Eagles and App renew rivalry

Eagles and App Renew Rivalry

The Georgia Southern football team holds a 3–5 overall record and stands 1–3 in Sun Belt play. After falling 34–24 to Arkansas State, the Eagles now head to Boone, North Carolina, for a Thursday night clash with Appalachian State, which sits at 4–4 overall and 1–3 in the conference.

This annual rivalry game between the Eagles and the Mountaineers comes at a crucial point in the season. Georgia Southern must win three of its final four matchups to stay in contention for bowl eligibility—an uphill challenge following recent losses.

Coach Clay Helton’s Response

“I know that Eagle Nation is disappointed and angry,” said Helton. “Any time you lose two hard-fought games that take you out of contention for a conference title, that is not who we are and that is not our standard at Georgia Southern. It is not acceptable and it never will be. To Eagle Nation, I say I am sorry. It is my job to make sure that doesn’t happen and I own that.”

Helton added that his immediate focus is on energizing the team and improving performance this week, while also discussing broader program changes with Athletic Director Chris Davis and President Kyle Marrero after the season concludes.

Author’s Summary

Georgia Southern seeks redemption in its rivalry against Appalachian State, as Coach Clay Helton takes responsibility for setbacks and commits to steering the team back on track.

Statesboro Herald — 2025-11-06