BOONE, N.C. — The App State-Marshall rivalry resumed last year in West Virginia.
On Thursday night, in front of a national television audience, it returns to The Rock for the first time in 25 years.
With a forecast of clear skies and a temperature in the low 50s, it will certainly feel like fall in the High Country as the Mountaineers (2-1) face the Thundering Herd (2-1) for just the second time with both programs competing at the FBS level.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:35 p.m., and tickets can still be purchased by
clicking HERE.
App State and Marshall played as SoCon rivals every year from 1977-96, highlighted by a 24-14 home win for App State in 1994, when the Thundering Herd was No. 1 in the FCS rankings, and a 10-3 road win in 1995, when the Mountaineers were No. 2 and Marshall was No. 3.
The Thundering Herd's 17-7 win against App State last season marked their first meeting since 2002, and the Mountaineers are seeking their third official home win of 2021 following victories against East Carolina (in Charlotte) and Elon (in last weekend's Kidd Brewer Stadium debut). Marshall followed lopsided wins against Navy and North Carolina Central with a 42-38 home loss to ECU, which trailed 38-21 with less than eight minutes remaining but scored its last two TDs in the final 2:31 of the game.
FAN INFO FOR THURSDAY
After drawing more than 30,000 fans for the Elon game, App State has encouraged fans to #PackTheRock for a midweek matchup that will be available to out-of-town spectators on ESPN.
Based on staffing availability, App State plans to open more gates Thursday at the East and West entrances to Kidd Brewer Stadium, and fans will be allowed to bring one unopened water bottle per person into the stadium for the rest of the Mountaineers' home games.
Most game day parking lots open at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, with the Holmes, JET and University Drive lots opening at 4:30 p.m. Mountaineer Walk is scheduled for 4:45 p.m., and stadium gates open to the public at 6 p.m.
GAME BREAKDOWN
App State head coach
Shawn Clark played for the Mountaineers during the heyday of the rivalry with Marshall, as he supplied a key block on the lone touchdown in the 10-3 victory in 1995. Marshall, meanwhile, as a new head coach in former Alabama associate head coach/running backs coach Charles Huff.
After playing without two defensive starters and forcing two turnovers against Elon, App State's defense should be closer to full strength as it attempts to slow down quarterback Grant Wells, who accounted for 206 total yards in last year's game, and running back Rasheen Ali, who has averaged 95.7 rushing yards per game this season while amassing seven rushing TDs in three games.
Despite low tackle numbers, end
Demetrius Taylor has recorded five QB hurries in the first three games and been part of a defensive line that has performed well enough to free up App State's ball-hawking linebackers.
The Mountaineers managed just an early touchdown in last year's visit to Huntington, even though they advanced inside the Thundering Herd's 10-yard line on their first two fourth-quarter possessions, and App State's not facing the same receiver shortage this season.
Parking lots opening for game day traffic at 3:30 p.m.
- Kidd Brewer Stadium area lots. These include Bowie/Eggers Lot, Champions Lot, East Stadium Gate Lot, North End Zone Lot, Quinn Center Lot, Softball Lot, Stadium Deck, Stadium Lot and Top of the Rock Lot.
- Broyhill Music Lot
- Edwin Duncan Lot
- Greenwood Lot (lower section only, spaces 127 - 416)
- Hill Street Lot (Designated Accessible Parking [ADA] Lot)
- Legends Lot
- Library Parking Deck
- Peacock Lot (Rivers Street side only, spaces 1 - 162)
- Rivers Street Parking Deck
- Schaefer Center Lot
- Student Recreation Center Lot (SRC)
Parking lots opening for game day traffic at 4:30 p.m.
- Beasley Complex Lot
- Holmes Lot
- John E. Thomas Lot
- University Drive (runs from Founders Hall to Roess Dining Hall)
