App State Athletics
An exhilarating start and a nerve-racking finish defined App State’s home opener at Kidd Brewer Stadium, as the Mountaineers held on for a 20-13 victory over Lindenwood in front of a sold-out crowd of 34,921.
In head coach Dowell Loggains’ first game at The Rock, App State (2-0) jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter but four turnovers kept the Lions (0-2) in striking distance. The Mountaineers finished with a commanding 503-216 edge in total offense, including holding Lindenwood to minus-1 yard rushing, but had to rely on a late defensive stand to secure the win.
The night couldn’t have started better for App State. Quarterback AJ Swann found Dalton Stroman in stride on the first play from scrimmage for a 72-yard touchdown just 18 seconds into the game. Swann later connected with Jaden Barnes on a 13-yard score to push the lead to 14-0 after one quarter. Barnes has now scored in each of App State’s first two games.
Lindenwood clawed back in the second quarter, capitalizing on an App State turnover to set up an eight-play, 54-yard drive capped by quarterback Nate Glantz’s 1-yard touchdown run. A blocked extra point left the score 14-6 at the half.
App State’s offense stalled after the early fireworks, settling for two short field goals by Dominic De Freitas (29 and 24 yards) in the second half. Rashod Dubinion carried the load on the ground with 25 carries for 194 yards, the most by a Mountaineer since Camerun Peoples set the school record in the 2020 Myrtle Beach Bowl. Stroman added a career-best 141 receiving yards on just three catches, while Swann finished 19-of-34 for 294 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
Defensively, the Mountaineers were relentless. The front seven tallied eight sacks — the most in the program’s FBS era — and 16 tackles for loss. Kevin Abrams-Verwayne, Aiden Benton and Caleb Sandstrom each recorded 1.5 sacks, while Thomas Davis added three tackles for loss. DJ Burks intercepted a pass in the first quarter and forced a fumble, while Elijah Mc-Cantos sealed the game with an interception at the App State 16-yard line with less than two minutes to play.
Still, the turnovers made things interesting. With App State leading 20-6 late in the fourth quarter, Glantz launched a desperation fourth-down heave that found Rico Bond for a 24-yard touchdown. Lindenwood recovered the ensuing onside kick and advanced into Mountaineer territory, but Mc-Cantos’ interception ended the threat and allowed App State to run out the clock.
The win marked the fourth time at the FBS level that App State has won despite committing four turnovers, most recently at ULM in 2023.
App State now turns its attention to Sun Belt play, traveling to Southern Miss next Saturday for its conference opener.
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.
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