Georgia Southern University
4-5 , 2-3
App State
4-5 , 1-4
Eagles Take Down App in Boone, 25-23
11/6/2025 11:54:00 PM | Football
Bryant, defense key big conference win
Quarterback JC French IV turned in one of his best performances of the season, completing 25 of 37 passes for a career-high 352 yards and a touchdown while adding a 3-yard rushing score. The junior directed an offense that rolled up 494 total yards and controlled the ball for more than 32 minutes as the Eagles (4-5, 2-3 Sun Belt) won for just the second time in Boone since 2007.
Georgia Southern came out firing, with French connecting on a 47-yard touchdown strike to Marcus Sanders Jr. less than a minute into the game. Sanders finished with six receptions for a career-high 127 yards, while Camden Brown added six catches for 97 yards and OJ Arnold provided balance on the ground with 105 rushing yards on 20 carries.
Bryant's leg proved to be the difference, as the freshman kicker converted four of five field goal attempts from 21, 26, 23 and 24 yards. His final make early in the fourth quarter gave the Eagles a 25-16 advantage.
App State (4-5, 1-4) rallied late, trimming the margin on AJ Swann's 16-yard touchdown pass to Jaden Barnes with 1:56 left, but Phillip Gladney snagged the ensuing onside kick and the Eagles picked up two first downs, including the final one on 4th and 1, to run out the clock to secure a hard-fought rivalry win in front of 31,876 fans.
Georgia Southern's defense turned in a strong performance against one of the league's top passing attacks. Junior defensive back Ayden Jackson led the way with nine tackles and an interception, while MJ Stroud recorded two sacks and forced a fumble. Former App State linebacker Brendan Harrington had eight tackles in his return to Boone. The Eagles held App State to just 77 rushing yards on 23 attempts.
Up Next: vs. Coastal Carolina, Nov. 15, 6 p.m.
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Team Stats
GSO 6, APP 0
GSO - Sanders Jr.,Marcus 47 yd pass from French IV,JC () 3 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:44
GSO 9, APP 0
GSO - Bryant,Tripp 21 yd field goal 10 plays, 61 yards, TOP 05:02
GSO 16, APP 0
GSO - French IV,JC 3 yd run (Bryant,Tripp kick), 10 plays, 59 yards, TOP 04:19
GSO 19, APP 0
GSO - Bryant,Tripp 26 yd field goal 13 plays, 65 yards, TOP 03:44
GSO 19, APP 3
APP - De Freitas,Dominic 36 yd field goal 9 plays, 57 yards, TOP 01:14
GSO 22, APP 3
GSO - Bryant,Tripp 23 yd field goal 11 plays, 67 yards, TOP 04:32
GSO 22, APP 9
APP - Larkins,David 1 yd pass from Swann,AJ () 11 plays, 78 yards, TOP 04:23
GSO 22, APP 16
APP - Lewis,Jaquari 27 yd run (De Freitas,Dominic kick), 10 plays, 69 yards, TOP 03:57
GSO 25, APP 16
GSO - Bryant,Tripp 24 yd field goal 9 plays, 65 yards, TOP 04:40
GSO 25, APP 23
APP - Barnes,Jaden 16 yd pass from Swann,AJ (De Freitas,Dominic kick) 11 plays, 66 yards, TOP 03:28
