Standing at 3-1 for the first time in four years, Appalachian State University football (3-1, 0-0 Sun Belt) looks to carry the momentum into Sun Belt Conference play when it opens the league slate on Saturday at Georgia State (1-3, 1-0 Sun Belt). Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
TV
Saturday's game can be seen nationwide on ESPN3 (play-by-play: Matt Stewart, analyst: Wayne Gandy).
The ESPN3 broadcast will also be carried on the ESPN College Extra Platform, which airs selected ESPN3 broadcasts on the following cable/satellite television providers: AT&T U-verse, DIRECTV, Bright House Networks, Cox, Time Warner Cable and Verizon FiOS. Those providers deliver ESPN College Extra on up to eight channels through a sports tier or other affiliated TV package (check with your provider for availability via your subscription).
RADIO
Saturday's game can be heard across North Carolina on the 17-station Appalachian IMG Sports Network (click HERE for a list of network affiliates).
Coverage begins on the Appalachian IMG Sports Network with Pigskin Prelude at 1:30 p.m.
PREVIEWING SATURDAY'S MATCHUP
• Appalachian State's 3-1 record after four games is its best since it also won three of its first four games in 2011.
• Dating back to last season, the Mountaineers have won nine of their last 10 games overall.
• Appalachian puts a six-game winning streak in Sun Belt play on the line in Saturday's conference opener at Georgia State.
• In the first-ever meeting between the two programs, App State throttled Georgia State, 44-0, in a snowstorm at Kidd Brewer Stadium on Nov. 1 of last season.
• In last season's rout over GSU, the Mountaineers outgained the Panthers by a whopping 567-62 margin, including a 469-8 advantage on the ground.
• Appalachian State's 469 rushing yards against Georgia State last season were its most in 39 years, dating back to its 572 yards on the ground in a 52-28 win over Lenoir-Rhyne on Oct. 18, 1975.
• GSU's 62 total yards were the fewest that the Mountaineers surrendered in 53 years, dating back to allowing just 39 total yards in a 22-0 win over Guilford on Nov. 4, 1961.
• As good as Appalachian's defensive performance was against Georgia State last season, the Mountaineers' defense is an improved unit overall in 2015. Appalachian leads the Sun Belt in most defensive categories, including total defense (278.0 ypg), scoring defense (13.5 ppg), rushing defense (109.0 ypg), third-down defense (.273), first downs allowed (56), red-zone defense (.182) and defensive touchdowns scored (2).
• A key matchup on Saturday pits Georgia State's high-powered passing game, which leads the Sun Belt by a wide margin at 345.8 ypg against App State's pass defense, which surrenders just 169.0 ypg.
• Appalachian State sophomore cornerback Latrell Gibbs kept up his one interception per game pace last week when he notched his fourth INT of the season and returned it 91 yards for a touchdown less than five minutes in to the Mountaineers' win over Wyoming.He leads the Sun Belt and is tied for second nationally with 1.0 interception per game.
• Offensively, junior running back Marcus Cox has rushed for at least 100 yards in seven-straight games, just two shy of the school record of nine-consecutive 100-yard games, set by John Settle in 1986.
• Saturday's game at the Georgia Dome will be Appalachian State's first-ever in a facility that serves as the permanent home for an NFL franchise.
For all of the information on Saturday's matchup, including links to live video, audio and stats, both teams' rosters, depth charts, game notes and much more, click HERE to visit appstatesports.com's official Gameday Central page.
