Georgia Southern Tops App State 25-23

Georgia Southern Secures First Road Win of the Season

Georgia Southern earned a 25-23 victory at Appalachian State in the “Deeper Than Hate” rivalry game on Thursday, marking their first road win this season.

Quarterback JC French IV’s Standout Performance

French threw for 352 yards, his highest on the season, and scored two touchdowns—one passing and one rushing in the second half.

“The O-line did an amazing job today protecting me and the receivers making plays. I probably could have had 450 if I just put it on the money.”

Key Contributions from OJ Arnold

Running back OJ Arnold rushed for 105 yards, including crucial late runs that helped secure the win for the Eagles.

Strong Defensive Showing Against Rashod Dubinion

Georgia Southern’s defense managed to contain Sun Belt’s leading rusher, Rashod Dubinion, limiting him to only 40 yards on 12 carries. The team allowed just 77 total rushing yards, their best defensive ground performance this season.

Freshman Kicker Tripp Bryant’s Impact

Kicker Tripp Bryant was a major factor, converting four out of five field goals from distances of 21, 26, 23, and 24 yards. His final field goal early in the fourth quarter extended the Eagles' lead to 25-16.

“A great performance based on the abundant opportunities he was tasked with on a cold night in hostile territory.”

Season Outlook

With this win, Georgia Southern improves to 4-5 on the season and is just two victories away from qualifying for another bowl game.

Author’s summary: Georgia Southern’s resilient offense, stout defense, and clutch kicking secured a pivotal road win, boosting their bowl game hopes.

WTOC — 2025-11-07