The Liberty Flames (4-0, 2-0 CUSA) are back in action against Appalachian State (2-2, 0-1 Sun Belt) this week. The Flames and Mountaineers will meet in Boone, North Carolina on Saturday, September 28 at 3:30 PM. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
This will be the 11th all-time meeting between the two programs but first with both teams as FBS members. The Mountaineers currently lead the series, 7-3. The most recent game was October 11, 2014 with Liberty, as an FCS member, defeating the new FBS members in App State, 55-48 in overtime.
Last season, App State finished 9-5 and 6-2 in the Sun Belt. They reached the conference championship game, falling to Troy, 49-23. The Mountaineers then advanced to the Cure Bowl, defeating Miami Ohio, 13-9.
Shawn Clark has returned to his alma mater as head coach. He was an offensive lineman for the Mountaineers from 1994-1998 and was an assistant coach at App State from 2016-2019 before taking over as head coach in 2020. He has posted a 37-20 mark while leading the Mountaineers.
This season, App State is 2-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play. They opened the season with a 38-10 win over FCS ETSU before getting rolled by #22 Clemson, 66-20. The Mountaineers then defeated East Carolina in Greenville, North Carolina, 21-19. Playing last Thursday, App State opened Sun Belt play with an underwhelming 48-14 loss at home to South Alabama.
Joey Aguilar entered the season as one of the top returning Group of Five quarterbacks. Through four games this season, he has completed 93 of 164 passes for 1,230 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. He’s also rushed 17 times for 33 yards.
Anderson Castle leads App with 39 carries for 184 yards and 1 touchdown so far this season. Kanye Roberts has 27 carries for 101 yards.
Kaedin Robinson leads the team with 24 receptions for 375 yards. Christan Horn has 15 catches for 291 yards and 1 touchdown. Makai Jackson has 16 receptions for 196 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Appalachian State is allowing its opponents to score 35.75 points per game so far this season. Certainly much of that is influenced by the 66 points allowed to Clemson. The Mountaineers are giving up 213.3 yards rushing per game and have allowed 10 rushing touchdowns. Opponents are throwing for 240.5 yards per game.
Three Players to Watch For
QB #4 – Joey Aguiilar returns to lead the way for App State at quarterback after assuming the role as the team’s starter last season. He has already throw for over 1,200 yards this season to go along with 6 touchdowns and 3 interceptions.
WR #2 – Kaedin Robinson was an all-conference performer last year, tied for the Sun Belt lead with 1 0 touchdown receptions. He entered 2024 with over 1,300 receiving yards and leads the team in receiving so far this season through four games.
S #21 – DJ Burks leads the team with 30 tackles and also has 2 tackles for loss so far this season. He is a redshirt-sophomore who played in 14 games last season mainly on special teams.
Upcoming Games/Recent Results
Sep. 14 – Appalachian State 21, East Carolina 19
Sep. 19 – South Alabama 48, Appalachian State 14
Oct. 5 – Appalachian State @ Marshall
Oct. 12 – Appalachian State @ Louisiana
