App State Stumbles in Sun Belt Opener as Old Dominion Wins 10-3 in Boone

BOONE, N.C. --- Appalachian State's Sun Belt Conference opener ended in a frustrating 10-3 loss to Old Dominion on Saturday, as the Mountaineers struggled to generate offense in rainy conditions at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

The result dropped App State to 3-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play. Old Dominion improved to 2-4 and 1-2 in the Sun Belt, ending a four-game losing streak. The Monarchs won despite scoring only one offensive touchdown, using a third-quarter safety and a late touchdown drive to overcome an early App State field goal.

The teams played a scoreless first half before James London connected on a 34-yard field goal early in the third quarter. The kick gave the Mountaineers a 3-0 lead, but the offense could not build on it. Old Dominion then scored a safety after App State recovered its own fumble in the end zone, cutting the deficit to one.

With 9:30 left in the fourth quarter, Maurki James scored on a two-yard run to put the Monarchs ahead. Quarterback Quinn Henicle completed a two-point conversion pass to Josh Rodriguez, extending the lead to 10-3. App State had an opportunity to tie the game in the closing minute, but Brandon Crutchfield intercepted a fourth-down pass with 36 seconds remaining to secure the victory.

Old Dominion's defense held the Mountaineers to 158 total yards and forced three turnovers. App State quarterbacks Malachi Singleton and Henry Hasselbeck combined for just 66 passing yards and two interceptions. The Monarchs, by contrast, leaned on the ground game. Devin Roche rushed for 101 yards, and Henicle added 88 yards on 26 carries. Old Dominion totaled 207 rushing yards.

The defeat represented a sharp reversal from App State's offensive form earlier in the season. Entering the game, Singleton ranked among the national leaders in passing yards per game and completion percentage, while the Mountaineers had produced a steady stream of explosive gains. Against Old Dominion, those advantages disappeared, and the Mountaineers never reached the end zone.

The result was especially disappointing in the context of Homecoming. Kidd Brewer Stadium was sold out, and App State had planned to recognize its 2006 FCS national championship team, part of the program's celebrated three-peat. The 2026 team entered with wins over Maine, East Carolina and Charlotte and had recently pushed NC State before falling in Raleigh.

App State now faces a quick turnaround. The Mountaineers travel to Coastal Carolina for a Friday night game on October 16. The immediate priority will be restoring an offense that had been productive through September but was held to a single field goal in its first conference test.