Last Updated on November 20, 2019 6:00 pm
BOONE, N.C. — In
the midst of an 11-game winning streak and a 5-0 start to the 2019 season,
Appalachian State received national recognition Sunday in the form of its
second Top 25 ranking in the program's brief FBS history.
At 5-0 overall and 2-0 in league play heading into Saturday's homecoming
game against Sun Belt west division leader ULM (3-3, 2-0), App State is
No. 24 in both the Associated Press Top 25 Poll and the Amway Coaches Poll.
It's the highest ranking in any poll in the Mountaineers' FBS history and the
first ranking of App State by the coaches. It also marks the highest ranking
for any Sun Belt team since the league was established in 1976. App State
joined the Sun Belt in 2014.
As one of 12 unbeaten FBS teams and one of three Group of Five conference teams
with an unblemished record, the Mountaineers have defeated East Tennessee
State, Charlotte, in-state ACC program North Carolina on the road and Sun Belt
foes Coastal Carolina (at home) and Louisiana (on the road).
App State's 11-game winning streak is the nation's third-longest active streak
behind Clemson (21) and Ohio State (12). Since 2015 — during a run that
includes three straight league titles and four consecutive bowl wins — the
Mountaineers have the nation's fifth-best winning percentage thanks to a 46-11
record.
In Eliah Drinkwitz’s first season as head coach, the Mountaineers are
among the nation's leaders in several special teams and offensive statistical
categories and are coming off a brilliant defensive performance in a 17-7 road
win over Louisiana, who entered that contest with the nation's No. 1 rushing
attack. App State is tied for the national lead in fewest turnovers lost (2)
and most blocked kicks (4). The Mountaineers are 10th in scoring offense
(41.0), tied for fifth in defensive touchdowns (2), eighth in kickoff returns
(28.8), ninth in third-down conversions (50.0), 11th in pass completion
percentage (70.4), 12th in punt returns (15.5) and 12th in red zone offense
(95.5).
Last year, App State earned its first Top 25 ranking as an FBS member (No.
25 in the AP poll) thanks to a 5-1 start that featured five straight wins
following an overtime loss at Penn State. App State teams in 2019 and 2018
account for two of the three Sun Belt Conference teams to ever receive a Top 25
ranking.
Saturday's homecoming game against ULM kicks off at 3:30 p.m. at Kidd Brewer
Stadium and marks the Mountaineers' first home game as a nationally ranked FBS
team.
A few tickets are still available for the ULM game, and single-game tickets are
also available for the Oct. 31 tilt vs. Georgia Southern (8 p.m., ESPNU) and
the Nov. 23 game vs. Texas State (2:30 p.m.). Tickets can
be purchased online at appstatesports.com/tickets,
by phone at 828-262-2079 or in person at the App State athletics ticket office
located in the Holmes Center.
