The App State Mountaineers football team, known as the Black and Gold, remains undefeated after securing a 26-21 victory over UNC-Charlotte. The team is now preparing to travel to the Triangle on Saturday to face the North Carolina State University Wolfpack.
Head coach Dowell Loggains expressed satisfaction with his team's resilience during the recent game. The matchup against UNC-Charlotte experienced a significant three-and-a-half-hour delay, forcing players to repeatedly prepare, tape, and uniform, then cool down and warm up again. Loggains commended the staff's efforts in managing food and hydration for the team during the extended wait, stating he was "really proud of how our players responded to a bunch of adversity."
The Mountaineers' offense and senior quarterback Malachi Singleton delivered a strong performance for the third consecutive week. Singleton threw for 331 yards and two touchdowns. He did record an interception late in the game, which allowed Charlotte to narrow the lead to a single possession. Coach Loggains remarked on Singleton's role, noting that the quarterback has the final say in correcting plays and handling pressure. Despite the late interception, Singleton's overall performance earned him the Sunbelt offensive player of the week.
Defensively, the Black and Gold limited the 49ers to just 247 total yards and generated two turnovers, both interceptions. Coach Loggains credited the entire defensive unit, emphasizing that the strong play originated from the line. He highlighted that the team's effective rotation of defensive linemen and edge players simplifies the tasks for the back end of the defense.
Meanwhile, the Wolfpack currently hold a 1-2 record, coming off a heart-wrenching, last-second defeat at Vanderbilt University. In that game, NC State was leading 31-28 with possession on their own 4-yard line and only four seconds remaining. Their quarterback, CJ Bailey, attempted to roll back into his own endzone to take a safety and conclude the game. However, he was stripped of the ball, and Vanderbilt recovered it in the endzone, scoring a touchdown to take the lead with just one second left on the clock.
Previewing the upcoming opponent, Coach Loggains noted that NC State's offensive and defensive lines exhibit the characteristics of an Atlantic Coast Conference team. Given their recent dramatic loss, he anticipates facing "an angry, mad football team" that will require App State to be fully prepared and competitive. The highly anticipated game is scheduled for kickoff at 7:30 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPNU from Raleigh.
