App State Athletics
App State fans will get their first look at the Dowell Loggains era inside Kidd Brewer Stadium this Saturday when the Mountaineers welcome Lindenwood for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff on ESPN+.
The Mountaineers opened 2025 in style with a 34-11 win over Charlotte at Bank of America Stadium, giving Loggains his first head coaching victory. Quarterback AJ Swann looked every bit the part in his App State debut, throwing for a program-record 368 yards in a debut performance, along with three touchdowns and no interceptions. His favorite targets included Jaden Barnes, who hauled in six passes for 134 yards and a score, and Dalton Stroman, who set a career high with eight catches.
On the ground, Arkansas transfer Rashod Dubinion gave the offense balance, rushing 22 times for 111 yards and a touchdown while also catching five passes. By night’s end, the Mountaineers had piled up 586 yards of total offense — their most since 2022.
Defensively, first-year coordinator DJ Smith’s unit did its job. App State held Charlotte to just 218 yards of offense, forced a pair of turnovers, and gave up only three points through the first three quarters. Ja’Den McBurrows’ diving interception before halftime set up a true freshman kicker Dominic De Freitas for a 47-yard field goal on his very first collegiate attempt.
Now comes a different type of test. Lindenwood, a Division I FCS program out of St. Charles, Missouri, opened its season with a 35-13 loss to St. Thomas (Minn.). The Lions are still relatively new to Division I, having made the move from Division II in 2022, and Saturday marks their second-ever game against an FBS opponent. They lost at Kansas 48-3 in last year’s opener.
The two schools are meeting for the first time, and the odds heavily favor App State. History says the Mountaineers rarely stumble in these spots — they’re 11-1 against FCS opponents since moving to FBS in 2014, with 10 straight wins.
Expect “The Rock” to be rocking. App State has sold out season tickets four years in a row and Saturday will mark the program’s 12th straight single-game sellout. ESPN recently ranked Kidd Brewer Stadium among the top 25 venues in college football, and the Mountaineers have gone 123-23 at home since 2003.
The mission for Loggains’ team is simple: avoid a letdown, build more chemistry with a roster that featured 16 first-time starters against Charlotte, and keep the momentum rolling before Sun Belt play begins next week at Southern Miss.
If Swann and company come anywhere close to their Week 1 production, App State should be in line to start 2-0 for the first time since 2019.
About the Author
Dalton Tinklenberg is the Founder and Media Director of The Scouting Depot, where he leads comprehensive coverage of college and professional football. He is an active member of some of the most respected organizations in sports journalism, including the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), Maxwell Football Club, Online News Association (ONA), National Football Foundation (NFF), and the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).
Before launching The Scouting Depot, Dalton worked with Blue HQ Media, where he covered major sporting events such as the Indianapolis 500, the College Football Playoff, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Through his professional affiliations and on-the-ground experience, Dalton combines deep knowledge of the game with recognized standards of storytelling, editorial excellence, and authenticity in sports coverage.
