2018 Sun Belt Football News and Notes:
Week 6 Release (PDF) | Standings | Composite Schedule | Stats | Championship Info
AROUND #SUNBELTFB
APP STATE MAKING MOVES IN COACHES POLL
With a program-record 34 voting points, Appalachian State is unofficially No. 32 in this week’s Amway Coaches Poll. After opening the season with an overtime loss at Penn State, which is ranked 11th after suffering its first loss to No. 3 Ohio State, the Mountaineers have outscored their last three opponents 169-23. They led 42-7 at halftime of a 52-7 win against South Alabama in their Sun Belt opener Saturday. The Mountaineers are looking to become the first Sun Belt team to be ranked in either the Coaches or AP Poll since Troy hit #25 in the Nov. 13, 2016 edition of the AP Poll.
SUN BELT, AUTONATION CURE BOWL TEAM FOR COACHES FOR A CURE INITIATIVE
The Sun Belt Conference and the AutoNation Cure Bowl benefiting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) are teaming up for a conference-wide Coaches for a Cure initiative during the 2018 football season. During the month of October, the 10 Sun Belt football-playing institutions are participating in Pink Saturdays and displaying Sun Belt Kicks Cancer kicking nets. For the Pink Saturdays games, the Cure Bowl is providing pink shoelaces, armbands, wristbands and towels for coaching staffs to wear for each school’s designated game(s). In addition, each school is set to display a specially designed pink Sun Belt Kicks Cancer kicking net on its home sideline during games throughout the month. Pink Saturdays is a conference-wide initiative that unites football teams and coaches across the country to raise funds and awareness about the fight against breast cancer and promote BCRF as a source of inspiration for those facing cancer.
USA’S PATTERSON NAMED SEMIFINALIST FOR THE 2018 CAMPBELL TROPHY
South Alabama senior placekicker Gavin Patterson was named one of 179 semifinalists for the 2018 William V. Campbell Trophy — the award recognizing an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation — by the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF). Patterson has a 3.98 cumulative grade-point average as an exercise science major, and in addition to being named to the Sun Belt Commissioner’s List on three occasions, he was inducted into the National Society of Collegiate Scholars in 2016. He ranks second on the school’s career record list with 28 field goals and 78 extra points as well as fourth with 162 points. He was chosen first-team all-Sun Belt in 2017.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jabir Daughtry-Frye, Troy (So., RB, Pensacola, Fla.)
Troy’s Jabir Daughtry-Frye touched the football just seven times offensively in the Trojans win against Coastal Carolina, but made all of them count as he rushed for 140 yards and a touchdown on just five carries (28.0 yards per carry) and caught two passes for 36 yards and a touchdown. All told, Daughtry-Frye accounted for 211 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns (having also returned a kickoff 35 yards). He had a 35-yard touchdown reception and a 74-yard touchdown run in the game and added a 39-yard rush. Daughtry-Frye combined with B.J. Smith to become the first Troy teammates since 2002 to top the 100-yard mark in the same game. Additionally, Troy set the school record averaging 9.1 yards per rush in the game.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Logan Hunt, Georgia Southern (Sr., DE, Sandersville, Ga.)
Senior defensive end Logan Hunt posted a career-high nine total tackles as the Georgia Southern defense came up big against the high-flying Arkansas State offense. Included in those nine stops were a career-high 3.5 tackles for loss and a career-high 3.0 sacks. In all, the Georgia Southern defense posted six sacks after coming into the game with 3.5 combined in the previous three games of the season.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Marcus Jones, Troy (So., KR, Enterprise, Ala.)
