The Georgia Southern Eagles face the Appalachian State Mountaineers in a key Sun Belt Conference matchup on Thursday night. Both teams are seeking a turnaround after inconsistent starts to the season.
Appalachian State’s defense has been solid, particularly against the run, allowing just 110 rushing yards per game. In contrast, Georgia Southern’s defense has struggled, giving up around 240 rushing yards per contest. This significant gap could play a decisive role in the outcome.
Quarterback JC French IV continues to lead the Eagles with 1,677 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, and six interceptions, along with five rushing touchdowns. Despite those strong numbers, the Eagles’ defensive issues have often overshadowed their offensive progress.
The Mountaineers’ offense stumbled in their recent loss to Old Dominion, scoring only 21 points after averaging 39 points in the two previous games. This defeat marked their second consecutive loss, leaving them needing at least two wins from their remaining four games to secure bowl eligibility.
Appalachian State leads the all-time series against Georgia Southern, though the Eagles won last year’s matchup 29-20.
With App State’s strong run defense facing Georgia Southern’s offensive weapon in JC French IV, the game will likely hinge on which side better controls the ground battle.
Author’s summary: Appalachian State’s superior run defense and home-field advantage could give them the edge, though Georgia Southern’s offense has enough talent to keep this one close.