Last Updated on September 12, 2026 6:29 pm
GREENVILLE, N.C. — App State Football moved to 2-0 on the season and 4-0 in the FBS series with East Carolina by winning 27-24 at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Mountaineers built a 24-10 lead early in the second half and had a 27-17 advantage before ECU (0-2) scored a touchdown with 21 seconds left. App State could begin celebrating when the onside kick bounced into the Pirates' sideline without being recovered.
The two in-state programs agreed to a four-game series nearly a decade ago, facilitating the first meeting with both schools being FBS members, and App State officially won home games in 2021 (at Charlotte's Bank of America Stadium) and 2023 (at Kidd Brewer Stadium). A victory at ECU in 2024 was App State's first win in Greenville since 1959, and the Mountaineers left Dowdy-Ficklen in a triumphant mood again Saturday. They host Charlotte for Black Saturday (Under the Lights) next weekend in Boone.
Caleb Sandstrom recorded two sacks, forcing a key turnover to set up a short-field touchdown that erased an early deficit, and cornerback Dre Walker's interception in the final three minutes halted an ECU drive when there was still enough time remaining for a viable comeback attempt. The Pirates completed only 21 of their 37 pass attempts, as five Mountaineers registered a pass breakup.
While ECU went only 2-for-13 on third down, App State had five third-down conversions, with quarterback Malachi Singleton showing poise in the pocket while benefiting from strong protection from his offensive line. In addition to running for a 4-yard touchdown, Singleton completed 20 of 28 passes for 267 yards to lead a turnover-free effort from the offense.
Jaquari Lewis (17 carries for 73 yards) and Treyaun Webb both had rushing touchdowns for the second straight week, and tight end Darrin Fugitt gained 66 yards on a team-leading seven receptions. Sam Pickett III added four catches for 86 yards.
Special teams also made a big impact, as James London kicked two field goals, including one after heavy pressure from the Mountaineers contributed to ECU shanking a punt from its own end zone.
ECU opened the game with a 12-play, 60-yard drive and an eight-play, 83-yard drive, but that netted just seven total points because of a missed 33-yard field goal on the opening series.
Singleton's 34-yard completion to Pickett helped set up a 41-yard field goal from London, and Sandstrom recorded a strip sack on the first play of the next ECU series.
Defensive lineman Aaron Clark scooped up the loose ball, giving App State possession at the ECU 12, and the Mountaineers moved in front on Singleton's 4-yard keeper for a touchdown shortly after defensive pass interference in the end zone negated a third-and-12 incompletion.
App State's defense allowed one first down before forcing a quick punt, and Singleton directed a seven-play, 83-yard touchdown drive. Fugitt gained 23 yards to the ECU 10 on a trick-play pass from Singleton, who received the ball back from receiver Chris Lofton after initially handing it off to Lewis. Lewis raced 10 yards up the middle for a score on the next play to help push the Mountaineers' lead to 17-7 midway through the second quarter.
ECU converted a 33-yard field goal in the final 90 seconds of the half, and London was short on a 59-yard field goal attempt to end the half, but App State opened the second half with possession and marched 80 yards on seven plays to take a 24-10 lead. Singleton's 26-yard completion to Fugitt preceded a 16-yard run by Webb, who capped the drive with a 13-yard touchdown run.
The Pirates answered with a 61-yard touchdown pass on the next drive, and App State moved inside the ECU 40 before pinning the Pirates back at their own 5 on Jaxson Dunn's 34-yard punt.
ECU shanked a three-and-out kick following pressure from several Mountaineers, highlighted by Syncere Berry nearly blocking it, and a short field contributed to London's 37-yard field goal that increased the margin back to double figures late in the third quarter.
App State forced another three-and-out punt, and Sandstrom's second sack of the day put ECU behind the chains on its next series. The Pirates were forced into another three-and-out punt on their next possession, and App State still had a 10-point lead as ECU advanced inside the Mountaineers' 25 with less than three minutes remaining.
Backfield pressure from Clark and fellow defensive lineman Jehchys Brown caused ECU quarterback Mitch Griffis to force a third-and-6 throw downfield, and Walker planted both toes just inside the sideline boundary before picking off the throw at the 12 with 2:16 left.
ECU regained possession at its own 40 just after the two-minute timeout, converted one fourth down and scored on a 7-yard touchdown pass with 21 seconds remaining, but App State clinched the victory when the onside kick bounced out of bounds.
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