App State Falls Short in Late Comeback vs. Georgia Southern
App State Football staged a determined rally, scoring three touchdowns in the final 20 minutes, yet fell just short of a comeback as Georgia Southern held on for a 25–23 win at Kidd Brewer Stadium on Thursday night.
Game Summary
The Mountaineers trailed 19–0 before Dominic De Freitas connected on a 36-yard field goal to close the first half. Despite being down 22–3, App State narrowed the gap with two touchdowns — a 1-yard reception by David Larkins with 4:51 left in the third quarter and a 27-yard run by Jaquari Lewis early in the fourth.
Georgia Southern managed to extend its lead to 25–16 with a late field goal at the 9:05 mark. App State’s quarterback AJ Swann threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Jaden Barnes with 1:56 left, bringing the score within two points.
Defensive Effort and Key Plays
App State’s red zone defense played a crucial role in keeping the game close, forcing the Eagles to settle for field goals of 21, 26, 23, and 24 yards. The midweek rivalry drew a crowd of 31,876 fans.
Following the final touchdown, Georgia Southern recovered the onside kick but needed to secure a first down as App State still had all three timeouts. They clinched the win with an 11-yard run followed by a successful fourth-and-inches play from the App State 27-yard line with 34 seconds remaining.
“The Mountaineers showed great resilience, but Georgia Southern’s clock management and ground game ultimately sealed their 25–23 victory.”
Game Records
- App State: 4–5 overall, 1–4 conference
- Georgia Southern: 4–5 overall, 2–3 conference
Author’s summary: Despite a fierce late-game push, App State’s surge fell just short as Georgia Southern’s timely runs and smart clock management preserved a narrow two-point win.