BOONE, N.C. — Playing in snow for the first time in school history, Georgia State fell at Appalachian State 44-0 Saturday at Kidd Brewer Stadium.
With winds swirling and a wet snow falling throughout the game, the Panthers (1-8, 0-6 Sun Belt) were out of sync all day, and the Sun Belt Conference’s top passing offense was unable to move the ball.
Appalachian State (3-5, 2-2 Sun Belt) relied on its ground game to win its second straight game, rushing for 469 yards, including a career-high 250 yards and three touchdowns by Marcus Cox.
“Of course the weather can make it difficult for the passing game, but that’s football. That’s when you’ve got to be able to run the ball,” Georgia State head coach Trent Miles said. “We’ve got to be better than that. It was just as cold and wet for them.”
Quarterback Nick Arbuckle, who was averaging better than 300 yards passing per game, had just 47 yards on 8-of-17 completions. He threw one interception on a tipped ball, and he was sacked four times. The Panthers also hurt themselves with two fumbles and managed just 64 yards of total offense.
The Georgia State defense played without its leading tackler and top defensive player, inside linebacker Joseph Peterson, who missed the game with an ankle injury.
Georgia State plays the second of three straight road games next Saturday, Nov. 8, at Troy in a 3 p.m. ET kickoff.