Postgame Notes from App State at Georgia Southern

POSTGAME NOTES: Georgia Southern 19, App State 3
 
App State fell to 5-3 overall and 2-2 in Sun Belt play with the loss in Statesboro.
 
Georgia Southern won its fourth straight against the Mountaineers, but App State still holds a 21-20-1 edge in the all-time series.
 
This was the second time the Mountaineers and Eagles have met on Halloween, with Georgia Southern also claiming a win in 2019. App State's all-time record on Halloween is now 11-5, while Georgia Southern is 5-0 all-time.
 
App State's 16:06 time of possession (to Georgia Southern's 43:54) was its lowest since 2004 vs. Northwestern State when it possessed the ball for 15:53.
 
In the Mountaineers' first seven games, opponents had a total of three scoring drives of six-plus minutes. Georgia Southern had four in this game.
 
App State lost the turnover battle (3-0) for the first time in 2026.
 
This was App State's first FBS contest of the season that was not a one-score game within the final two minutes.
 
Big Al Oliver made his first collegiate start as the Mountaineers' left tackle, in place of Devon Manuel who was deemed out for the season after an injury he suffered in the previous game vs. James Madison.
 
OFFENSE
 
Chris Lofton (five catches for 82 yards) and Sam Pickett III (four catches for 86 yards) accounted for 168 of quarterback Malachi Singleton's 215 yards through the air.
 
The Mountaineers' rushing total of 6 yards was their lowest since netting 1 yard in last year's loss to James Madison.
 
DEFENSE
 
Team captain Colton Phares led all players with 12 tackles, his second straight double-digit tackle performance.
 
Covering Georgia Southern's quick-throw, outside passing attack, cornerback Juan Berchal compiled a career-high 10 tackles. Fellow starting corner Khalil Conley tied his career high with eight (including a TFL).
 
SPECIAL TEAMS
 
The previous week's Sun Belt Special Teams Player of the Week after going 4-for-4 on field goals against JMU, James London made a 33-yard field goal as time expired in the first half for App State's only score of the contest.
 
Ja'Quez Cross 51-yard third-quarter kick return was the Mountaineers' longest of the season.