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Dan Davidson

Dan Davidson, Sports Editor

Dan Davidson (he/him) is a junior journalism major, recreation management minor, from Mooresville, NC. This is his third year with The Appalachian. 

All content by Dan Davidson
Senior tight end Henry Pearson sheds a Trojan tackler in App States 32-28 victory over Troy Sept. 17, 2022.

5 takeaways from App State’s Hail Mary win over Troy

September 22, 2022
Redshirt sophomore receiver Kaedin Robinson picks up a first down against Troy Sept. 17, 2022.

App State receiving core begins new era

September 20, 2022
Sophomore receiver Christian Horn collects a tipped hail mary and sprints to the end zone as time expires vs. Troy Sept. 17, 2022.

Mountaineers outlast Trojans in new ‘Miracle on the Mountain’

September 18, 2022
Frontline fans in the student section cheer and yell in excitement for the kickoff of the 2022 season. Students were camped out as early as 6 a.m. for the in-state matchup.

A game day to remember: The day the Heels came to Boone

September 11, 2022
Redshirt senior quarterback Chase Brice winds up for a pass against Carolina Sept. 3, 2022. Brice threw for 361 yards and a career-high six touchdowns in the 63-61 thriller.

Mountaineers fall in heartbreaking, sellout opener, 63-61

September 4, 2022
Mountaineer fans show their support during a 31-7 victory over South Alabama Nov. 13, 2021. App State is expecting a record crowd at Kidd Brewer Stadium for the 2022 season opener versus North Carolina.

Guide to Game Day: UNC

September 2, 2022
App State volleyball celebrates its set-winning point against ETSU to put them up 2-0 in their August 18, 2022, exhibition match.

Volleyball opens 1-2, Rumely Noble secures first win

August 30, 2022
Senior cheerleader Hector Sanchez running through the end-zone carrying the App State flag after a touchdown.

Mountaineers and Wolfpack agree to home-and-home football series

August 30, 2022
App State released a new app Monday, providing information and services for fans of every Mountaineer sports team.

App State Athletics launches official app for Mountaineer sports

August 17, 2022
App State football head coach Shawn Clark leads his team into Kidd Brewer Stadium for the first time during his second season in the role Sept. 18, 2021. Clark opens his third season as the Mountaineer head coach in 2022 against North Carolina.

Mountaineers welcome Tar Heels for football season opener

August 17, 2022
Senior guard Justin Forrest poses outside of the Holmes Convocation Center March 28, 2022.

Senior guard, No. 2 scorer in App State history graduates after historic career

April 13, 2022
Junior forward Donovan Gregory initiates the Mountaineer offense against USC Upstate March 15, 2022.

App State concludes season with 80-74 loss in College Basketball Classic

March 15, 2022
Redshirt junior guard Janay Sanders elevates over a Warhawk defender for a floater in App States 67-61 victory against ULM Jan. 22.

Women’s basketball splits weekend in Georgia, concludes road schedule 5-7

February 16, 2022
Randall Diabe, an assistant wrestling coach, competed for App State until his graduation in 2019, qualifying for the NCAA Championships twice and ranking No. 16 nationally by the NCAA Coaches Panel his senior year.

Mountaineer wrestling coach continues career, legacy at App State

February 9, 2022
Track and field head coach Damion McLean watches over his team at the Weems Baskin Invitational during the 2021 season.

App State’s Black coaches use leadership positions to nurture athletes

February 9, 2022
Shawn Clark and Tyson Helton answer questions at the pre-bowl press conference.

Mountaineers rally behind WKU after devastating tornadoes

January 11, 2022
Super senior Michael Almonacy stares down the basket as the Cameron Crazies heckle him. Almonacy led the Mountaineers with 17 points.

Mountaineers finish winless in Tobacco Road trip

December 22, 2021
Super senior receiver Jalen Virgil sprints past a Western Kentucky defender en route to the end zone. Virgil caught three passes for 75 yards and one touchdown in his final game as a Mountaineer.

