App State Stands As much as Late Challenges in Residence Win Over Oregon State

BOONE, N.C. — No opponent has ever traveled farther to face App State at The Rock. The Mountaineers’ protection made positive Oregon State did not go the gap at any level throughout a dramatic, stifling set of purple zone stands within the fourth quarter.
 
Welcoming a Pac-12 opponent that crossed the continent to play within the High Country, App State constructed an early lead and by no means trailed regardless of being challenged by three late scoring threats from the Beavers in a 27-23 victory Saturday with a sold-out crowd of 35,021 filling Kidd Brewer Stadium.
 
Colton Phares, Ronnie Porter, Myles Farmer, Rondo Porter, Juan Berchal and Zyeir Gamble all made key contributions as DJ Smith‘s protection stored Oregon State’s offense from scoring throughout a nailbiting finish to their first-ever assembly.

“Today, we showed what this place is about and who these kids are,” first-year head coach Dowell Loggains mentioned. “They played with all their heart.”

 

The Mountaineers (3-2) held a 27-21 lead when Phares got here down with an end-zone interception on a third-and-goal move early within the fourth quarter.

 

The Beavers regained possession after a three-and-out punt and had a primary down on the App State 3 earlier than being stuffed on 4 straight runs from Anthony Hankerson. The officers initially dominated a landing on the third-and-goal Wildcat carry from the 1 with 1:58 left, however a evaluate confirmed that Ronnie Porter and Farmer had stopped Hankerson in need of the objective line. Hankerson took one other direct snap on fourth down, and Farmer tripped him up behind the road earlier than Phares completed off the play for a 2-yard loss.

 

Oregon State (0-6) had all three of its timeouts left as App State took over at its personal 3 with 1:49 left, so the Mountaineers weren’t going to have the ability to run out the clock and not using a first down, bringing the opportunity of App State taking an intentional security into play.

 

Disaster practically struck when the Beavers pressured a fumble on a second-down carry. With the ball unclaimed ultimately zone, beginning quarterback JJ Kohl jumped on it to forestall Oregon State from scoring a go-ahead landing.

 

Instead, the Mountaineers allowed an unintentional security that also left them with a four-point lead and the power to execute a free kick from the 20-yard line reasonably than a punt from their very own finish zone.

 

The Beavers shortly moved into scoring vary and had a primary down on the App State 25 earlier than Rondo Porter’s sack for a 13-yard loss backed up Oregon State with 25 seconds left. Maalik Murphy hit standout receiver Trent Walker in stride on a crossing route in entrance of App State’s bench, however Berchal jarred the ball free by delivering a shoulder-led hit to Walker’s chest. The ball popped into the air, and Gamble bobbled it 4 instances earlier than securing a game-sealing interception.

 

App State jumped forward 17-0 and by no means relinquished the lead, though there have been loads of nervous moments. Making his first begin at quarterback instead of a sidelined AJ Swann, Kohl adopted a 49-yard discipline objective from Dominic De Freitas with a 6-yard landing run halfway by means of the primary quarter, and Rashod Dubinion (98 dashing yards) scored on a 2-yard run with 3:38 left within the interval.

 

Kohl’s first landing move in an App State uniform was a 28-yard connection within the third quarter with Davion Dozier, who made 4 catches for 140 yards in his second profession look for the Mountaineers. Kohl accomplished 13 of his 28 move makes an attempt for 218 yards.

 

Farmer’s pressured fumble on a kickoff return that adopted De Freitas’ early discipline objective and Ronnie Porter’s restoration arrange App State’s first landing, and Dozier’s 68-yard acquire to the Oregon State 5 preceded the second landing. De Freitas additionally made a 45-yard discipline objective, which turned a 24-21 edge right into a 27-21 benefit late within the third quarter.

 

Trailing 17-0 within the second quarter, Oregon State missed a 28-yard discipline objective however adopted an App State punt with a two-play drive that included a 37-yard move and a 30-yard landing run. The Mountaineers moved into OSU territory on the following collection, however as a substitute of doubtless constructing the margin to 24-7, App State’s lead was shortly reduce to 17-14, with a drop on the 13 on a deep throw previous a punt by the Mountaineers.

 

Oregon State responded by driving 93 yards on eight performs, with the massive second occurring when Caleb Sandstrom’s stress pressured Murphy to ship a wobbly, excessive throw downfield into heavy visitors. The ball went by means of the fingers of a camped-out defender and ended up as an inconceivable 22-yard reception to the App State 34, and a long term on the following play arrange Murphy’s 3-yard landing move.

 

App State missed a discipline objective late within the half however had possession to start out the third quarter and transformed a fourth-and-1 run from their very own 33 early in a 13-play, 76-yard drive that lasted greater than six minutes.

 

Oregon State answered with a landing of its personal, and De Freitas’ discipline objective within the closing minute of the third quarter set the stage for a low-scoring however memorable closing quarter.

App State is again in motion subsequent Saturday with a Sun Belt Conference recreation at East Division opponent Georgia State. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.