App State picked up their first win of the season after a tough overtime loss to Tennessee last week with a 31-7 win over Old Dominion. In their home opener against the Monarchs, the Mountaineers controlled the game and moved to 62-20-2 in all-time home openers.

With the victory, App State improves to 1-1 on the year while Old Dominion takes their first loss of the season.

The Good:

Quarterback Taylor Lamb was perfect through the air in the first quarter seven-for-seven and 14-for-21 through the day.

Running back Marcus Cox continued to dominate on the ground with his 24th career 100-yard game and sixth three-touchdown game.

Wide receiver Jaquil Capel was a huge target for Lamb with 79 yards in the first half including a 40-yard bomb and finished with a career high 82-yards total.

Like Capel, tight end Barrett Burns was another big target with his own career high of 66 yards and a 30-yard floater from Lamb.

The defensive-line managed to put pressure on ODU quarterback David Washington all night, forcing him to complete only 47 percent of his passes and eventually lead their offense to four punts.

The Bad:

Marcus Cox tweaked his ankle late in the first half, which could be cause for concern as the season progresses.

The special teams unit failed to convert a fake field goal that proved useful multiple times last season.

Lamb was sacked three times throughout the course of the game.

Lamb also threw one interception in the second quarter.

As a team, the Mountaineers drew seven penalties for a total of 72 yards throughout the night.

Career Day:

Marcus Cox ran for his 44th, 45th and 46th career touchdowns and his sixth career three-touchdown game by the second quarter.

Cox also broke the record for the most 100-yard games in Mountaineer history.

Jaquil Capel finished with a career high 82 yards and a career long 40-yard reception.

Barrett Burns set a career high with 66 yards. He had a 30-yard long reception.

Backup QB J.P. Caruso ran in his first career touchdown on a one-yard keeper in the fourth quarter for App’s final touchdown of the night.

Clifton Duck caught his first interception as a true freshman.

Last Week Differences

Last week against Tennessee, the Mountaineers allowed 127 yards on the ground and 192 through the air.

Tonight the Black and Gold struggled with the run game allowing ODU to rush for 157 yards.  David Lawry contributed 120 yards himself breaking a 42-yard run in the first quarter.

The secondary came through tonight as they held ODU quarterback David Washington to 16-34 for 169 yards and managed to pick him off once. The interception came in the corner of the end zone early in the third quarter by Duck.

The interception was the Mountaineers’ second interception in two weeks.

What’s Next?

Appalachian State will square off against the University of Miami next Saturday in what will be the biggest game ever to come to “The Rock.” After an outstanding showing against the No. 9 ranked Tennessee, the Mountaineers look to give the No. 25 ranked Hurricanes a game for the books. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m.  

Story By: Noah Gerringer, Sports Reporter

Photo By: Dallas Linger, Photo Editor