Saturday, November 27
Boone, NC
2:30 PM
Georgia Southern University
3-9 , 2-6
3
at
27
App State
10-2 , 7-1
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Georgia Southern
0
0
3
0
3
App State
7
0
10
10
27
Kickoff Return Sparks Appalachian State Football Win over Georgia Southern
11/27/2021 5:45:00 PM | Football
The Eagles see their season come to a close.
BOONE, N.C. – Appalachian State's Jalen Virgil returned a kickoff for a touchdown against Georgia Southern for the second consecutive season as the Mountaineers scored two touchdowns in two minutes, 10 seconds to pull away from the Eagles for a 27-3 Sun Belt Conference football win Saturday afternoon in Kidd Brewer Stadium.
Eagles of the Game:
Michael Edwards III led the Eagles with 10 tackles, and Justin Ellis finished with five tackles and a sack. Amare Jones caught five balls for 56 yards.
Key Moments:
Georgia Southern kicker Britton Williams booted a 38-yard field goal with 53 seconds left in the third quarter to cut Appalachian State's lead to 10-3, but Virgil took the ensuing kickoff 97 yards down the right sideline for the score.
The Mountaineers (10-2, 7-1) forced the Eagles (3-9, 2-6) to go 3-and-out on their next possession, and after a 57-yard punt by Anthony Beck II, Chase Brice went up top to Thomas Hennigan for a 68-yard touchdown pass. Hennigan finished the day with three catches for 111 yards.
Key Stats and Notes:
- Virgil returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown against Georgia Southern last season in Paulson Stadium.
- The Eagles held the ball for over nine minutes longer than the Mountaineers, but Appalachian State tallied 12 tackles for loss and four sacks while holding the Eagles to 194 yards in the contest.
- Georgia Southern wore blue pants for the first time since Nov. 14, 2009, against Furman in Paulson Stadium. It was the first time the Eagles wore blue pants at Appalachian State since Oct. 16, 1999.
- Appalachian State has now won eight of the past 11 games played in the series, and the Eagles fall to 5-12 all-time at "The Rock" in Boone.
Scoring Plays:
APP – 1st, 2:18 - Malik Williams 36-yard pass from Chase Brice (PAT good), 0-7
APP – 3rd, 5:19 – Chandler Staton 40-yard FG, 0-10
GS – 3rd, 0:53 – Britton Williams 38-yard FG, 3-10
APP – 3rd, 0:40 – Jalen Virgil 97-yard kickoff return (PAT good), 3-17
APP – 4th, 13:50 – Thomas Hennigan 68-yard pass from Brice (PAT good), 3-24
APP – 4th, 6:27 – Staton 36-yard FG, 3-27
Eagles of the Game:
Michael Edwards III led the Eagles with 10 tackles, and Justin Ellis finished with five tackles and a sack. Amare Jones caught five balls for 56 yards.
Key Moments:
Georgia Southern kicker Britton Williams booted a 38-yard field goal with 53 seconds left in the third quarter to cut Appalachian State's lead to 10-3, but Virgil took the ensuing kickoff 97 yards down the right sideline for the score.
The Mountaineers (10-2, 7-1) forced the Eagles (3-9, 2-6) to go 3-and-out on their next possession, and after a 57-yard punt by Anthony Beck II, Chase Brice went up top to Thomas Hennigan for a 68-yard touchdown pass. Hennigan finished the day with three catches for 111 yards.
Key Stats and Notes:
- Virgil returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown against Georgia Southern last season in Paulson Stadium.
- The Eagles held the ball for over nine minutes longer than the Mountaineers, but Appalachian State tallied 12 tackles for loss and four sacks while holding the Eagles to 194 yards in the contest.
- Georgia Southern wore blue pants for the first time since Nov. 14, 2009, against Furman in Paulson Stadium. It was the first time the Eagles wore blue pants at Appalachian State since Oct. 16, 1999.
- Appalachian State has now won eight of the past 11 games played in the series, and the Eagles fall to 5-12 all-time at "The Rock" in Boone.
Scoring Plays:
APP – 1st, 2:18 - Malik Williams 36-yard pass from Chase Brice (PAT good), 0-7
APP – 3rd, 5:19 – Chandler Staton 40-yard FG, 0-10
GS – 3rd, 0:53 – Britton Williams 38-yard FG, 3-10
APP – 3rd, 0:40 – Jalen Virgil 97-yard kickoff return (PAT good), 3-17
APP – 4th, 13:50 – Thomas Hennigan 68-yard pass from Brice (PAT good), 3-24
APP – 4th, 6:27 – Staton 36-yard FG, 3-27
Team Stats
GS
APP
Total Yards
194
329
Pass Yards
107
235
Rushing Yards
87
94
Penalty Yards
25
80
1st Downs
15
12
3rd Downs
4
4
4th Downs
2
2
TOP
34:35
25:25
1st Quarter
GS 0, APP 7
APP - Williams,Malik 36 yd pass from Brice,Chase (Staton,Chandler kick) 8 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:06
3rd Quarter
GS 0, APP 10
APP - Staton,Chandler 40 yd field goal 4 plays, 0 yards, TOP 1:12
GS 3, APP 10
GS - Williams,Britt 38 yd field goal 11 plays, 69 yards, TOP 4:20
GS 3, APP 17
APP - Virgil,Jalen 97 yd kickoff return (Staton,Chandler kick)
4th Quarter
GS 3, APP 24
APP - Hennigan,Thomas 68 yd pass from Brice,Chase (Staton,Chandler kick) 1 plays, 68 yards, TOP 0:10
GS 3, APP 27
APP - Staton,Chandler 36 yd field goal 6 plays, 22 yards, TOP 2:26
Game Leaders
CMP
11
TD
0
YDS
107
INT
0
Players Mentioned
P
/ Football
ILB
/ Football
DE
/ Football
RB
/ Football
PK
/ FootballClay Helton Media Availability: National Signing Day (12/3/25)
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