Marcus Jones returned his fourth career kickoff for a touchdown and third in his career against Coastal Carolina. After returning the opening two kickoffs last year for scores, Jones took the opening kickoff of the game on Saturday to the house for a 96-yard score. Only a sophomore, Jones is already Troy's all-time leader in career kickoff returns for touchdowns.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Thursday, October 4
* Georgia State at Troy, 6:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
Saturday, October 6
* South Alabama at Georgia Southern, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN3)
ULM at Ole Miss, 3:00 p.m. (SEC Network)
* Louisiana at Texas State, 6:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Tuesday, October 9
* Appalachian State at Arkansas State, 7:00 p.m. (ESPN2)
All Times are Central and Subject to Change
* - Sun Belt Conference contest
RECENT RESULTS
Saturday, September 29
#1 Alabama 56, Louisiana 14 (SEC Network)
* Georgia State 46, ULM 14 (ESPN+)
* Troy 45, Coastal Carolina 21 (ESPN3)
* Appalachian State 52, South Alabama 7 (ESPN+)
* Georgia Southern 28, Arkansas State 21 (ESPN+)
* - Sun Belt Conference contest
#SUNBELTFB TEAM NEWS AND NOTES
Appalachian State
Overall vs. Arkansas State: Third Meeting – Series Tied, 1-1
Last Meeting: Nov. 5, 2015 (L, 27-40) – Boone, N.C.
Of the 10 primary offensive and defensive team categories, Appalachian State leads in the Sun Belt in six of them and is second in the other four. App State is first in scoring offense (third nationally at 51.8), scoring defense (18th nationally at 17.0), total offense (11th nationally at 523.5), total defense (eighth nationally at 276.3), rushing defense and passing efficiency defense.
With a 45-9 win at Charlotte, a 72-7 win against Gardner-Webb and a 52-7 win against South Alabama, Appalachian State has scored at least 45 points in three straight games for the first time in program history and given up single-digit points in three straight games for the first time since 1998.
In App State’s last two Sun Belt games, it has posted its largest margin of victory in a Sun Belt game (49 points in a 63-14 win against Louisiana in the 2017 home finale) and a tie for the second-largest margin of victory in a Sun Belt game (45 points in both Saturday’s game against South Alabama and a 59-14 win at ULM in 2015).
With 123 rushing yards on Saturday, Jalin Moore increased his career total to 3,538 and moved into sixth place on App State’s all-time list. He passed Chip Hooks, who ran for 3,472 yards from 1991-94, and is No. 2 in career rushing yards among active FBS players.
Arkansas State
Overall vs. Appalachian State: Third Meeting – Series Tied, 1-1
Last Meeting: Nov. 5, 2015 (W, 40-27) – Boone, N.C.
Arkansas State dropped its Sun Belt Conference opener for the first time since 2012 and now stands 3-2 overall and 0-1 in league play.
The Red Wolves have not lost back-to-back Sun Belt Conference games since the 2014 season.
A-State’s 3-2 record through five games matches its best ever since moving to FBS status in 1992 and marks the third time (2018, 2017, 2014) the Red Wolves’ have held the same record under head coach Blake Anderson.
The Red Wolves have an open week before it will host Appalachian State in a Tuesday night game (Oct. 9) televised on ESPN2. A-State will play its 1000th all-time game when it faces App State.
Arkansas State holds a 19-6 record in all midweek (Tue.-Thurs.) games since its 2001 inaugural year in the Sun Belt Conference. It has won 15 of its last 18 midweek contests, including the last eight in a row.
Dating back to the 2010 season, A-State holds a 22-2 record over its last 24 games played in the month of October. A-State has won its last 11 games in the month.
Coastal Carolina
Off week
Coastal Carolina wrapped up its three-game road swing over the last three weeks going 2-1 overall and 1-1 in conference play. Getting the start for the injured Kilton Anderson at Troy last weekend, freshman quarterback Bryce Carpenter became just the second-ever true freshman to start at quarterback in CCU’s history, joining Ren McKinnon who started the final three games of the 2004 season as a true freshman. The true freshman had a career-day, as he was 18-for-22 for 172 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He also rushed 18 times for 24 yards.
Senior wideout Malcolm Williams surpassed the 1,000 career receiving yards mark at CCU with his first catch of the game at Troy on Sept. 29, becoming the 10th player in Coastal history to reach the career milestone. With his team-high six catches for 64 yards last weekend, he has also recorded least one reception in nine-straight games.
Despite the setback at Troy, the Chants still rank third in the league in scoring at 34.2 points per game, third in rushing offense at 242.2 yards per game and third in total offense at 417.8 yards per contest. Defensively, CCU is third in the Sun Belt in pass defense allowing just 197.8 yards per game through the air and led by Chandler Kryst’s team-high two interceptions on the season.
