2023 CURE BOWL POSTGAME NOTES: App State 13, Miami (Ohio) 9
With a 9-5 final record, App State has won nine or more games in eight of the last nine seasons and three of four seasons under head coach
Shawn Clark.
App State improved its record in bowl games to 7-1 since moving up to the FBS ranks. The Mountaineers have earned bowl berths in eight of nine seasons since their first year of eligibility in 2015, including an NCAA-record seven berths in the first seven seasons.
This was App State's fourth bowl win over a MAC team in as many tries, including the second against the MAC Champion (Toledo in 2017).
This was the fourth time in its FBS history that App State has defeated a team with 10 or more wins. Miami was 11-2 entering the game. The previous wins were against No. 18 JMU earlier this year (10-0 entering game), Louisiana (10-2 entering the 2019 Sun Belt Championship Game) and Toledo (11-2 entering the 2017 Dollar General Bowl).
This was App State's seventh one-possession game of the year. The Mountaineers won three of them, while an additional 48-38 win over Southern Miss was decided in the closing seconds as well.
In driving rain all day long, there were 13 fumbles and five fumble recoveries on a sloppy FBC Mortgage Stadium field.
The 13 points marked App State's lowest winning point total since a 13-10 win at Furman in 2003.
The teams were even with three turnovers apiece. Under head coach
Shawn Clark, the Mountaineers are now 18-1 when winning the turnover battle, 6-12 when losing, and 11-4 when they have the same number of turnovers as the opponent.
Team captain and safety
Nick Ross played in his 66th career game, tying the school record held by Thomas Hennigan, Caleb Spurlin and Xavier Subotsch (all 2017-21).
OFFENSE
Joey Aguilar was named Cure Bowl MVP after passing for 211 yards on 19-of-33 completions and rushing for 14 yards, including App State's lone touchdown on a 9-yard run in the third quarter.
Aguilar capped his incredible first season as a Mountaineer with school records of 3,757 passing yards, 33 passing touchdowns, 294 completions and 461 attempts.
Even in terrible conditions,
Kaedin Robinson still put on a show with nine catches for a career-high 118 yards, hauling in all but two passes thrown his way.
Anderson Castle rushed for a career-high 119 yards – his first career triple-digit game – including some big first downs to seal the victory on the Mountaineers' final drive. His previous high was 67 rushing yards vs. Robert Morris in 2022.
DEFENSE
The nine points scored by Miami tied the fewest allowed by App State this year (31-9 win against Marshall on Nov. 4).
App State's defense held the RedHawks to 227 total yards, including 44 passing, and only 11 first downs. Miami was 3-of-11 on third downs and 0-of-1 on fourth down.
The Mountaineers forced one Miami fumble (forced by
Nate Johnson) and recovered three total (by
Nick Ross,
Santana Hopper and
Ronald Clarke).
Caden Sullivan and Ross tied for the team lead with 10 tackles apiece. It was a career high for Sullivan, while it increased Ross' season total to 105.
App State had sacks by Hopper and
Montez Kelley that were instrumental in keeping Miami from moving the chains.
Special Teams
Michael Hughes made both of his field-goal attempts, despite the elements, from 29 and 22 yards out. He finished the season with 19 makes on 22 attempts. His 19 field goals are tied for second-most in a season in program history.
Mitchell Lake punted three times for a 43.7-yard average, including a long of 53, for his highest game average of the season.