Mountaineers fall to Western Kentucky in shootout, drop first bowl game

December 19, 2021
Senior linebacker D’Marco Jackson stares down Louisiana quarterback Levi Lewis before the snap. Jackson led the Mountaineers in solo tackles, tackles for loss and quarterback hurries.

Mountaineers topped by Ragin’ Cajuns in third Sun Belt Championship

December 5, 2021
Graduate transfer quarterback Chase Brice directs the App State offense against rival Georgia Southern. Brice finished his career as a Mountaineer undefeated at home, winning by an average of 19.5 points at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

Mountaineer football shuts down Georgia Southern 27-3, celebrates Senior Day

November 27, 2021
Super senior guard Michael Almonacy rises for a three-point attempt against Charlotte. Almonacy scored five points on 22% shooting against the 49ers.

Men’s basketball opens Gulf Coast Showcase against Delaware

November 22, 2021
Senior Brooke Bigott commands the offense against the Tar Heels in Carmichael Arena. Bigott has recorded 15 points and 11 steals after starting the first four games of the season.

Mountaineers beat Eagles, get doubled by Tar Heels

November 20, 2021
Senior linebacker Trey Cobb celebrates with teammates after one of his two interceptions against South Alabama. Cobb has three career picks, all coming in the past three games.

Mountaineers’ defense shines in 31-7 Heroes Day victory

November 14, 2021
Sophomore guard Faith Alston drives into the lane against Charlotte. Alston averaged 4 points and 2.5 assists per game as a freshman.

App State women’s basketball reloads heading into 2021-22 season

November 9, 2021
Junior running back Cam Peoples celebrates after scoring his first touchdown of the day against the University of Louisiana at Monroe Oct. 30. Peoples found the end zone twice in the 59-28 beating of the Warhawks.

Mountaineers continue Sun Belt quest against struggling Red Wolves

November 2, 2021
Super senior receiver Malik Williams beats ULM safety Nick Roberts to the ball in the end zone to score App States second touchdown of the day. Williams’ 15th career receiving touchdown earns him eighth most in App State history.

App State trounces ULM 59-28, two Mountaineers break records

October 30, 2021
App State defeated Old Dominion in S.B. Ballard Stadium in a 49-0 trouncing in 2015. The Mountaineers have won by an average of 36.5 points in their two meetings with the Monarchs.

Old Dominion joins Sun Belt Conference

October 27, 2021
Southern Miss defeated App State 21-20 in 2014 in the only ever matchup between the two programs. After the Mountaineers scored a late touchdown to come within one point, the Golden Eagles blocked the extra point attempt and won by one.

Sun Belt welcomes Southern Miss, first addition since 2015

October 26, 2021
Head coach Shawn Clark leads the Mountaineers onto the field in their conference matchup with Louisiana. Clark is now 0-2 against the Ragin’ Cajuns, the only two losses to Louisiana in program history, and sits at 0-1 against Coastal Carolina, the program’s only loss to the Chanticleers.

Mountaineers seek to keep title hopes alive against No. 14 Chanticleers

October 20, 2021
Gage Blackston, senior food systems management major, enrolled at App State to pursue football as a physical therapy major. He decided to undergo a major change once he rediscovered his love of cooking around the same time.

App State football player to tackle New York culinary school

October 5, 2021
Sophomore Nate Noel eludes multiple Panthers as he racks up some of his 74 rushing yards on the day. Noel also ran in a 22-yard touchdown in the first quarter, his first score of the year.

Mountaineers cage Panthers in 45-16 conference opener

October 3, 2021
Super senior receiver Thomas Hennigan stiff arms a defender on one of his nine receptions on the night. Hennigan caught nine of his 10 targets, racking up 123 receiving yards against the Thundering Herd.

Mountaineers corral Thundering Herd in 31-30 victory

September 24, 2021
Junior forward Donovan Gregory drives to the basket in last years home matchup against South Alabama. The Charlotte native started in all 28 games that he participated in, averaging 10.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game on 50% shooting.

Men’s basketball schedule breakdown

September 6, 2021
Junior running back Cam Peoples sprints to the end zone, scoring his first of two touchdowns on the day. The 6-2 back posted 100 rushing yards on 14 attempts while splitting the backfield with sophomore Nate Noel, who accumulated 126 yards on 15 rushes.

