NEW ORLEANS — App State handed No. 14/16 Coastal Carolina its first loss of the 2021 season, while Louisiana remained unbeaten in conference play.
App State sent 31,061 fans home happy when it used a 24-yard field goal from senior kicker Chandler Staton as time expired to overcome No. 14/16 Coastal Carolina, 30-27, on Wednesday evening at Kidd Brewer Stadium. The victory, which was nationally televised on ESPN2, was the Mountaineers’ first over a ranked opponent since joining the FBS in 2014.
Senior wide receivers Malik Williams—10 receptions for a career-high 206 yards and a touchdown—and Corey Sutton—six catches for 113 yards and a touchdown—each posted 100-yard efforts. Mountaineers senior quarterback Chase Brice threw for a career-high 347 yards and two touchdowns.
Louisiana clinched bowl eligibility for the fourth-straight season, as it escaped Joneboro with a 28-27 win over Arkansas State on Thursday night. The Ragin’ Cajuns tallied 424 yards on the ground with redshirt sophomore running back Chris Smith—238 yards and two touchdowns—and freshman running back Montrell Johnson—150 yards and two touchdowns—carrying the bulk of the load.
Behind a complete performance from redshirt junior quarterback Darren Grainger, Georgia State earned a 28-16 homecoming win over Texas State Saturday. Grainger threw for 200 yards and two touchdowns, while accounting for a career-high 106 yards in the ground game. With 115 rushing yards on the day, Panther senior running back Tucker Gregg eclipsed the 1,000-yard plateau for his career. Senior tight end Roger Carter also topped the 1,000-yard receiving mark with a 16-yard catch.
Freshman quarterback Chandler Rogers led ULM to its second-straight victory Saturday. The Warhawks outlasted South Alabama, 41-31, in a shootout in Monroe after upsetting Liberty, 31-28, a week ago. Rogers completed 25-of-35 passes for 369 yards and four touchdowns, while Jaguars senior quarterback Jake Bentley threw for 320 yards and four touchdowns in the losing effort.
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SUN BELT FOOTBALL – WEEK 8 RESULTS
App State def. No. 14/16 Coastal Carolina, 30-27
Louisiana def. Arkansas State, 28-27
Georgia State def. Texas State, 28-16
ULM def. South Alabama, 41-31