Despite a furious comeback, App State fell to North Carolina A&T in their home opener at Kidd-Brewer Stadium on Saturday.
The Mountaineers trailed 21-6 entering the fourth quarter, brought it within three points and then missed a game-tying field goal with two seconds on the clock.
“The mark of a champion is when the chips are against you to keep fighting and not to quit or give up,” Mountaineer head coach Scott Satterfield said. “And that’s what [the team] did, and we about came back and put it into overtime.”
Following the loss, App State drops to 0-2 for the first time since 2009, and only the third time in the last 20 seasons. The defeat also snaps a 32-game home win streak versus in-state opponents, according to appstatesports.com.
Before exiting the game at halftime, quarterback Jamal Londry-Jackson opened the game with a 35-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Marcus Cox. This was the true freshman’s first collegiate touchdown.
“Those are always the hardest catches,” Cox said in response to how open he was. “Because no one’s around you get nervous, you get the big eyes. But I just focused, and caught it.”
N.C. A&T responded quickly and halted the momentum by returning the ensuing kickoff for a 91-yard touchdown untouched.
The Aggie defense also got on the board as linebacker D’vonte Grant returned a Londry-Jackson pass back 57 yards for a touchdown to enter halftime ahead.
“Obviously what stands out in the game is the kickoff return for a touchdown and the pick-six,” Satterfield said. “I mean those are 14 points that you would love to have back. And you get those back, and it’s a potential different ballgame.”
After the 30-6 loss to Montana last week, App State has now lost the turnover battle 2-1 both weeks.
“It hurts, you know, to come back and lose another one, but our kids didn’t quit fighting,” Satterfield said. “It doesn’t matter who you play you can’t turn the football over and give up touchdowns or big plays on special teams.”
Entering the second half, the Mountaineers called on sophomore quarterback Kameron Bryant to finish the game. Bryant completed 21-31 for 191 yards and two touchdowns.
“Just getting more reps has helped a lot,” Bryant said. “I do feel like I’m getting a little more comfortable, you know, with every play and every situation I’m getting in and just being able to go out there and do it on a big stage is definitely helping.”
App State now enters a bye week before traveling to play at Elon on Sept. 21.
Story: NICK JOYNER, Intern Sports Reporter
Photo: PAUL HECKERT, Senior Photographer