Abandon ship: Mountaineers sink Pirates in season opener

September 3, 2021
Senior Grace Morrison celebrates with her teammate, junior Daryn Armstrong, after scoring a point. Armstrong enters her senior season after totaling 55 kills and 52 blocks over her first three years in the Black and Gold.

App Nation Previews: Volleyball

August 23, 2021
The Mountaineers march into The Rock ahead of their late 2020 matchup with Troy. Sophomore running back Nate Noel enters 2021 after posting 510 yards on 82 carries in 10 games as a freshman. He tacked on three touchdowns in those 10 games.

App Nation Previews: Football

August 22, 2021
Fans were welcomed to Kidd Brewer Stadium for the first time in 2020 to see the Mountaineers capture a 45-17 win over Arkansas State. A limited crowd of 2,100 people were allowed to attend.

App State Athletics to operate at full capacity come fall

May 30, 2021
This iconic view from the top of Rough Ridge helped it earn the title of Best Hiking Trail for the second year in a row in 2021.

Best of Boone 2021: Best of Lifestyle

May 1, 2021
Former App State guard Pre Stanley (pictured at center) signed the first WNBA contract in program history April 16, inking a training camp deal with the Washington Mystics.

Pre Stanley signs first WNBA contract in program history

April 28, 2021
The Watauga County National Interscholastic Cycling Association team, founded in 2016, allows local kids to benefit from being part of a cycling team. Thirty five kids are currently on the team. “Through NICA, athletes can learn how to work hard for a goal and build skills to reach that goal,” first-year NICA coach Melissa Weddell said.

App State professors help young people through mountain biking

April 15, 2021
App State freshman track athlete Bianca Copeman in action at the Weems Baskin Invitational March 27 in Columbia, SC. Earlier in the season in her first collegiate meet, she broke into the App State record books, finishing the 1000-meter run in the sixth fastest time in school history.

Freshman mid-distance runner enters App State record books after first career race

March 30, 2021
App States basketball team celebrates its first ever Sun Belt title at the teams welcome-home gathering outside the Holmes Center in Boone March 9. Junior guard Adrian Delph (center) holds the conference championship trophy.

App State vs. Norfolk State: what to watch for in Mountaineers’ first NCAA tourney game in 21 years

March 18, 2021
The App State bench celebrates during a loss to Troy Jan. 29 at the Holmes Center in Boone. The Mountaineers won two Sun Belt tourney games on a run to the conference semifinals, before falling to East division No. 1 seed Troy 63-60 Sunday in Pensacola, Florida.

App State women’s basketball wins two games, falls in Sun Belt tournament semis

March 10, 2021
App State students and fans celebrate on King Street in Boone following the Mountaineers Sun Belt tournament championship win Monday night in Pensacola, Florida. “I’m just really happy for our players that they get to experience the NCAA tournament,” second-year head coach Dustin Kerns said.

“It means the world:” Mountaineers capture first ever Sun Belt crown, secure NCAA bid

March 9, 2021
App State womens basketball players catch their breaths during a timeout against Coastal Carolina Feb. 13 in Boone. Senior forward Lainey Gosnell (pictured at center, looking down) led the Mountaineers to a pair of wins over Georgia Southern in the final series of the regular season this past weekend. She was named Sun Belt Player of the Week on Monday.

Gosnell shines on Senior Day as App State women’s basketball sweeps Georgia Southern

March 2, 2021
Though Kidd Brewer Stadium wont host any games for some time, its athletic facility neighbor, Holmes Convocation Center, will welcome some public fans this weekend for the first time this season.

Executive order allows App State fans to cheer at games

February 26, 2021
App State senior guard Justin Forrest drives towards the lane during the Mountaineers Senior Day 56-54 loss to South Alabama on Saturday. Forrest led the Mountaineers with 20 points in the game to go along with six rebounds.

App State men’s basketball swept by South Alabama after three-week hiatus

February 23, 2021
App State senior Codi Russell wrestles against Chattanoogas Fabian Gutierrez in Boone on Sunday. Russell won the matchup of top-25 ranked opponents with a 4-3 decision.

