Nov. 5, 2016 | 2:30 p.m. (CT) | Kidd Brewer Stadium | Boone, N. C.  
ESPN3 | KTSW in San Marcos | 1300 The Zone in Austin | KLUP AM 930 in San Antonio
Watch | Texas State Radio | Live Stats | Game Notes  | Five Things To Know

OPENING KICK
Boone, N. C. – Following its final open date of the regular season, the Texas State football team returns to action this Saturday when the Bobcats travel to Appalachian State for a Sun Belt Conference game at Kidd Brewer Stadium. The game kicks off at 2:30 p.m. (Central).
 
The Bobcats enter the game looking to stop a three-game skid and seeking their first conference victory this season. Texas State has a 2-5 overall record and is 0-3 in Sun Belt play.
 
Meanwhile, Appalachian State enters Saturday's contest with a 6-2 mark and the Mountaineers are 4-0 in Sun Belt Conference contests.  
 
MEDIA COVERAGE
Saturday's game will be televised on ESPN3 with Brock Bowling calling the play-by-play and John Gregory serving as the analyst.
 
The game can be heard live on 1300 The Zone (1300 AM) in Austin, KTSW (89.9 FM) in San Marcos, KLUP the Answer (930 AM) in San Antonio and on www.txstatebobcats.com. Brant Freeman is the play-by-play announcer with Bill Culhane serving as analyst and John McElfresh serving as the sideline reporter.
 
SERIES HISTORY
This is the first time that Texas State and Appalachian State will meet in a Sun Belt Conference game. It is the second meeting overall with the first game coming on October 2, 2004, when both schools were in the NCAA Division I FCS Subdivision. In that game, the Mountaineers were able to stave off a fourth-quarter rally and hold on for a 41-34 victory. The Bobcats fell behind 34-17 before Terrell Harris ran for a three-yard touchdown following an interception and Steven Dietz kicked a 44-yard field goal after a blocked punt to make the score 34-27 with seven minutes to play.
               
The Mountaineers came back to score another touchdown when quarterback Trey Elder ran for a nine-yard TD run, but Texas State came right back and pulled to within 41-34 when Harris ran two yards for another TD with 2:45 left to play. Texas State tried to recover an onside kick, but the Bobcats recovered the ball before it traveled 10 yards, giving the Mountaineers possession at Texas State's 43-yard line.
 
THE COACHES
Saturday's game will be a homecoming of sorts for Texas State head coach Everett Withers, who is in his first season with the Bobcats and has a 27-18 career record following the UL Lafayette game. Withers was a four-year letterman for the Mountaineers in 1981-85 and served as a team captain for Mack Brown in 1983. He also served as a graduate assistant coach in 1987 with the Mountaineers.
 
Scott Satterfield is in his fourth season as a head coach at Appalachian State and enters Saturday's game with a 28-17 career record at the school.
 
SCOUTING TEXAS STATE
In addition to Withers returning to Appalachian State, three members of his coaching staff either played for or coached the Mountaineers. Assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and middle linebackers coach Randall McCray was a two-year letterman as a linebacker and running back, while safeties coach Troy Douglas led the Mountaineers in receiving in 1986 and 1987. Defensive graduate assistant coach Preston Mason also was a student assistant coach for the Mountaineers from 2010-13.
 
Texas State enters the Appalachian State game with a 1-3 record in road games this year after opening the season with a 56-54 triple overtime win at Ohio before dropping decisions at No. 24-ranked Arkansas, Georgia State and ULM.
 
Tyler Jones completed 20 of 28 passes for 142 yards against UL Lafayette. It marks the third time that Jones has completed 70 percent of his passes in a game this year. He also completed a season-high 77.5 percent (31-40) of his passes against Incarnate Word and opened the season with a completion percentage of 72.7 (40-55) at Ohio.
 
Stedman Mayberry led Texas State in rushing and receptions against UL Lafayette when he ran for 54 yards on 17 carries and caught five passes out of the backfield. He has led the Bobcats in rushing during all seven games. He ran 87 yards at ULM after rushing for a season-high 94 yards at Georgia State.
 
Bryan London recorded 23 tackles in Texas State's last two games. London tallied 10 tackles against UL Lafayette after collecting a career-high and game-high 13 tackles at ULM.
 
Gabe Loyd also logged 21 stops in the last two contests with nine tackles against UL Lafayette and a career-best 12 tackles at ULM.
 
Javante O'Roy also had 10 tackles against UL Lafayette to tie London for the team lead. It is the third game in which he has registered 10 or more tackles. He had a career-best 15 stops at Georgia State and began the year with 11 tackles at Ohio.
 
UP NEXT
Texas State returns home to host Idaho in a Sun Belt Conference game on next Saturday, November 12, at Bobcat Stadium. The game will kick off at 3:00 p.m. and be televised on Spectrum Sports and ESPN3.