Friday night presented the perfect setting for a non-conference showdown.
Two in-state opponents, Appalachian State and Charlotte, converged at Bank of America Stadium to settle things at the home of the Carolina Panthers. Rookie head coaches graced both sidelines, wide-eyed and eager to improve on 2024’s losing campaigns — Dowell Loggains for Appalachian State and Tim Albin for Charlotte. Nearly 36,000 fans funneled in to watch the Friday night spectacle, and those donning black and gold nodded at the happenings
in fervent approval.
Appalachian State handled Charlotte 34-11 in an NFL venue, positioning Loggains at 1-0 to kick off his coaching career. The Mountaineers’ comfortable victory was propelled by transfer quarterback AJ Swann, who fired for 368 yards and three touchdowns on a 31-of-46 showing in his new home. The former Vanderbilt starter refrained free of a turnover as he immediately thrust his name in the running for Sun Belt Player of the Year.
Swann’s receivers greatly benefited from his presence, as App State veteran Dalton Stroman secured eight receptions for 88 yards while FCS transfer Jaden Barnes made a splash with six catches for 104 yards and a touchdown.
Barnes maturely recovered from a first quarter gaffe for a phenomenal debut in his new home. After “Mossing” Charlotte free safety Caleb Curtain on a deep ball from Swann, the receiver lightly trotted into the end zone. However, 49ers nickel Ja’Qurious Conley refused to give up on the play, forcing a fumble at the 1-yard line to turn the 59-yard reception into a turnover.
That turnover prevented App State from making a mark on the first quarter scoreboard, but after trailing 3-0, the Mountaineers made quick work of their American Conference opponent. Arkansas transfer Rashod Dubinion punched in a 2-yard touchdown on a keeper from the goal line to hand the Mountaineers a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. That touchdown sparked a 27-0 run for the boys from Boone, NC — a run which included Barnes’ touchdown reception right before halftime and Kanen Hamlett’s snag in the third quarter where he trucked a defender to cross the goal line.
Charlotte, led by North Carolina transfer quarterback Conner Harrell, was held out of the end zone until the 10:25 mark of the final quarter. E. Jai Mason reeled in a 16-yard touchdown reception on a slant from Harrell, but the deficit was still 16 after the 49ers cashed in a 2-point conversion. Overall, the offensive discrepancy was too much for Albin and his team to handle. App State out-gained Charlotte, 586-218, more than doubling the 49ers in the rushing department and nearly tripling them from a passing perspective.
Charlotte falls to 0-1 on the season and 0-4 all-time against Appalachian State. The 49ers are now 0-2 in program history in neutral-site games, dropping the 2019 Bahamas Bowl and faltering against App State at the home of the Carolina Panthers. Meanwhile, App State is off to a 1-0 start for the third-straight season, hoping to preserve Loggains’ unblemished record vs. FCS Lindenwood next Saturday in Boone.