App State wrestling goes 2-0 in SoCon duals on Senior Day

February 4, 2021
App State head coach Dustin Kerns coaches the Mountaineers against Bowling Green at the Holmes Center on Nov. 30.

App State MBB halts all team activities after four positive COVID-19 cases

February 2, 2021
App State senior forward Lainey Gosnell takes a corner three on Friday in the Mountaineers loss to Troy.

App State WBB drops home weekend series to Troy

February 1, 2021
Former App State sophomore forward Kendall Lewis sets up for a three during the Mountaineers 78-76 overtime loss to Bowling Green Nov. 30 in Boone.

Former App State MBB starter Kendall Lewis enters transfer portal

January 31, 2021
Senior guard Pre Stanley (#5) shoots a layup during an App State womens basketball preseason practice. Stanley, who was named to the preseason all-Sun Belt second team, is making the switch from shooting guard to point guard in 2020.

App State women’s basketball looks to turn corner in 2020

November 20, 2020
Capacity and staff needs haven’t changed much, stated General Manager Colin Swaney of Black Cat Burrito, as the restaruant’s physical size is small and take-out orders have made up for any lack of dine-in customers. However, they continue to “play it by ear, week by week,” Swaney continued, as the visitor population has declined.

Without normal App State football game days, local restaurants struggle

November 13, 2020
App State picked up its first road win of the year and moved to 2-0 in Sun Belt play with a 31-13 win over ULM Saturday.

App State wins second conference game with 31-13 win at ULM

November 1, 2020
App State volleyball has dealt with a lot so far in 2020, and the team is grateful for what they do have. I just want to remember this season and be thankful for the opportunities I have, senior Grace Morrison (above) said.

“Control what you can:” App State volleyball makes the most of each opportunity

October 18, 2020
App State volleyball announced 100% of its roster is registered to vote in the 2020 election in a tweet Oct. 6.

App State volleyball 100% registered to vote

October 8, 2020
App State senior running back Daetrich Harrington rushed for 211 yards and 4 touchdowns during the Mountaineers 52-21 win over Campbell Sept. 26. He became the first Mountaineer to rush for 4 TDs in a game since Armanti Edwards in 2009.

App State cruises past Campbell 52-21 despite 20+ players out due to coronavirus

September 27, 2020
App State senior defensive end and captain Elijah Diarrassouba is a leader on and off the field. He helped organize and took the lead on speaking at the protest against racial injustice the team led thru Boone Aug. 28.

Diarrassouba leads Mountaineers: “When Soub speaks, everybody listens”

September 13, 2020
Head football coach Shawn Clark hoists the New Orleans Bowl trophy after App States 31-17 win over UAB on Dec. 21.

Breaking down each position group for App State football heading into 2020

September 11, 2020
Virtual Fan Fest for App State fall sports set for Aug. 20

Virtual Fan Fest for App State fall sports set for Aug. 20

August 19, 2020

App State athletics announces Hall of Fame Class of 2021

August 6, 2020
App State and Wake Forest cancel 2020 football game

App State and Wake Forest cancel 2020 football game

August 5, 2020
App State student and football video team member Vince Fortea shoots during a game in 2019. The football video team won first place in the Short Social category at this years SAVVY awards.

App State football video team wins national SAVVY award for third straight year

June 15, 2020
With no pro day, App State NFL Draft prospects hope their film will be enough

With no pro day, App State NFL Draft prospects hope their film will be enough

April 24, 2020
Sun Belt cancels all organized athletics-related events

Sun Belt cancels all organized athletics-related events

March 16, 2020
Junior guard Justin Forrest drives in App States early season matchup with Michigan. Forrest became the first Mountaineer to ever make the all-Sun Belt first team after finishing second in scoring in the conference.

First team all-Sun Belt selection Justin Forrest leads sixth seeded App State into conference tournament

March 8, 2020
Senior forward Isaac Johnson dunks the ball over a defender in the Mountaineers game against Coastal Carolina. Johnson recently scored his 1000th career point this season and feels it is a blessing.

