Postgame Notes from App State's Win vs. Gardner-Webb

POSTGAME NOTES: App State 45, #24 (FCS) Gardner-Webb 24
 
Attendance at Kidd Brewer Stadium was 36,075, the second-largest crowd in Kidd Brewer Stadium history behind last year's season opener against North Carolina (40,168).
 
App State won its ninth home opener in the last 10 tries.
 
The Mountaineers are 9-0 all-time against Gardner-Webb and won against an FCS team for the 10th time in 11 tries since moving up to the FBS ranks in 2014.
 
This was the first matchup and win against a ranked FCS team since a 33-21 win at No. 24 Wofford in 2013.
 
App State improved to 49-9 in home games since 2014, the sixth-best winning percentage nationally in that span (and best among Group of Five programs).
 
First-time starters for the Mountaineers included QB Ryan Burger, LT Jack Murphy, RT Jayden Ramsey, SS Jordan Favors, DE Shawn Collins, CB Tyrek Funderburk, ILB Kyle Arnholt, OLB Donovan Spellman and DT Markus Clark.
 
OFFENSE
 
App State quarterbacks Ryan Burger and Joey Aguilar combined for 244 passing yards on 18-of-24 attempts with five touchdowns. Entering in relief of an injured Burger, Aguilar threw four touchdown passes – the most in a debut by a Mountaineer quarterback – and completed 11 of 13 passes for 174 yards.
 
The Mountaineers' five touchdown passes were caught by five different receivers – TE Eli Wilson, WR Kaedin Robinson, WR Dashaun Davis, WR Dalton Stroman and WR Christan Horn.
 
Nate Noel rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown, his 10th career 100-yard rushing performance.
 
In his App State debut, Maquel Haywood rushed 11 times for 46 yards.
 
DEFENSE
 
Returning tackles leader Nick Ross again led the Mountaineers with 12 stops.
 
Jackson Greene and Jack Scroggs both secured their first App State interceptions, with Greene's changing the momentum that led to App State turning a one-score lead to multiple scores at the end of the third quarter.
 
Newcomer defensive ends Shawn Collins and Michael Fletcher contributed to the havoc with three and two quarterback hurries, respectively.
 
Another new defensive end, Montez Kelly, recovered a fumble that was forced by fellow defensive end Kevin Abrams-Verwayne to give the App State defense its third turnover of the game.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS
 
2022 All-American kick returner Milan Tucker was in midseason form with a 48-yard return on the opening kickoff, his only return of the game.
 
Michael Hughes connected on a career-long 43-yard field goal that gave App State a 31-24 lead at the end of the third quarter.
 
Freshman punter Mitchell Lake punted four times for a 39.8-yard average in his collegiate debut.