Postgame Notes from App State's Win vs. Maine

POSTGAME NOTES: App State 55, Maine 3
 
App State won its season opener for the seventh time in the last eight years (and the second straight under head coach Dowell Loggains) to move to 54-39-3 all-time in season openers.
 
The Mountaineers won their home opener for the fourth straight year and improved to 72-21-2 all-time in home openers. The only such loss since 2014 was the 63-61 shootout against North Carolina in 2022.
 
The 52-point margin of victory was App State's biggest since a 72-7 win against Gardner-Webb in 2018.
 
App State improved its all-time record against Maine to 1-2 … There are now no visiting teams that have played more than once in Boone and have an undefeated record. The Black Bears have the only program with a winning record in Boone in more than one visit.
 
The Mountaineers won against an FCS opponent for the 11th straight time and have not lost such a contest since 2014.
 
This was App State's 99th win since it became a postseason-eligible FBS member in 2015, tied for the 11th-most nationally in that span.
 
Attendance for the 16th sellout in the last 18 games at Kidd Brewer Stadium was 33,664.
 
First-time Mountaineer starters included (on offense) QB Malachi Singleton, WR Sam Pickett III, WR Chris Lofton, TE Darrin Fugitt, TE Dillon Galloway, OL Jayden Thomas, OL Devon Manuel, OL Mac Walters and (on defense) DB Juan Berchal, DB Khalil Conley, DB Devin Henderson, DB Kaleb Purdy, LB Carson Sloan, LB Alex Mitchell, DL Jehchys Brown and DL Aaron Clark.
 
 
OFFENSE
 
App State's offense scored its most points since putting up 55 against Georgia Southern in 2023 and compiled its most yards (647) since the 2022 season opener against North Carolina.
 
In his first collegiate start after playing as a backup at Arkansas and Purdue, Malachi Singleton completed an impressive 22 of 24 passes for 291 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Singleton's performance marks the third-best completion percentage in school history (.917) by a passer with more than 10 completions.
 
App State's offense was balanced and aggressive. Quarterbacks spread the ball to 12 different receivers, and nine different players recorded at least one carry. Six different players scored a touchdown.
 
Sam Pickett III led the receiving corps with five catches for 76 yards and two scores. Including Pickett, the top six pass catchers on the day were all App State newcomers, including freshman TE Jamel Howse (four catches for 53 yards) and senior tight end Darrin Fugitt (four for 47 and a TD).  
 
The game's top rusher was Jaquari Lewis with 11 carries for 69 yards and a touchdown. Newcomer Ja'Quez Cross added seven carries for 66 yards, and backup quarterback Henry Hasselbeck had four rushes for 53 yards (with a would-be 75-yard score wiped out due to penalty).
 
Receivers Nate Branch and Jackson Grier both scored touchdowns on running plays, as did newcomer running back Treyaun Webb.
 
App State scored on every offensive possession except its first – punching in six touchdowns and two field goals – and converting seven of eight red zone chances.
 
DEFENSE
 
The Mountaineers allowed their fewest points since a 42-3 win against Robert Morris in 2022.
 
Defensive coordinator DJ Smith's squad allowed only 12 first downs, 52 rushing yards and 6 of 15 third-down conversions.
 
App State's D strung together four straight 3-and-outs before the Black Bears managed their first first down late in the second quarter.
 
Returning All-Sun Belt linebacker and team captain Colton Phares had an all-around performance with four tackles, a sack, an interception and a pass breakup. Last year, he was one of three players nationally with at least 100 tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss and three interceptions.
 
Caleb Sandstrom had the team's other sack.
 
Defensive end Caleb Pitts hauled in the Mountaineers' first interception of the year and the first of his collegiate career.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS
 
In his App State debut, kicker James London went 2-for-2 on field goal attempts (from 31 and 32 yards) and converted all six of his PATs. Nine of his 10 kickoffs went for touchbacks.
 
App State did not punt in the contest.