1,000 point scorer Isaac Johnson reflects ahead of final Sun Belt tournament run

March 5, 2020
Kobe Bryant: impacting communities from west to east

Kobe Bryant: impacting communities from west to east

February 27, 2020
Freshman wing Kendall Lewis scored a career-high 24 points and grabbed seven rebounds in App States loss at Georgia State on Feb. 13.

Men’s basketball falls 76-65 on the road against Georgia State

February 14, 2020
Junior guard Pre Stanley finished with 28 points in App States 83-80 2OT win over Coastal Carolina on March 7. Stanley and the Mountaineers begin postseason play Tuesday when they take on Arkansas at Little Rock at 7 p.m.

Four Mountaineers reach double figures as women’s basketball defeats South Alabama

February 14, 2020
Senior heavyweight Cary Miller takes hold of an opponent from Duke University during their face off on Jan. 24. Mill- er is a Greensboro native and has wrestled since middle school.

Cary Miller: an imposing figure with a smiling face

January 31, 2020
Senior guard OShowen Williams recorded the first double-double of his career in App States 83-80 overtime win over Arkansas State on Jan. 16.

App State defeats Arkansas State 83-80 in overtime thriller

January 17, 2020

Clark adds former Mountaineer as Director of Athletic Performance

January 16, 2020
App State junior guard and leading scorer Justin Forrest drives during the Mountaineers 64-55 win over Charlotte on Nov. 21.

Mountaineers struggle in second half, fall to Louisiana

January 9, 2020
App State wide receiver Corey Sutton scores a touchdown in the first quarter of App States 35-13 win over Texas State in 2019. On Sept. 1, Sutton announced he was opting out of the 2020 season.

Mountaineers clinch Sun Belt East with 35-13 win over Texas State on Senior Day

November 23, 2019
Guard OShowen Williams drives during App States 68-62 win over East Carolina on Nov. 12. Williams and teammate Isaac Johnson inked pro deals with European teams this week.

Mountaineers remain undefeated at home with 64-55 win over Charlotte

November 22, 2019
Senior captain and linebacker Jordan Fehr helps make a tackle in App States 24-21 loss to Georgia Southern on Oct. 31.

Making an impact: Football captain Jordan Fehr leads on and off the field

November 14, 2019
True freshman Nick Ross intercepts the first pass of his career and returns it 20 yards for a touchdown against USC.

Mountaineers rule the Carolinas, beat USC 20-15

November 10, 2019
Senior forward Isaac Johnson fights through traffic under the basket at home against Texas State on Jan. 12.

App State men’s basketball dominates in home opener

November 8, 2019
Senior guard Justin Forrest attacks the rim in App States 104-77 win over Louisiana on Jan. 31.

Under new coaching staff, men’s basketball looks to compete right away

October 9, 2019
Junior defensive lineman Demetrius Meech Taylor intercepts a pass from UNC quarterback Sam Howell in App States 34-31 win over the Tar Heels on Sept. 21.

Demetrius Taylor terrorizing opposing quarterbacks in 2019

October 4, 2019
The Appalachian State Volleyball team celebrates a point from a spike during a home game against Georgia Southern in 2017. The Mountaineers currently sit at 2-4 and will host Iowa State in the Appalachian Invitational on Sept. 13

Volleyball opens season, goes 2-4 across two invitationals

September 12, 2019

Newcomers profile: Mountaineers add 18 freshman, three grad-transfers for 2019

September 5, 2019
Senior captain & linebacker Jordan Fehr stretches as defensive coordinator/inside linebackers coach Ted Roof look on during App States 2019 fall camp. // Photo courtsey of App State Athletics

Linebackers profile: Trio of seniors lead experienced App State LB group

September 4, 2019
Junior wide receiver Jalen Virgil scores the first rushing touchdown of his career in the fourth quarter of App State’s 42-7 win over ETSU on Saturday.

Game Day Grades: App State vs East Tennessee State

September 1, 2019
Redemption is on the mind of the App State volleyball team. Last year, they won the East division of the Sun Belt before falling to Texas State in the championship game.

Volleyball sets sights on elusive Sun Belt title in 2019

August 27, 2019
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