Rapid reactions to App State’s (1-1) home opener against Campbell (0-2) at Kidd Brewer Stadium. The Mountaineers controlled the game from the beginning and never looked back.
The good
It’s hard to point out anything that the Mountaineers didn’t do right in this one.
App State had a strong first half, out-gaining the Fighting Camels 301-58 and taking a 45-0 lead into halftime. Following halftime, a 53-minute inclement weather delay ensued, but the Mountaineers had done their damage and tacked on another 21 points in the second half while holding the Fighting Camels at bay.
The App State offense used a balanced attack to out-gain Campbell 538-95.
Junior quarterback Kameron Bryant looked sharp completing 10 of his 17 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns.
Sophomore running back Marcus Cox rushed for 100 yards for the seventh time in his last 11 starts. Cox also notched a pair of touchdowns.
Junior wide receiver Simms McElfresh turned in a strong game catching five passes for 81 yards and a game-high two touchdowns.
The 66-point margin of victory for the Mountaineers was their largest since defeating Arkansas-Monticello 67-0 in 1941.
The bad
A 53-minute weather delay meant that Kidd Brewer Stadium was a lot emptier in the second half than when the game started. More than 25,000 showed up, but less than a few hundred remained to see App State complete the blowout.
Other than sparse attendance late, everything went well for App State.
Bryant threw one interception, when he lobbed a shovel pass into the hands of a Fighting Camels defensive lineman. The interception was App State’s first turnover of the season.
Suffocating defense
After giving up 52 points to the talented Michigan Wolverines, the App State defense responded boldly, shutting out the Camels and holding them to 95 yards and only six first downs for the night.
The defense contributed to the scoreboard, as well, when junior defensive back Doug Middleton picked off a Campbell pass and took it 52-yards for a touchdown.
The App State defensive was so stout that it took Campbell nearly 20 minutes of game time to achieve a first down by a way other than a penalty.
Balanced offensive attack
The Mountaineers took advantage of both methods of moving the ball against Campbell, passing for 245 yards and rushing for 293.
Three quarterbacks saw the field for the Mountaineers as Bryant, freshman Taylor Lamb and senior Logan Hallock all took snaps behind center.
Bryant and Lamb saw the most action and looked comfortable. Lamb completed five of his 10 passes and tossed a touchdown in relief of Bryant.
Running backs Marcus Cox, Terrence Upshaw and Ricky Fergerson all saw playing time and scored touchdowns, as well.
Fergerson’s two touchdowns were the first of his college career. The junior finished with 48 yards on eight carries.
Upshaw, a redshirt freshman, also found the endzone for the first time in his career. He finished with 41 yards on four carries to compliment his touchdown run.
What’s next?
The Mountaineers have a bye week before taking on Southern Mississippi on the road Sept. 20. Kickoff for that contest is set for 7 p.m.
Story: Cory Spiers, Sports Editor