POSTGAME NOTES: South Alabama 48, App State 14
Attendance at a sold-out Kidd Brewer Stadium on a Thursday night was 34,133, the ninth-largest crowd in stadium history. Eight of the top 10 crowds in stadium history have occurred since 2022.
This was App State's first loss in a Sun Belt opener since a 2014 loss at Georgia Southern. It snapped a nine-game win streak in Sun Belt openers.
South Alabama's 48 points were the most allowed by App State to a league foe in regulation since a 52-45 loss at ULM in 2017.
For the third straight game, App State fell behind by multiple touchdowns before getting its first points on the board.
Safety
DJ Burks and offensive guard
Garner Langlo got their first career starts.
OFFENSE
Maquel Haywood led App State rushers with a season-high 47 yards on seven carries. His fourth-quarter touchdown run was his third score as a Mountaineer.
Dalton Stroman's 47-yard touchdown catch as time expired at the end of the first half was his first score of the season and the eighth of his career.
With 266 passing yards,
Joey Aguilar took over the FBS lead with a season total of 1,230 passing yards after the first four games.
Kaedin Robinson led all receivers with six catches for 85 yards. He has caught a pass in 29 consecutive games, which ranks top 15 among all FBS players.
DEFENSE
In his first career start, safety
DJ Burks had a career-high 14 tackles, including one for a loss.
Avarion Cole also had a career-high eight tackles from his star position.
Santana Hopper forced a fumble on a sack for the second straight game. The fumble was recovered by fellow defensive lineman
Shawn Collins.
This was the first time in school history that App State allowed two 100-yard rushers in the same game.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Conner Maynard punted a career-high six times for a 41.7-yard average and landed two inside the 20.
