Postgame Notes: App State 17, No. 6 Texas A&M 14

POSTGAME NOTES: App State 17, No. 6 Texas A&M 14

App State secured its third ever win over a top-25 ranked FBS opponent and its second in as many seasons. The Mountaineers' other wins were the historic 34-32 upset at No. 5 Michigan in 2007 and last year's 30-27 home win over No. 14 Coastal Carolina.
 
Last 5 games vs. AP top-10 teams:
2021 – App State 17, at #6 Texas A&M 14
2018 – at #9 Penn State 45, App State 38 (OT)
2016 – at #9 Tennessee 20, App State 13 (OT)
2008 – at #7 LSU 41, App State 13
2007 – App State 34, at #5 Michigan 32
 
Shawn Clark is the first App State coach with two wins over top-25 FBS opponents.

This was the Mountaineers' second straight win over an SEC opponent after winning 20-15 at South Carolina in 2019. 
 
App State is now 4-0 all-time in games played in Texas (3-0 vs. Texas State, 1-0 vs. Texas A&M). 

App State's last seven games against Power Five teams have all been decided by seven points or less, with three wins and four defeats.
 
Since the Mountaineers' 2014 FBS debut, App State has the sixth-most wins (81) in the FBS in that span behind just Alabama (106), Clemson (100), Ohio State (95), Georgia (88) and Oklahoma (88).

App State improved to 80-20 in its last 100 games.
 
App State's 32 road wins since 2014 are third most nationally in that span behind Boise State (34) and Clemson (33).

The attendance at Kyle Field was 92,664.
 
App State won despite not having starting outside linebacker Brendan Harrington or co-starting running back Nate Noel due to injuries. Trey Cobb, another starting linebacker, missed most of the second half after going down with an injury, meaning redshirt freshman Caden Sullivan played a huge role in what was essentially his defensive debut for the Mountaineers.

Defense
The Mountaineers' defense allowed just one offensive touchdown, nine first downs and 186 total yards to the Aggies.
 
Jalen McLeod had a career-high two sacks and made an amazing strip sack in which he also forced a second fumble on the offensive lineman who recovered the quarterback's fumble.
 
Nick Hampton and Dexter Lawson Jr. both recovered fumbles, the second career for Hampton and first career for Lawson.

Nick Ross led the Mountaineers with a career-high seven tackles, including one for a loss.

Logan Doublin made his first career start (in career game No. 40) and was in on a tackle for loss.
 
Offense
Ahmani Marshall scored the first touchdown of his collegiate career with a 4-yard rush at the beginning of the second quarter, the game's first points.
 
Henry Pearson caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Chase Brice to give App State a 14-7 lead at the 2:34 mark of the third quarter.
 
Camerun Peoples rushed 19 times for 112 yards, including a pair of huge first downs on the game-clinching final drive that started with less than four minutes remaining.
 
Brice completed a pass to nine different receivers.
 
Special Teams
Michael Hughes' first career field goal make – from 29 yards – that broke a 14-14 tie with 8:05 left in the fourth quarter proved to be the game winner.