Hawk Commander, Eagle Tamer
Well Mountaineer fans, we've done it again. As we have reached the mid-point of the season I think it's safe to say we have a pretty darn good football team on our hands. The Mountaineers defeated the Louisiana-Monroe (ULM) Warhawks on Saturday in a very convincing fashion to grab their fifth win of the season, and second in the Sun Belt. After a slow start, the Mountaineers RALLIED to a 59-14 over ULM. Yes, Monroe, Louisiana is the home of the famed Duck Commander, but the Mountaineers were the hawk commanders in this one. There wasn't a doubt in my mind in the game that we would win, but I will admit that I was a bit nervous during the early parts of this game. The team had seemed to step away from what has brought them success thus far this season, and it was a bit discouraging. But no sooner than I started complaining, the boys turned it on. And I mean they TURNED IT ON. An interception by App State LB Eric Boggs sparked the Mountaineers rally, and there was no turning back after that. The Mountaineers are averaging 31 points per game on the season, while holding their opponents to an average of 11.8 points per game. This number has the Mountaineer scoring defense as top five in the country. So, the ULM game is over. That can only mean one thing. IT'S OFFICIALLY GEORGIA SOUTHERN HATE WEEK!!
Simms McElfresh and Malachi Jones Celebrate Against ULM
Photo By: Allyson Lamb
This Thursday night is going to be a big one in Boone, NC. The Mountaineers are set to take on arch-rival Georgia Southern in a nationally televised night game. The rivalry between App and GaSo is very heated, and dates back to their days in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS.) Both schools were dominate FCS program and share NINE FCS titles (GaSo with 6, App with 3.) The two schools moved up together to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) in 2014. The relationship between the schools is like a love/hate bromance. They hate each other, but knew they couldn't live without each other in the same conference. The passion these two schools have was pretty much unmatched in FCS, and now they take their passion and hate for one another into the FBS.
The overall series between the two schools is pretty even. Appalachian leads the all-time series 16-13-1. But in recent years it has been pretty lopsided in App State's favor. App has won 8 of the last 12 vs. GaSo. My goal in college was to make it all the way through without losing to GaSo. That dream was crushed last year when GaSo embarrassed App State on national televsion in their first ever meeting as FBS schools. But now, it's time for revenge. This Mountaineer team is the best I have seen during my years in college. In all three phases of the game, this team is just complete. It's the best way I can describe it. The Mountaineers will come into the game as 5.5 point favorites. But, as anyone who watches sports should know, absolutely ANYTHING can happen in a rivalry game of this magnitude. This should prove to be App's toughest game of the season thus far (besides Clemson, of course.) But, with the way this team has been playing and the fact that we will have home field advantage, I don't see why App State doesn't come away with the victory.
Alright fans, it's the game we have all been waiting for for a year. The time has finally come, and it's our turn to show the nation what kind of fans we are. I have no doubt that we have some of the most passionate fans in the country, and it's time to prove it. Thursday night, biggest game in years, perfect weather, arch-rival, under the lights! What more could you ask for?!?! The time is now! Let's show those boys from GA how we do it in the mountains of North Carolina! As always, Give 'Em Hell and Fail Southern!
Official Jordan Tate Prediction: App State 27, GaSo 21
