Postgame Notes from App State's Win vs. Charlotte

POSTGAME NOTES: App State 34, Charlotte 11
 
In the head coaching debut of Dowell Loggains, App State won its season opener for the sixth time in the last seven years to move to 53-39-3 all-time in season openers.
 
The Mountaineers are now 2-0 at Bank of America Stadium (both in Duke's Mayo Classic games) and improved to 4-0 all-time against the Charlotte 49ers.

App State's 101 wins since its 2014 FBS debut are tied for 10th-most in the nation behind Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson, Georgia, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Boise State, Oregon and Michigan.
 
The 34-11 score was App State's most lopsided win against an FBS team since beating Georgia Southern 55-27 in 2023. It was also the fewest points allowed to an FBS foe since the 13-9 win against Miami (Ohio) in the 2023 Cure Bowl.
 
After trailing 3-0 early, App State scored 27 unanswered points on five straight possessions before Charlotte found the end zone for the first time in the fourth quarter.
 
First-time starters for the Mountaineers included QB AJ Swann, RB Rashod Dubinion, WR Jaden Barnes, WR William Fowles, TE Izayah Cummings, LG Shamarr Jackson, C Will Flowers, RG Trent Ramsey, RT Tyriq Poindexter, DT Rondo Porter, DT Dylan Manuel, LB Jaelin Willis, LB Colton Phares, DB Ja'Den McBurrows and DB Emory Floyd.
 
OFFENSE
 
With Loggains directing the offense, App State racked up 586 total yards (404 passing, 182 rushing) for its highest yardage output since racking up 629 against Georgia Southern in 2022.
 
Making his App State debut after a quarterback competition that lasted into game week, LSU transfer AJ Swann set a record for most passing yards in an App State debut with 368. He completed 31 of 46 passes with three touchdowns and no interceptions and added 25 rushing yards.

Swann's 368 passing yards rank as the seventh-highest total for a game in App State's FBS history, and his 31 completions are tied for eighth place in App State's single-game records.
 
Swann and JJ Kohl spread the ball to 10 different receivers on the night.
 
Also making his App State debut, Arkansas transfer Rashod Dubinion rushed for 111 yards on 22 carries, scoring his first Mountaineer touchdown on a 2-yard run out of a Wildcat formation. He added five catches for 31 yards.
 
All Austin Peay transfer Jaden Barnes did in his first game as a Mountaineer was haul in six catches for 134 yards and a score.
 
Additional touchdown catches came from tight end Kanen Hamlett and true freshman receiver Alex Sanchez (in his collegiate debut).
 
Preseason All-Sun Belt receiver Dalton Stroman made a career-high eight catches for 88 yards.
 
App State scored on all five of its red-zone opportunities, went 7-for-15 on third downs and 2-for-2 on fourth downs.
 
DEFENSE
 
Making his debut as a defensive coordinator calling the plays, App State alum DJ Smith had his unit ready. The Mountaineers limited the 49ers to 218 total yards, 76 rushing yards, 15 first downs and only one touchdown. Charlotte totaled just 13 rushing yards in the entire second half.
 
Charlotte converted only 4 of its 14 third-down chances.
 
In his App State debut, Michigan transfer Ja'Den McBurrows tied for the team lead with six tackles (including a TFL) and snagged his second collegiate interception with 23 seconds before the half, which turned into three points.
 
The other of App State's two forced turnovers was a Dylan Hasz forced fumble that was recovered by Kyle Arnholt.
 
Kevin Abrams-Verwayne was constantly creating havoc in the backfield and was credited with four tackles, half a TFL, two pass breakups and a hurry.
 
App State's six TFLs came from Zyeir Gamble, McBurrows, Hasz, Brayshawn Littlejohn, Bucci Farmer (half) and Abrams-Verwayne (half).
 
SPECIAL TEAMS
 
In his first collegiate game, true freshman kicker Dominic De Freitas cashed in both of his field-goal attempts (from 47 and 35 yards) and all four PATs.
 
Texas transfer Ian Ratliff got the nod at punter and landed two of his three punts inside the 20-yard line.
 
Cash McVay kicked off six times and earned six touchbacks.