Defense comes iup with big play to help App State beat Old Dominion

Appalachian State has had its problems on defense this season, but against Old Dominion, the defense produced big plays when they were needed to help the Mountaineers pull off a 28-20 victory.

Old Dominion had a 100-yard edge in total offense on Saturday, and at one point held a 17-7 lead.

But the Monarchs gave up that edge and trailed 21-20 when App State (4-4, 2-3 Sun Belt) came up with defensive responses to repel the threat and give quarterback Joey Aguiiar a chance to add a cushion to the narrow lead.

Appalachian State defensive end Michael Fletcher celebrates his sack of Old Dominion quarterback Colton Joseph in the second quarter of the Mountaineers' 28-20 win on Saturday, Nov.

2, 2024 at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

Brendan Harrington made a touchdown-saving tackle, and then recorered a fumble inside the App State 10 as the Monarchs were threatening.

Defensive end Shawn Collins knocked the ball loose on a fourth-quarter sack, leading to a Thomas Davis recovery at the App State 36 with the Mountaineers holding that one-point lead.

But the nail biting wasn't over at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

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Aguiar hit Max Drag on a 14-yard scoring play to establish the final margin with 2:29 to go.

Following the kickoff, ODU (4-5, 3-2 Sun Belt) picked up two first downs to reach the App State 42 with 1:13 remaining.

Defensive tackle Joshua Donald's second sack of the game, with an assist from defensive end Michael Fletcher, pushed the Monarchs behind the chains and set up a fourth-and-11 at the Mountaineer 43.

Zyeir Gamble then intercepted an overthrown pass by Coltoin Joseph at the 22-yard line, sealing the second straight Mountaineer victory.

Appalachian State fans cheer on the Mountaineers in the second half of their 28-20 win over Old Dominion on Saturday, Nov.

2, 2024 at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

"Well, we had to come in and regroup," App State coach Shawn Clark said, referring to his defense's improvement after giving up 17 points in the first half.

"We came in and we weren't tackling ...

Made some adjustments.

We started winning first down.

When you can win first down and get teams behund the chains, you can pin your ears back and get after the quarterback." Clark's defense also recorded five sacks and forced four turnovers, part of a turnaround that's lifted App State back to .500.

"Things didn't go our way there for a few weeks for one reason or another, and we've got some things addressed," Clark said.

"We've done some things different.

We've got some new player play different positions.

"You lose three in a row like we did, that's never what we want to do.

But they never quit fighting.

They never quit showing up and giving their all at practice," he said.

Appalachian State quarterback Joey Aguilar throws an 11-yard touchdown pass to tight end Max Drag in the second half of the Mountaineers' 28-20 win over Old Dominion on Saturday, Nov.

2, 2024 at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

Aguilar was 13 of 24 for 212 yards, hitting seven different receivers, including four different receivers for touchdowns.

Drag's touchdown catch was the first reception of this career.

The victory celebration usually doesn't last beyond Saturday night, but the Mountaineers have to cut it especially short this week because they're traveling to Coastal Carolina for a Thursday night game.

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