POSTGAME NOTES: Southern Miss 38, App State 22
App State fell to 2-1 on the season and 0-1 in Sun Belt play.
The Mountaineers outgained their opponent in total yards (470-389) for the third time in as many games.
App State lost the turnover battle (3-1) for the second straight game, with all three interceptions thrown when the Mountaineers were inside the Golden Eagles' 10-yard line.
Since joining the Sun Belt Conference, App State is now 9-3 in league openers and lost its second straight.
True freshman quarterback
Noah Gillon made his college debut in relief of injured starter
AJ Swann. True freshman offensive lineman
Denell Nix Jr. also made his debut.
OFFENSE
Running back
Rashod Dubinion rushed for 95 yards on 24 carries with his second touchdown of the season. He has amassed 400 rushing yards through three games for a 133.3-yard average.
True freshman running back
Jaquari Lewis scored a third-quarter touchdown on a 10-yard sprint up the middle to cut the Golden Eagles' lead to 10. He rushed twice for 12 yards, caught four passes for 28 yards and scored a 2-point conversion.
Jaden Barnes went over 100 receiving yards for the second time in three games as a Mountaineer, catching 10 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown. He's the first Mountaineer to amass double-digit catches in a game since
Kaedin Robinson had 10 against ULM in 2023.
Playing against his former team, quarterback
Billy Wiles led a scoring drive to close the game, going 5-for-5 passing and tossing a 3-yard touchdown to Barnes.
DEFENSE
This was defensive back
DJ Burks' second straight game with an interception. He made a one-handed catch off an
Emory Floyd deflection in the third quarter.
Linebacker
Colton Phares led the team with eight tackles, including three of the team's six tackles for loss. It was his second straight game with eight tackles, which matches his career high.
Edge
Thomas Davis came up with a timely sack to force a fourth down field-goal at the start of the second quarter.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Dominic De Freitas initiated a momentum-shifting play with an onside kick that was recovered by
Elijah Mc-Cantos after App State scored to cut its deficit to 24-14 late in the third quarter.
