Eagles seek reset at App State as rivalry shifts to Thursday night in Boone

After an extended 11-day break, Georgia Southern heads to Boone to face longtime rival Appalachian State on Thursday night, hoping to regain momentum after falling out of Sun Belt title contention and facing uncertainty over bowl eligibility.

“There’s a billion excuses that can be made, but I’m not an excuse maker. My job is to win football games,” head coach Clay Helton said.

The matchup will take place at Kidd Brewer Stadium, where the Eagles have historically struggled, holding a 5–12 record. Georgia Southern won last year’s meeting 29–20 in Statesboro, but this season marks the first time since 2019 that the rivalry doesn’t close the regular season schedule.

Key Players and Stats

Quarterback JC French IV has thrown at least one touchdown in 11 consecutive games and is responsible for 19 total scores — 14 passing and five rushing.
Senior receiver Camden Brown set a school single-season record with nine touchdown catches, ranking fifth nationally.
The Eagles will retain the same starting offensive line for the seventh consecutive game.

Defensive Note

Linebacker and team captain Brendan Harrington returns to Boone, where he spent six seasons with App State, making 167 tackles across 50 games. Helton currently holds a 2–1 record against App State but remains winless (0–1) at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

Author’s Summary: Georgia Southern seeks to rebound at App State after an extended break, relying on stability and key offensive performances to revive its postseason hopes.

WJCL — 2025-11-04