The bye this week could not be coming at a better time for the Chanticleers who have been essentially on the road for three weeks due to Hurricane Florence and its effects. The campus which was closed on Sept. 11 reopened this weekend, Sept. 28, and classes resumed on Oct. 1.
Georgia Southern
Overall vs. South Alabama: Fifth Meeting – Georgia Southern Leads, 4-0
Last Meeting: Nov. 18, 2017 (W, 52-0) – Statesboro, Ga.
Georgia Southern is 27-8 on Homecoming in the modern era, but has lost its past two (Louisiana in 2016 and New Mexico State last year).
In the four previous games between the two squads, GS has outscored South Alabama by a combined 159-32 (39.7-8) with South Alabama having yet to top the 20-point mark against the Georgia Southern defense.
Georgia Southern won 28-6 in 2014 in Mobile, 55-17 in 2015 in Statesboro, 24-9 in 2016 in Mobile and 52-0 last year in Statesboro. The 2014 game was the first Sun Belt Conference contest in GS football history and was the first of eight league wins for the Eagles en route to a 2014 conference title and perfect league record.
In the four contests, the Eagles have run for 1,484 yards on just 239 carries (6.2 YPC). Eighteen of 21 Eagle scores have come on the ground, as well.
Georgia Southern has five players on its roster from the state of Alabama, including senior running back Monteo Garrett (Talladega).
Georgia State
Overall vs. Troy: Sixth Meeting – Troy Leads, 4-1
Last Meeting: Oct. 21, 2017 (L, 10-34) – Atlanta, Ga.
Georgia State opened Sun Belt play with a 46-14 victory over ULM. The 46 points are Georgia State’s second-most vs. FBS opponent and third-most overall, and the 32-point margin is the Panthers’ largest margin of vs. FBS opponent.
The Panthers rushed for a school-record 308 yards, led by true freshman Seth Paige, who rushed for 145 yards and two touchdowns on just nine carries, including an 82-yard touchdown that is the longest run and third-longest play from scrimmage in school history.
Quarterback Dan Ellington completed 15 of 18 passes to set a school-record for completion percentage at .833.
Penny Hart had the first punt return for touchdown in school history with a 49-yard return that is also the second-longest return in Panther annals.
With seven catches, Penny Hart (177 career receptions) moved past Albert Wilson (175) and into second place in GSU history, trailing only Robert Davis (222).
The Panthers held ULM to 262 yards of total offense, the third-best defensive performance in school history. GSU allowed just 43 total yards and one first down in the second half.
Louisiana
Overall vs. Texas State: Fifth Meeting – Louisiana Leads, 4-0
Last Meeting: Oct. 12, 2017 (W, 24-7) – Lafayette, La.
Louisiana remains one of 12 teams in the FBS that is perfect in the red zone thus far this season, scoring the two times they reached the red zone in last week’s game at No. 1 Alabama to improve to 12-for-12 on the season in the red zone.
Louisiana remains as one of the best running teams in the country, ranking 39th in the country averaging 204.5 yards per game through the first month of the season.
Sophomore running back Trey Ragas ran for 100 yards for the third time this season, second game back-to-back and he is currently ranked third in the FBS in yards per carry at 7.9 ypc.
Senior quarterback Andre Nunez tossed yet another touchdown pass giving him at least one in Louisiana’s first four games of the season.
Junior wide receiver Ja’Marcus Bradley caught his fourth touchdown pass of the season and that ranks him 28th in the country in touchdowns caught.
ULM
Overall vs. Ole Miss: Fourth Meeting – Ole Miss Leads, 3-0
Last Meeting: Nov. 15, 2008 (L, 0-59) – Oxford, Miss.
Junior quarterback Caleb Evans ranks second the Sun Belt in passing yards (238.4 per game) and total offense (291.2 ypg.). The 6-foot-2, 212-pound Evans has completed 113-of-189 throws (.598) for 1,192 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions. He also leads the team and ranks 10th in the league in rushing, averaging 52.8 yards per games.
