TEXAS STATE HOSTS APPALACHIAN STATE
The Texas State football team returns to Bobcat Stadium with a two-game winning streak when the Bobcats host defending Sun Belt Conference champion Appalachian State at 3 p.m. Nov. 10. The Bobcats enter the game with a 3-6 overall record and are 1-4 in Sun Belt Conference play after defeating Georgia State, 40-31, in Atlanta last Saturday. Texas State also won its last home game, 27-20, against New Mexico State on Oct. 27.
Appalachian State enters Saturday's game with a 6-2 overall record and a 4-1 Sun Belt mark after winning 23-7 at Coastal Carolina last Saturday. In that game, the Mountaineers didn't allow Coastal Carolina to score an offensive touchdown.
GAME PROMOTIONS
Texas State will be hosting a Veterans Appreciation Day when it recognizes veterans in attendance throughout the game and dedicates a permanent chair for a POW/MIA. A POW/MIA chair remains perpetually empty as a solemn tribute to the soldiers who are not here because of their sacrifices and the men and women in service to our country each day.
The Bobcats will wear military-themed uniforms and helmets during today's game. Texas State will also recognize veterans dating back to WWII and the Korean Wars, recognize the Honor Flight program that escorts veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit memorials. The Texas State Strutters and Bobcat Marching Band will have America-themed performances at halftime.
In addition, Texas State's Alumni Band will attend Saturday's game and Varsity cheerleaders will join Texas State cheerleaders on the sidelines throughout the first half before performing a dance routine at halftime.
ABOUT TEXAS STATE
Texas State looks to win its first Sun Belt Conference home game this season when it hosts Appalachian State. The Bobcats enter the game with a 2-2 record in home games this season after winning 27-20 against New Mexico State on Oct. 27.
Texas State recorded two fumble recoveries at Georgia State and has 11 recovered fumbles to rank third among NCAA FBS leaders and to lead the Sun Belt Conference.
Frankie Griffin forced his third fumble of the season at Georgia State and he ranks 11th in the NCAA Division I FBS and leads the Sun Belt Conference with an average of 0.33 per game.
ABOUT APPALACHIAN STATE
Appalachian State is playing its third straight road game when the Mountaineers play in the State of Texas for the second time. The first time they played in Texas was last season's 20-13 win in San Marcos. In that game, App State's A. J. Howard made a tackle at the one-yard line on the final play.
The victory at Coastal Carolina made App State bowl eligible for the fourth straight year.
Appalachian State leads the league in many categories, including scoring defense (16.9 points), scoring offense (38.3), total defense (285.1 yards), passing defense (157.3) and yards per rush (5.86).
TEXAS STATE vs. APPALACHIAN STATE SERIES
In a series that began in 2004, Texas State has a 0-3 series record and is looking for its first win against Appalachian State. The two schools met for the first time Oct. 2, 2004 in Boone, N.C. when then No. 24 Appalachian State jumped out to a 34-17 lead and was able to stave off a fourth-quarter comeback attempt to post a 41-34 win.
The two teams didn't play again until 2016 after Appalachian State joined the Sun Belt. The Bobcats jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, but the Mountaineers answered with four first-half touchdowns and went on to win 35-10.
Last year, the Bobcats grabbed an early 10-0 lead before Appalachian State took a 17-10 lead with 2:08 left in the third quarter. After both teams exchanged field goals to make the score 20-13 with 4:25 left to play, Texas State drove down the field on its final possession. However,
Elijah King was tackled at the one-yard line as time ran out.
TEXAS STATE STORYLINES
Texas State is ranked 26th nationally in punt returns with an average of 13.43 yards per return after
Hutch White returned
Willie Jones III was recognized for his outstanding performance at Georgia State and named to the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award's Honorable Mention list for week 10 of the college football season. Jones III made his sixth start of the season at Georgia State and threw for 325 yards and two touchdowns when he completed 21 of 26 passes. He is the first Bobcat quarterback to pass for 300 yards in a game this season. Jones III also ran for 62 yards and a TD on 14 carries against the Panthers.
Keenen Brown enters the Appalachian State game as the highest graded tight end in the country through the first 10 weeks of the 2018 season. Brown leads Texas State in receiving with 37 catches for 438 yards and four touchdowns after recording six receptions for 63 yards. Brown had four catches for 50 yards at ULM and four catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns against Louisiana. He tallied season-bests of nine receptions and 124 yards at UTSA. He also had a TD reception against the Roadrunners.
Jeremiah Haydel had two catches for 103 yards and a touchdown at Georgia State with a 93-yard reception for a touchdown. His 93-yard reception from Willie Jones is the third-longest pass play in Sun Belt Conference history. It was his fourth touchdown reception in five games. He had 13 receptions for 301 yards and four touchdowns this season.
Middle linebackers
Bryan London II and
Nikolas Daniels are among the top four Sun Belt Conference leaders in tackles this season. London II ranks second with an average of 8.8 tackles per game. Daniels ranks fourth with a 7.8 average.
NEXT GAME
Texas State will play its final road game of the season traveling to Troy for a Sun Belt game on Nov. 17. The Bobcats close out the regular season against Arkansas State at 3 p.m. Nov. 24.
