Georgia Southern Edges Appalachian State 25-23
On November 7, 2025, Georgia Southern narrowly defeated Appalachian State 25-23 in a thrilling Sun Belt Conference matchup.
Game Summary
JC French IV led the Georgia Southern Eagles with a season-high 352 passing yards, completing 25 of 37 attempts and surpassing 2,000 yards for the season. He connected on a 47-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Sanders Jr. early in the game and also scored on a 3-yard rushing touchdown, helping the Eagles take a 16-0 lead by the middle of the second quarter.
Marcus Sanders Jr. had a standout performance with six receptions for 127 yards. Running back OJ Arnold rushed for 105 yards on 20 carries, while Camden Brown contributed six catches for 97 yards. Kicker Tripp Bryant was perfect on field goals for a career-high 4 of 5 attempts.
Appalachian State Late Rally
The Mountaineers trailed 22-3 midway through the third quarter before quarterback AJ Swann sparked a comeback. Swann threw a short-yardage touchdown pass, followed by a 27-yard touchdown run from Jaquari Lewis early in the fourth quarter, narrowing the gap to 22-16.
Swann finished with 348 passing yards on 34 completions out of 51 attempts, though he also threw an interception. Jaden Barnes was a key target, hauling in 13 passes for 160 yards. Barnes caught a crucial 16-yard touchdown from Swann that capped an 11-play, 66-yard drive with just under two minutes remaining, tightening the score to 25-23.
“The Eagles later converted on second-and-6 to help run out the clock,” securing the victory in the final moments.
Final Notes
- Georgia Southern improved to 4-5 overall and 2-3 in Sun Belt play.
- Appalachian State fell to 4-5 overall and 1-4 in the conference.
Author's summary: Georgia Southern's balanced offense and timely plays held off a late Appalachian State surge to secure a narrow Sun Belt victory.