In 24 career games, Evans has completed 400-of-677 passes (.591) for 4,894 yards, 28 TDs and 18 interceptions. He needs 106 passing yards at Ole Miss Saturday to become just the eighth quarterback in ULM history to reach the 5,000-yard passing milestone.
A key to Caleb Evans’ throwing success in 2018 has been his ability to utilize all of the weapons at his disposal in ULM’s one-back offense. Five Warhawks have at least 11 receptions, including Marcus Green (19 for 332 yards), R.J. Turner (18 for 211 yards), Derrick Gore (14 for 58), Sloan Spiller (13 for 108) and Xavier Brown (11 for 158). In addition, four different receivers have at least one touchdown reception.
Fifth-year senior safety Collin Turner leads ULM in tackles with 37 (24 solos, 13 assists). Turner recorded a career-best 12 tackles at Georgia State, with two resulting in losses (12 yards) including a 10-yard sack.
South Alabama
Overall vs. Georgia Southern: Fifth Meeting – Georgia Southern Leads, 4-0
Last Meeting: Nov. 18, 2017 (L, 0-52) – Statesboro, Ga.
When South visits Georgia Southern on Saturday it will conclude a three-game stretch on the road for the Jaguars. It’s the only contest away from home in October for the Jags, who have a 3-7 mark in Sun Belt Conference play on the road in the month.
The Eagles have scored at least 24 point in winning each of the first four meetings between the two programs — including averaging 53.5 points per outing in the two matchups in Statesboro — while South has been held to a single-digit figure in three of four contests.
Appalachian State handed the Jaguars their first Sun Belt Conference loss of the season with a 52-7 win in Boone last weekend. The Mountaineers jumped out to a 21-7 lead at the end of the opening period — which included a pair of scoring drives that started in Jag territory and took 35 seconds or less off the clock — and then tacked on three more touchdowns in the second quarter as the Mountaineers scored on five straight possessions in the first half.
Kawaan Baker has scored at least once in four of the Jaguars’ first five outings this fall and now has eight touchdowns on the year after posting USA’s lone touchdown on a 2-yard run midway through the first quarter. The sophomore had a career-high 89 yards receiving after hauling in four passes, finishing with over 100 all-purpose yards for the first time this season.
Texas State
Overall vs. Louisiana: Fifth Meeting – Louisiana Leads, 4-0
Last Meeting: Oct. 12, 2017 (L, 7-24) – Lafayette, La.
The Texas State football team looks to improve its overall record to 2-3 and even its Sun Belt Conference record to 1-1 when TXST hosts the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns on Oct. 6 at Bobcat Stadium. Texas State seeks its second straight victory at home this season after dropping a 25-21 decision at UTSA and a 41-31 setback at South Alabama.
The Bobcats are tied for fifth among national leaders in fumble recoveries with six this season after Anthony J. Taylor recorded his first career recovery against the Roadrunners.
Texas State is ranked eighth nationally and second among Sun Belt Conference teams in blocked punts with one after Anthony D. Taylor recorded his fifth career blocked kick at UTSA.
The blocked punt gives the Bobcats two blocked kicks overall and that ranks ninth among NCAA leaders and second in the Sun Belt. The first blocked kick came when London Harris blocked an extra-point attempt at South Alabama for the first one in his career.
Troy
Overall vs. Georgia State: Sixth Meeting – Troy Leads, 4-1
Last Meeting: Oct. 21, 2017 (W, 34-10) – Atlanta, Ga.
Troy won its seventh straight Sun Belt Conference game dating back to last season; the streak is the fourth longest in the country.
Troy improved to 70-38 all-time in Sun Belt Conference games which is the most wins since the Trojans joined the league in 2004.
Troy’s 70 wins trail Arkansas State by just three for the most in league history and the Red Wolves joined the conference three years prior to Troy.
Against Coastal, Marcus Jones returned the opening kickoff of the game for a touchdown; it marked the second straight season that Jones returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown against Coastal Carolina. Jones became Troy’s all-time leader with his fourth career kickoff return for a touchdown.
Neal Brown has never been shutout as a head coach or as an offensive coordinator -- a span of 133 games.