49ers-App State game loaded with significance
Tim Albin knows the symbolic important of the Charlotte 49ers’ football game Saturday evening at Appalachian State.
But he’s aware of the practical importance too.
The 49ers and Mountaineers meet for the fifth time in history, and it’s a game that plays a role that stretches beyond what happens on the field Saturday night.
The game – a sellout set for 6 p.m. at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone (ESPN+) – determines of sort of Group of Six “championship” for the western part of the state. Add in App State’s victory last week at East Carolina, and a victory for the Mountaineers on Saturday would give them a sweep of their in-state Group of Six foes.
That “championship” can go a long way in recruiting high school talent from across the Carolinas, Virginia, Tennessee, West Virginia and Georgia.
Albin, in his second year as the 49ers’ head coach, talked earlier this week about meeting with coaches and high school athletic officials across the region, and learning how many have connections to either school.
“There are a lot of connections,” he said.
App State coach Dowell Loggains, whose team is off to a 2-0 start, concurs.
“This is a huge in-state rivalry,” he said. “And I like these in-state rivalries. It means a lot to the fans.”
Whatever points can be gained from winning the game, App State got all of them a year ago. The teams met Aug. 29 at Bank of America Stadium, and the Mountaineers crushed Charlotte 34-11.
“They really got after us last year,” Albin said. “It was essentially over early.”
The teams enter this game coming from different directions. The Mountaineers have crushed Maine and then beaten ECU last week. Charlotte suffered a stinging loss to FCS opponent The Citadel in Week 1, then fell 41-9 a week ago to nationally-ranked Ole Miss.
Chance Williams, who was the team’s No. 2 running back and carried for 74 yards against Ole Miss, won’t be with the team in Boone.
“He is not on the football team,” Albin said tersely on Tuesday.
Albin also said Cole Gonzales remains the team’s starting quarterback. Conner Harrell, working his way back from a bad knee injury a year ago, saw some playing time last week at Ole Miss and did well. He completed 5-of-6 passes for 50 yards.
“Cole is our starter, and we are going to see where it goes,” Albin said.
App State is averaging 520 yards of offense a week, and quarterback Malachi Singleton has been dynamic. Singleton has completed 42-of-52 passes for 558 yards.
This will be the time the teams have played in Boone since the COVID-wracked 2020 season. That year, App State officials allowed only 50 students to sit in the stands, socially-distanced from each other, and the Mountaineers won 35-20.
App State is 4-0 all-time against Charlotte.
Here’s a quick look at this weekend’s college football for area teams:
Catawba
Opponent: Emory & Henry
Info: 6 p.m., Shuford Stadium, Salisbury.
About Emory & Henry (1-2, 0-1 South Atlantic): The Wasps are coming off a 28-26 conference-opening loss last Saturday to Tusculum. QB Cole Lambert is averaging 222 yards a game in the air.
About Catawba (1-2, 0-1): The Indians opened South Atlantic Conference play with a 22-16 overtime loss at Mars Hill. They are averaging only 103 yards a game on the ground, but QB Mason Fortune has completed 72 percent of his passes for 276 yards a contest.
Note: Emory & Henry won 35-7 last year, but Catawba leads the series 17-6. Catawba is 12-1 at home against the Wasps.
Davidson
Opponent: VMI
Info: 1 p.m., Davidson College Stadium, Davidson. ESPN+
About VMI (0-3): The Keydets have scored only one touchdown and three field goals this season. QB Chris Dietrich played well in last week’s 14-3 loss to Bucknell, completing 22-of-30 passes for 221 yards.
About Davidson (1-2): The Wildcats surged in the second half last week for a 28-14 victory over Dickinson. Davidson has a season-high 453 yards of total offense, and used their ground game in the second half to control the clock and wear down Dickinson’s defense.
Note: These teams last met three years ago at VMI, with the Keydets winning 12-7. They are playing for the 61st time, and VMI has won the last 12 meetings. Davidson hasn’t beaten the Keydets in 54 years.
Gardner-Webb
Opponent: N.C. Central
Info: 6 p.m., Spangler Stadium, Boiling Springs. ESPN+
About N.C. Central (2-1): The Eagles have won two in a row and beat rival N.C. A&T in overtime last Saturday. They are averaging 388 yards on offense and giving jup an average of 323 yards.
About Gardner-Webb (0-3): The Runnin’ Bulldogs have lost two straight close games, to Wofford and last week to FBS foe Liberty. The run game has been a problem, but it looked better last week, as Randy Young scored on a 65-yard run.
Notes: This is the fifth meeting between the teams. The series is tied 2-2, and the home team has won each time.
Johnson C. Smith
Opponent: Fayetteville State
Info: 1 p.m., Irwin Belk Complex.
About Fayetteville State (2-1, 1-0 CIAA): The Broncos are coming off a loss to nationally-ranked Valdosta State. They’ve been hurt by turnovers this season, with three fumbles and four interceptions. But typically, the Broncos are the CIAA South favorite.
About Johnson C. Smith (2-1, 1-0): The Golden Bulls have played well for two straight weeks. Bulls’ head coach Maurice Flowers said he will continue using both his quarterbacks – Damien Mazil (185.5 passing yards a game) and Parker McQuarrie (39.3 yards in limited use).
Note: Johnson C. Smith beat Fayetteville State 17-14 last year, but the Golden Bulls are 4-16 all-time against the Broncos. Last year’s victory ended an eight-game losing streak for Johnson C. Smith in the series.
Lenoir-Rhyne
Opponent: Mars Hill
Info: 6 p.m., Moretz Stadium, Hickory.
About Mars Hill (2-0, 1-0 South Atlantic): The Lions beat Catawba 22-16 in overtime last Saturday. QB Lucas Kachilo completed 32-of-56 passes for 266 yards. RB Rayvon Durant is averaging 112.5 rushing yards a game.
About Lenoir-Rhyne (2-1, 1-0): The Bears are coming off a 21-14 victory over then-nationally-ranked Newberry. Outside of a 34-23 loss two weeks ago to West Alabama, the Lenoir-Rhyne defense has been outstanding. The Bears have limited their two victims to under 200 yards a game offense.
Note: The series is close, with Lenoir-Rhyne leading 27-24-1. Last year’s game wasn’t close. The Bears won 45-0.
Wingate
Opponent: Newberry
Info: 6 p.m., Irwin Belk Stadium, Wingate.
About Newberry (1-1, 0-1 South Atlantic): The Wolves took a No. 11 national ranking into last week’s home game against Lenoir-Rhyne but lost 21-14. Their offense has been most productive in the air, with QB Mason Kidd averaging 181 yards a contest.
About Wingate (1-2, 0-1): The dropped a 24-23 decision at Carson-Newman. They totaled only 19 yards on the ground. But QB Brooks Brien fared well in the air, throwing for 278 yards and two touchdowns.
Note: The series is tied 18-18, with Wingate going 10-7 at home against the Wolves. Newberry won a wild 43-42 decision last year.
