App State Swamps Old Dominion 49-0

An intriguing Sun Belt versus Conference USA match-up turned into a rainy rout as visiting App State scored 28-second quarter points en route to a 49-0 shutout of Old Dominion on Saturday afternoon.

This was the first time in the program's six-year rebirth that the Monarchs have been shut out and their worst home loss. For Appalachian State, it was an FBS-leading fourth shutout in their last 14 games.

The Mountaineers dominated the lines, gaining 303 rushing yards while only giving up 42. Taylor Lamb rebounded from his bad Clemson game by going 11-15 for 187 yards and four touchdowns to four different receivers. For the Monarchs, Shuler Bentley went 16-28 for 133 yards and two interceptions.

Old Dominion had troubles getting first downs early in the game, reminiscent of the previous week versus NC State. App State took their first offensive possession into the red zone, but a fumble ended the drive. The next Mountaineers drive looked to end the same as they punted the ball away, but an illegal attempt to hurdle the blocking wedge by ODU gave the Apps a first down. Two players later, Terrence Upshaw found the end-zone from six yards out.

On the first play of the second quarter, Lamb found Bobo Beathard for a 53-yard touchdown. After trading punts, ODU found themselves with great field position, but Bentley's pass slipped out his hand and Devan Stringer returned the fumble 77 yards for the touchdown and 21-0 lead.

The Monarch's best scoring chance came on the next drive, getting down to the App 12, but the field goal was pushed wide. The Mountaineers then went in for the kill, driving to mid-field and then Lamb found Shaedon Meadors for the 41-yard touchdown to make it 28-0 with three minutes til half.

Still, it got worse for the home team as Latrell Gibbs intercepted the next Monarch offensive play. Then with seconds before halftime, Lamb lobbed a screen pass to Marcus Cox who took it 24 yards to make it 35-0 at half. Cox ended with 107 yards on 23 carries, his ninth time hitting the century mark in the last 10 App State games.

App State would tack on two more third quarter scores with Lamb finding tight end Hunter Nunn on 4th and goal from the one, then Jalin Moore going in from 22 yards out.

The Monarchs tried to score some points by going for it on 4th and 1 from the App 12 in the fourth quarter, but was stuffed, then fumbled an exchange late in the game. In the wet conditions, ODU had five turnovers to App's two.

The win was the first for the Sun Belt over a Conference USA team since 2013 and the first non-conference FBS road win for App State as an FBS program.

App State returns to the field at home next weekend versus win-less Wyoming. Old Dominion starts C-USA play on the road at Marshall.