed COVID-19 in Mountaineer football team players. All cases are recovering in isolation. Contact tracing efforts have identified 18 players who are currently quarantining due to exposure to one of the active cases.
The Mountaineers' offense enjoyed a strong start to the season in the 2020 home opener at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Through both that game and the road trip to Marshall, App State's defense has been characteristically stingy, particularly in how it has performed in passing situations.
The defense ranks No. 1 nationally by allowing a completion rate of just 40.0 percent, thanks to an 11-for-30 showing by Charlotte and an 11-for-25 effort from Marshall. The Mountaineers lead the nation with 18 passes defended (six more than second place), and senior cornerback
Shemar Jean-Charles leads the country with six passes defended.
Junior safety
Ryan Huff recorded his first career interception following a
Trey Cobb deflection at Marshall.
"We've all watched film through the summer and worked hard through the summer," Huff said of a secondary that also includes
Shaun Jolly at one cornerback spot and
Kaiden Smith at the other safety spot. "We've all been pretty close through everything, and I think it's starting to show."
Campbell's offense is led by dual-threat quarterback Hajj-
Malik Williams, who leads the Camels in both passing yards per game (187.0) and rushing yards per game (67.5 despite seven sacks taken). Running back C.J. Freeman, who began his college career at South Carolina, is averaging 6.0 yards per carry and 60.0 yards per game.
Williams and Freeman run behind a large line with 345-pound tackles who are 6-foot-8 and 6-7, respectively. The starting guards are 6-4 players who weigh 315 and 305 pounds.
"They have one of the biggest offensive lines we'll see all year and a mobile quarterback, and they have very good receivers," Clark said.
App State quarterback
Zac Thomas has thrown for 472 yards through the first two games, with senior receiver
Thomas Hennigan catching 10 passes for 208 yards. A four-year starter, Hennigan ranks among the top eight active FBS receivers in career catches (145, No. 5), yards (1,893, No. 6) and touchdown receptions (15, tied for No. 8).
With an offensive line tabbed by PFF College as the fourth-best at the FBS level so far this season, App State will look to succeed again in the running game like it did during the home opener against Charlotte.
Daetrich Harrington nearly delivered a breakthrough run at Marshall, but a replay showing that his knee barely grazed the turf near the line of scrimmage erased a 76-yard touchdown.
"I think we're doing a good job running the football," Clark said. "We have to finish our blocks and hit the holes."
