Georgia Southern Tops App State 25-23

Georgia Southern secured their first road victory of the season on Thursday, edging App State 25-23 in the “Deeper Than Hate” rivalry matchup.

Key Offensive Highlights

Quarterback JC French IV delivered his best performance of the year, throwing for 352 yards. He scored twice — one passing touchdown and another 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.”

Running back OJ Arnold added 105 rushing yards and sealed the victory with crucial late-game runs.

Defensive Effort

Facing Sun Belt’s leading rusher Rashod Dubinion, the Eagles’ defense held him to only 40 yards on 12 carries. The team allowed a mere 77 rushing yards overall, marking their best defensive performance against the run this season.

Special Teams Impact

Freshman kicker Tripp Bryant was instrumental in the win, converting four of five field goal attempts (21, 26, 23, and 24 yards). His final kick early in the fourth quarter extended Georgia Southern’s lead to 25-16, providing the margin they needed to secure the game.

Season Outlook

With the victory, Georgia Southern improved to 4-5 and moved within two wins of becoming bowl-eligible.

Author’s Summary: Georgia Southern edged App State in a tense rivalry game, powered by JC French’s career night and a dominant defensive showing against the Sun Belt’s top rusher.

WTOC — 2025-11-07