Georgia Southern took down rival Appalachian State for the second time this season in the Birmingham Bowl, winning 29-10 in dominant fashion.
Georgia Southern (7-6) forced four turnovers by Appalachian State (5-8), who rotated between true freshman quarterbacks Matthew Wilson and Noah Gillon after AJ Swann and J.J. Kohl both entered the transfer portal. The Eagles became the first team in the ‘Deeper than Hate’ rivalry to beat the other twice in the same season.
Georgia Southern was led by running back OJ Arnold, who rushed for 152 yards on 11 carries and was named player of the game. Quarterback JC French IV completed 18 of 25 passes for 171 yards with a touchdown in the win.
Here are the highlights from Georgia Southern’s 29-10 win over Appalachian State in the lone college football game on Dec. 29.
Georgia Southern vs App State score
Georgia Southern vs App State highlights
Georgia Southern wins 29-10
Georgia Southern wins the turnover battle 4-0 and takes down rival Appalachian State to win the Birmingham Bowl. OJ Arnold wins player of the game after rushing for 143 yards on 10 carries.
Tripp Bryant extends Georgia Southern lead
Georgia Southern extends its lead to 29-10 with 3:57 remaining in the fourth quarter on a 26-yard field goal. That’s going to do it for the Eagles, which will move to 2-0 against Appalachian State this season.
Georgia Southern chewing clock
Georgia Southern regains possession and is currently amid a long drive, one that has so far traveled 76 yards in 15 plays, chewing 9:06 of clock and counting.
The Eagles are looking to end this one now.
App State building momentum?
JC French IV’s errant pass is intercepted by Ethan Johnson, giving Appalachian State back the ball late in the third quarter. Maybe the Mountaineers aren’t quite out yet.
App State kicks field goal
Appalachian State reduces its deficit to 26-10 after Dominic De Freitas’ 27-yard field goal make. True freshman quarterback Matthew Wilson is up to 5-of-7 passing for 73 yards, along with nine carries for 101 yards with a touchdown.
JC French IV throws touchdown
What a throw by JC French IV, who fits the ball in between two defenders for a 32-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Sanders Jr., who barely gets a foot down in the end zone.
Georgia Southern is 2-for-2 on touchdown drives in the second half and now leads 26-7 with 8:50 left in the third quarter.
Dorrian Smith grabs another interception
Dorrian Smith jumps a route and grabs his second interception of the game, giving the ball back to Georgia Southern.
Appalachian State now has three turnovers, which has been the difference so far. The Mountaineers are having success moving the ball outside of the giveaways.
Georgia Southern scores out of half
Weston Bryan rushes for a 2-yard touchdown to give Georgia Southern a 19-7 lead after the first possession of the second half. The Eagles then attempt a 2-point conversion, but JC French IV’s pass falls incomplete.
The scoring drive was set up by a 58-yard run from OJ Arnold, who has 121 rushing yards on five carries so far.
Georgia Southern takes 13-7 lead before as time expires
Tripp Bryant makes a 36-yard field goal to extend Georgia Southern’s lead to 13-7 as time expires. The Eagles regain possession out of the break.
App State responds
Matthew Wilson takes it himself for a 6-yard touchdown run, his first career score. The scoring drive was set up by Noah Gillon’s 34-yard pass to Dalton Stroman.
Both quarterbacks are playing plays late in the first half. Georgia Southern leads 10-7 with 1:51 left in the second quarter.
Matthew Wilson throws interception
Matthew Wilson enters at quarterback for Appalachian State and throws an interception. Tracy Hill Jr. picks off Wilson at Georgia Southern’s 2-yard line, giving the Eagles back possession.
Georgia Southern extends lead
App State holds Georgia Southern to a field goal after stopping the Eagles inside the 10-yard line. Georgia Southern extends its lead to two possessions, taking a 10-0 lead with nine minutes left in the first half.
Georgia Southern intercepts Noah Gillon
True freshman quarterback Noah Gillon’s pass is intercepted by Dorrian Smith, giving possession back to Georgia Southern. Appalachian State was amid a 6-play, 52-yard drive.
App State misses field goal
Dominic De Freitas originally makes a field goal, but illegal formation and false start penalties push Appalachian State back 10 yards. De Freitas then misses the next attempt from 41 yards out.
Georgia Southern leads 7-0 with 3:23 left in the first quarter.
Georgia Southern strikes first
Georgia Southern caps off its 11-play, 66-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run by Terrance Gibbs to take an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Quarterback JC French IV completes 5-of-5 passes for 35 yards on the drive.
Birmingham Bowl kicks off
Appalachian State starts with possession but goes three-and-out. Former USC coach Clay Helton and Georgia Southern are taking over for their first possession of the game.
Are Appalachian State and Georgia Southern rivals?
Appalachian State and Georgia Southern are fierce rivals, with the game being referred to as ‘Deeper than Hate’ by both sides. Their matchup in the Birmingham Bowl is the first between both teams at a neutral site in their history.
App State holds a 21-18-1 all-time record against Georgia Southern.
Why is App State in bowl game?
App State has made a bowl game with a 5-7 record thanks to numerous bowl opt-outs, allowing for an all-Sun Belt meeting in the Birmingham Bowl. For more background on how the Mountaineers made a bowl game, click here.
Where is the Birmingham Bowl?
The Birmingham Bowl will be held at Protective Stadium — home stadium of the UAB Blazers — in Birmingham, Alabama.
What time does Georgia Southern vs App State start?
Date: Monday, Dec. 29
Time: 2 p.m. ET | 1 p.m. CT
Location: Protective Stadium (Birmingham, Alabama)
The Birmingham Bowl between Georgia Southern and App State is scheduled to kick off at 2 p.m. ET (1 p.m. CT) from Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama.
What channel is Georgia Southern vs App State today?
TV: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN app | Fubo (free trial)
Georgia Southern and App State’s Birmingham Bowl matchup will air nationally on ESPN, with Taylor Zarzour, Matt Stinchcomb and Alyssa Lang on the call. Streaming options for the game include the ESPN app (with a cable login) and Fubo, the latter of which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
Stream Georgia Southern-App State with Fubo (free trial)
Georgia Southern vs App State predictions in Birmingham Bowl
Here are USA TODAY Sports expert picks for the Birmingham Bowl between Georgia Southern and App State:
Matt Hayes: Georgia Southern
Jordan Mendoza: App State
Paul Myerberg: Georgia Southern
Erick Smith: Georgia Southern
Eddie Timanus: Georgia Southern
Blake Toppmeyer: Georgia Southern
Georgia Southern vs App State odds, spread for Birmingham Bowl
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Sunday, Dec. 28
Spread: Georgia Southern (-8.5)
Over/under: 59.5