It’s Appalachian State vs UNC on Saturday. Week One of the college football season as Mountaineer fans will descend upon the majestic town of Boone, North Carolina. This will be the third meeting between the Mountaineers and Tar Heels.
Appalachian State vs UNC 2022
Appalachian State
Above all, the Mountaineers have been among the most consistent and successful Group of Five teams in college football. As a result, they have posted a 73-19 since 2015. In addition, they posted a 10-4 season in 2021.
The Mountaineers will have talent on both sides of the ball. The offense is led by QB Chase Brice. A Clemson/Duke transfer, Brice passed for 3337 yards, 27 TDs, and 11 INTs in 2021.
The rushing attack will have Nate Noel (1126 yards) and RB Cameron Peoples (926 yards) back. However, Noel only scored four TDs. Peoples scored 14 rushing touchdowns last season.
Four starters will return on the offensive line: Anderson Hardy (6-6, 290), Damion Daley (6-4, 300), Isaiah Helms (6-3, 285), and Cooper Hodges (6-4, 305). Hodges is listed on both the Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award watchlists for 2022.
As a unit, the offensive line ranked 14th in the FBS in sacks allowed with just 17 in 14 games.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Mountaineers are led by LB Trey Cobb (75 tackles in 2021) and DB Steven Jones Jr. Jones intercepted five passes last season and returned three of those to the house. As a result, he has been named to the Jim Thorpe Award, the Bednarik Award, and the Bronco Nagurski Trophy watchlists for 2022.
UNC
The Tar Heels have played a game already this season, hanging 56 points on a seriously undermanned Florida A&M squad in a 56-24 victory in Week Zero. The game also saw the debut of redshirt freshman QB Drake Maye. Maye completed 29 of 37 passes (78%) for 294 yards and five touchdowns and zero INTs against the Rattlers.
A couple of starters have nursed injuries after their week zero win, WR Josh Downs, and DB Tony Grimes. Downs caught nine passes for 78 yards and two TDs. He left the game with a knee injury. He has been evaluated all this week. If he plays, it could be a game-time decision.
Grimes suffered an upper-body injury against the Rattlers.
If Downs and Grimes can’t go, that is a significant blow to the Tar Heels’ game plan.
LB Power Echols was the defensive standout against FAMU, having made 10 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and a sack.
Appalachian State vs UNC-2019
They played each other only twice since the 1940s and the series is tied 1-1. 2019 was the most recent slugfest and it was a hard-fought battle. QB Zac Thomas and RB Darrynton Evans led the Mountaineer offense. Thomas passed for 224 yards and Evans scored three rushing touchdowns against the Tar Heels.
The Mountaineer defense picked off two of Tar Heel freshman QB Sam Howell’s passes. Appalachian State’s Demetrius Taylor intercepted one of Howell’s passes and he also scooped up a fumble and returned it 20-yards for a score.
As a result, the Mountaineers held on for a 34-31 victory. Appalachian State would finish the 2019 season with a 13-1 record.
On Saturday, Boone, North Carolina will roll up the sidewalks, hang a closed sign on the door, and make their way to the stadium to cheer on the black and gold.
Thanks for reading.
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