Players Mentioned
Thursday Night Matchup Looms for Eagles
10/19/2015 12:27:00 PM | Football
GS to take on Appalachian State in Boone
On a short week of preparation, the Georgia Southern Eagles will head north for a nationally televised contest with Appalachian State on Thursday, Oct. 22. Here's all you need to know about the game:
Game 7: Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015 • 7:30 PM
Location: Boone, N.C. (Kidd Brewer Stadium; 23,150)
Broadcast Information
Online: ESPNU
PBP: Roy Philpott; Analyst: Jay Walker
Radio: Eagle Sports Network
PBP: Chris Blair; Analyst: Terry Harvin; Sidelines: Danny Reed
GS: GAME NOTES (PDF)
The Series
• Georgia Southern and Appalachian State have met 30 previous times with the Mountaineers holding a 16-13-1 lead in a series that dates back to 1932. Appalachian State holds a 13-11 advantage in games played in the modern era (since 1982 when Georgia Southern re-started its program).
• Last season, in both team's first year in the Sun Belt Conference, the Eagles rolled past the Mountaineers 34-14 as Matt Breida (151), Kevin Ellison (135) and L.A. Ramsby (51) combined for 337 yards on the ground. The win broke a three-game losing skid against Appalachian State.
• The prior season, Appalachian State put up 515 yards of total offense at it downed Georgia Southern 38-14.
• Prior to the past two season's lopsided wins, six of the previous seven games in the Georgia Southern-Appalachian State series were decided by seven points or less.
• Tight ends coach Chad Lunsford spent two seasons on the staff at App State as a tight ends coach (2001-2002).
Thursday Night Lights
• The Eagles are 4-1 all-time in games played on Thursdays, 1-1 on the road. Georgia Southern defeated Appalachian State and Troy last season and battled the elements for the victory over Middle Tennessee State in the 1989 "Hugo Bowl," all on Thursdays. GS coach Willie Fritz is 17-2 as a head coach in Thursday night games.
Trouble At The Rock
• Georgia Southern hasn't fared well at Kidd Brewer Stadium over the years, entering Thursday's game on a three-game losing streak. The Eagles haven't won at "The Rock" since 2007 and have been outscored 111-47 during that span. GS is just 4-9 all-time at Kidd Brewer Stadium.
High Altitude
• Kidd Brewer Stadium sits at 3,333 feet above sea level, making it the highest-elevated FBS stadium east of the Mississippi State, easily topping Virginia Tech's Lane Stadium (2,057 feet).
• Georgia Southern already played in Idaho's Kibbie Dome earlier this season, which sports an elevation of 2,610 feet above season level.
• App State boasts a 226-72-5 (.754) all-time home record at Kidd Brewer Stadium, 72-14 in past 86 games.
On Short Rest
• Georgia Southern played a pair of home games last season on short rest (Saturday/Thursday), beating App State and Troy. In 1983, the Eagles lost to Savannah State on short rest. GS is 2-1 all-time in short weeks.
• Head coach Willie Fritz is 2-1 all-time in short weeks, winning both games last year, but falling in 1998 while at Central Missouri.
