In a rollercoaster of a New Orleans Bowl, Appalachian State’s Mountaineers were unable to overcome a rough start, falling to Middle Tennessee State 45-30. Despite a valiant second-half effort, three turnovers, two of which were returned for touchdowns, sealed the Mountaineers' fate.
The first quarter was dominated by Middle Tennessee's defense, as Appalachian State quarterback Joey Aguilar struggled with ball security. Two interceptions in a span of just 33 seconds were returned for touchdowns by MTSU's Brendon Harris and Tyrell Raby, respectively, giving the Blue Raiders a commanding 14-0 lead with 3:31 left in the first quarter. Another blow came when MTSU quarterback Nicholas Vattiato connected with Omari Kelly for a 36-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 21-0 with just over a minute left in the quarter.
Appalachian State responded quickly, giving their fans a glimmer of hope. Joey Aguilar found Christan Horn streaking down the field for a 90-yard touchdown bomb with just 28 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Horn’s explosive play gave the Mountaineers much-needed momentum, trimming the deficit to 21-7.
The second quarter saw Middle Tennessee extend their lead when running back Frank Peasant punched in a 2-yard rushing touchdown midway through the quarter. However, the Mountaineers didn't back down. Kanye Roberts delivered a 33-yard touchdown run, electrifying the App State sideline and closing the gap to 28-14. Kicker Michael Hughes would add a 49-yard field goal with 25 seconds left in the half, sending the teams into the locker room with MTSU up 28-17.
The Mountaineers came out strong in the third quarter, as Roberts found the end zone once again with a 2-yard touchdown run. Unfortunately, the 2-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the score at 28-23. Just as it seemed the Mountaineers were closing in, Peasant struck again for MTSU, adding his second touchdown of the day on a 4-yard run to push the Blue Raiders’ lead back to 35-23.
In the fourth quarter, Peasant’s third touchdown, another 4-yard run, seemingly put the game out of reach for Appalachian State. Down 42-23 with just over five minutes remaining, Aguilar led a furious comeback effort. He hit Kaedin Robinson for a 17-yard touchdown, and Hughes' extra point made it 42-31 with 4:32 left on the clock. However, the Mountaineers’ defense couldn't force a stop, and MTSU’s Zeke Rankin sealed the game with a 34-yard field goal, setting the final score at 45-30.
Aguilar finished the day with 311 passing yards, including two touchdown throws, but his three interceptions were costly. His favorite target, Christan Horn, recorded 121 yards on just three catches, including the highlight-reel 90-yard touchdown. Kanye Roberts was a bright spot on the ground for App State, rushing for 96 yards and two scores.
Defensively, the Mountaineers were led by Brendan Harrington, who notched nine tackles and a tackle for loss. Despite putting up a strong fight in the second half, Appalachian State’s early mistakes proved too much to overcome.
App State finishes the season with valuable lessons from this hard-fought contest. Although the turnovers were decisive, the team showed heart and resilience, fighting back until the final whistle.
QUARTER 1
(MTSU) Brendon Harris, returned interception 41 Yds (Zeke Rankin kick), 4:04
(MTSU) Tyrell Raby, returned interception 26 Yds (Zeke Rankin kick), 3:31
(MTSU) Omari Kelly 36 Yd pass form Nicholas Vattiato (Zeke Rankin Kick), 1:31
(APP) Christan Horn 90 Yd pass from Joey Aguilar (Michael Hughes kick), 0:28
QUARTER 2
(MTSU) Frank Peasant, 2 Yd run (Zeke Rankin kick), 5:47
(APP) Kanye Roberts, 33 Yd run (Michael Hughes kick), 1:47
(APP) Micael Hughes, 49 Yd FG, 0:25
QUARTER 3
(APP) Kanye Roberts 2 Yd run (2-Point conversion failed), 4:34
(MTSU) Frank Peasant, 4 Yd run (Zeke Rankin kick), 1:40
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