App State will return to the High Country to open its Sun Belt schedule, facing Old Dominion University this Saturday at Kidd Brewer Stadium. The game, set for 1 p.m., will be streamed on ESPN+. The Mountaineers, now 3-1, are coming off a bye week following their first loss of the season to North Carolina State University.
During the NC State game on Sept. 26, the Mountaineers were down 21-0 before fighting back to tie the score at 31, though they ultimately lost 31-41. Head coach Dowell Loggains utilized the bye week for a thorough evaluation, making it clear that close calls were not sufficient. Loggains stated, "There are no moral victories," emphasizing the team's need to correct problems identified from game tape and avoid emotional extremes during a long season.
The Mountaineers are now focusing on the Old Dominion Monarchs. While ODU is coming off a 42-10 loss to Georgia State University, Loggains advised looking beyond the scoreboard. He noted that ODU has faced a challenging schedule that included Virginia Tech, East Carolina University, and James Madison University. Loggains suggested that the Monarchs are performing better than their record might indicate and will present a significant challenge for App State.
Senior quarterback Malachi Singleton has been a major asset for the Mountaineers, displaying strong play throughout the season. Loggains explained that App State’s offensive system has been designed around Singleton’s strengths, rather than requiring him to adapt to an incompatible system. This tailored approach, according to Loggains, has fostered Singleton’s comfort and confidence, enabling him to play quickly and effectively.
Despite the team's success in the passing game, Loggains stressed the importance of improving the run game. He confirmed that enhancing the running attack was a significant emphasis during the bye week, especially as the team prepares to face the heart of its schedule. Loggains underscored the necessity for App State to improve its football running game, particularly given the strong performance of the quarterback, receivers, and offensive blocking.
Saturday’s matchup will also serve as a special historical commemoration. Members of the 2006 App State national championship team are scheduled to return to Kidd Brewer Stadium to be honored on the 20th anniversary of their championship season. Loggains described a "special blood kinship" among championship teams and highlighted the importance of championships within the Black and Gold program. For the current Mountaineers, he added, having a championship team present in Boone symbolizes the aspirations they are pursuing.
Twenty years after the 2006 team cemented its place in App State history, another group of Mountaineers will take the field with a desire to prove their capabilities as they begin their Sun Belt conference play.
