Postgame Notes from the 2023 Sun Belt Championship Game

2023 SUN BELT CHAMPIONSHIP POSTGAME NOTES: Troy 49, App State 23
 
Playing in its league-best fourth Sun Belt championship game in the six-year history of the event, App State lost the title game for the second time. The Mountaineers won both games they hosted – in 2018 and 2019 against Louisiana – and lost at Louisiana in 2021.
 
The home team has won every Sun Belt championship game that's been played.
 
With eight wins, App State is bowl eligible and will find out its destination and opponent on Sunday.
 
This was App State's first loss of the season that wasn't decided by one possession and in the final seconds of the game.
 
The loss snapped the Mountaineers' five-game win streak that closed the regular season, as well as a five-game win streak over the Trojans dating back to 2018. App State's lead in the all-time series against Troy is now 8-4.
 
After trailing 14-0, App State scored a touchdown with 0:39 left in the second quarter and then again on the opening drive of the third quarter to knot the score at 14-14. It remained a one-possession game until Troy went ahead 28-17 with 10:57 left in the fourth quarter.
 
The Mountaineers were -1 in the turnover battle with one takeaway and two turnovers committed. Under head coach Shawn Clark, the Mountaineers are now 18-1 when winning the turnover battle, 6-12 when losing, and 10-4 when they have the same number of turnovers as the opponent.
 
OFFENSE
 
Joey Aguilar passed for 275 yards on 28-of-39 attempts and broke the single-season school record for passing yards. Through 13 games, he stands at 3,546 yards, surpassing Chase Brice's 2021 total of 3,337. Aguilar already owns the school record for passing touchdowns in a season with 33.
 
Aguilar spread the ball to 11 different receivers, the eighth time this year that nine or more different receivers have caught a pass.
 
This was only the second game of the season (Wyoming) that Aguilar did not throw multiple touchdown passes.
 
Kanye Roberts started at running back and rushed for a team-high 53 yards on 13 carries with two red-zone touchdowns. It's his first career two-score performance.
 
Tight end Eli Wilson scored the Mountaineers' other touchdown with a fumble recovery in the end zone.
 
DEFENSE
 
This was the most points allowed in a game this season and most allowed in regulation since last year's season-opening loss to North Carolina, 63-61.
 
Defensive tackle Santana Hopper recorded the Mountaineers' only sack of the game, giving him 2.5 for the season. His 6.5 TFLs this season are second-most on the team behind Nate Johnson's 8.5.
 
Cornerback Ethan Johnson had a career-high 1.5 tackles for loss.
 
Special Teams
 
Milan Tucker recovered a muffed Troy punt return for a huge turnover of events midway through the third quarter with the Mountaineers trailing 21-14.
 
Michael Hughes connected on a 41-yard field goal on the ensuing drive to cut Troy's lead to four.
 
Hughes improved his season field goal tally to 17 makes on 20 attempts. His 17 field goals are tied for fourth-most in a season in program history.
 
Mitchell Lake pinned three of his five punts inside the 20 and had a 41.4 average on the day.