BOONE – Appalachian State football ended the regular season with a 30-29 loss to Arkansas State on Saturday. This marks a brutal end to a disappointing season for the Mountaineers.
The defense started off great, forcing three turnovers and logging three sacks. However, they could not get it done when it mattered and allowed the Red Wolves to go 75 yards in 52 seconds for the game-winning score in the fourth quarter. App State freshman kicker Dominic De Freitas could not connect on what would have been the game-winning field goal on the final play, despite hitting five other times during the game.
“Our thoughts are with our seniors that gave so much to this place and care about it deeply and it was a hard, hard locker room to look in their eyes after the game,” head coach Dowell Loggains said.
Tale of the Tape
Senior running back Rashod Dubinion started the game on the right foot with a nine-yard run on the first play. Freshman Jaquari Lewis followed with a 23-yard rush, moving the Mountaineers into Red Wolves territory.
Redshirt sophomore quarterback JJ Kohl found freshman right end Dillon Galloway for a wide open touchdown opportunity that was dropped. App State settled for a field goal.
Junior quarterback Jaylen Raynor connected with sophomore running back Devin Spencer for the Red Wolves’ initial first down of the game. The Mountaineer defense held firm and sent the ball back to the offense.
A good punt set App State back on their 10-yard line. They could not get out of the shadow of their own endzone and were forced to punt it back.
Arkansas State started its drive in plus territory and moved into the red zone after two completions from Raynor. The defense bent but did not break, allowing just a field goal, tying the score with under three minutes in the first quarter.
A 10-yard reception by Lewis got the next Appalachian State drive going. A few plays later, he broke free for an 18-yard run, moving the Mountaineers inside the 30-yard line at the end of the first quarter. The drive ended with yet another De Freitas field goal and a 6-3 Mountaineers lead.
App State forced a fourth down, but jumped on the punt attempt giving the Red Wolves a first down around midfield. Arkansas State fumbled on fourth and one and the Mountaineers scooped it up.
Kohl connected with redshirt senior Dalton Stroman for a 37-yard touchdown, giving App State a 13-3 lead.
On the next drive, the Red Wolves fumbled and redshirt senior linebacker Kyle Arnholt recovered. However, De Freitas’ field goal attempt was blocked and recovered by Arkansas State.
After two uneventful drives, Arkansas State moved into the red zone with a 43-yard completion. Raynor found redshirt senior wide receiver Corey Rucker for a touchdown.
The Mountaineers failed to field the kick off and the Red Wolves recovered near the 15-yard line. Arkansas State capitalized with Raynor’s second passing touchdown of the day, taking a 16-13 lead.
After a few drives, the Mountaineers were given the ball with 26 seconds remaining. A 17-yard completion and 32-yard run from Kohl set them up for a last second field goal, tying the game at 16 heading into halftime.
Arkansas State started the second half by easily moving the ball down the field, until a sack forced a third and 11, which the Red Wolves could not convert. On fourth down, they missed the field goal off the right post.
The Mountaineers came out firing with a 12-yard completion to redshirt senior tight end David Larkins and a 31-yard completion to redshirt sophomore wide receiver Davion Dozier.
Kohl then found redshirt junior wide receiver Sam Mbake for his first touchdown as a Mountaineer, reclaiming the lead 23-16.
Arkansas State found their way into enemy territory with a 22-yard completion. They slowly found their way into the red zone. On a third down, redshirt junior defensive back Elijah Mc-Cantos was flagged and disqualified for targeting, giving Arkansas State a fresh set of downs inside the 10-yard line.
Raynor connected with Rucker for his second touchdown of the game, tying the game at 23.
App State began its next drive with five rushes from Lewis, moving them across midfield. The drive stalled there and they were forced to punt.
The Red Wolves started the drive with a 37-yard completion, moving out of the shadow of their endzone. Redshirt sophomore linebacker Colton Phares picked off Raynor, swinging the momentum in the Mountaineers’ favor.
De Freitas broke the tie with a 48-yard field goal, making the score 26-23 App State.
The defense stood tall once again forcing a three-and-out, but the offense made nothing of it.
Arkansas State took over around the 30-yard line with eight minutes left. A strong rushing attack got the drive started. The defense stayed in the fight, forcing another punt.
App State came out aggressive and threw the ball to keep the defense on their toes. They then kept it on the ground to chew the clock. A play action to Larkins put the offense in field goal range.
De Freitas made his fifth field goal of the game extending the lead to six, 29-23, with just over a minute and a half left in the ball game.
Arkansas State began its drive at the 25-yard line and had no timeouts. Raynor completed two quick passes to start the drive. They quickly moved across midfield, before Raynor connected with Rucker at the one-yard line. They punched it into the endzone, taking a one point lead with 42 seconds on the clock.
The Mountaineers started the final drive at their own 30-yard line. They quickly moved to midfield. On fourth and one, Kohl connected with Mbake and Larkins to set up the field goal attempt. De Freitas was unable to connect on the field goal try as time expired, his 45-yard attempt pushed wide to the right.
Key Players for the Mountaineers
Kohl played a clean game with no turnovers, while throwing for 271 yards and two touchdowns.
Lewis had 22 carries for 108 yards. If they can keep him out of the portal, he could take a jump for App State next season.
Mbake was able to make up for the absence of junior wide receiver Jaden Barnes, with nine receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown.
Phares is another player the Mountaineers need to keep out of the portal. In this game he recorded seven tackles and a key interception. He has led App State in tackles much of the season.
Key Players for the Red Wolves
Raynor played out of his mind, throwing for 363 yards and three touchdowns.
Junior running back Kenyon Clay stepped in for Spencer, who was injured at the beginning of the third quarter. Clay ran for 52 yards and a touchdown.
Rucker had 10 receptions for 90 yards and two touchdowns. His biggest reception was a 34-yard reception to set up the final touchdown.
Junior linebacker Aaron Alexander led the game with an absurd 16 tackles.
App State Season Recap
This season was disappointing to most, with App State missing out on bowl eligibility with a 5-7 final record. The beginning looked promising as they started 4-2. However, the Mountaineers lost five of their last six games. All fans can do now is wait and see what becomes of their team in this new age of college football. Early signing day for 2026 high school prospects comes this week. The Division I transfer portal opens in early January.
Max Schwanz is the sports editor for The Appalachian, the student newspaper at Appalachian State University. A journalism major and digital marketing minor from Cornelius, N.C., you can find more of his work at The Appalachian.
