Welcome everyone to another edition of Around the Sun Belt! It was a pretty good week for the #FunBelt with some wild finishes and a competitive matchup against an SEC opponent.
Appalachian State Mountaineers:
Appalachian State learned a lesson that the Cajuns learned earlier in the season when they got in the middle of a shootout against UL Monroe. That lesson: it’s hard to outshoot an offense like the Warhawks have.
Taylor Lamb tied it up with 53 seconds left in regulation, but Caleb Evans threw what would be the game-winner with a 50-yard pass to RJ Turner to come away with a 52-48 win. The Mountaineers will return to Boone to take on Georgia Southern in a Thursday night matchup with kickoff set for 6:30 pm.
Arkansas State Red Wolves:
Arkansas State had the week off and will travel to take on South Alabama on November 11th. Kickoff is set for 4 pm.
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers:
The Chanticleers had a legitimate shot of winning a big SEC matchup against the Arkansas Razorbacks, leading 38-25 after an endzone pass to Chris Jones from Kilton Anderson. However, TJ Hammonds responded with a big 88-yard run into the endzone to make it a six-point game.
Former Teurlings Rebel Cole Kelley got the win thanks to a one yard run into the endzone to get the 39-38 win. Coastal Carolina will return to Conway to play host to Troy.
Georgia State Panthers:
The Panthers rallied late thanks to a pair of touchdown passes from Conner Manning to win the in-state rivalry 21-17.
Georgia State will head over to San Marcos on Saturday to take on Texas State with kickoff set for 3 pm.
Georgia Southern Eagles:
The Eagles looked like they had a solid chance to get a big win over in-state rival after Shai Werts ran it in from five yards out late in the fourth quarter. However, the defense broke down in the second half allowing two touchdown passes from Conner Manning to continue their winless season.
Georgie Southern will travel to Boone, North Carolina to take on Appalachian State with kickoff set for 6:30 pm.
Idaho Vandals:
Idaho came very close to pulling off the upset after a late touchdown pass from Mason Petrino to cut the lead to three points. However, the Trojans recovered the onside kick with 23 seconds left in the ballgame.
Idaho will have the weekend off before returning to action on November 18th against Coastal Carolina with kickoff time to be determined.
New Mexico State Aggies:
New Mexico State was able to get the Bobcats back to reality with a convincing 48-35 win over Texas State. Tyler Rogers threw it all over the place with 474 yards and three touchdowns on the evening.
The Aggies will return to action against the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns on November 18th with kickoff time to be determined.
South Alabama Jaguars:
South Alabama’s offense was shut down on Saturday by the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns in a 19-14 loss at home. This was the first time a road team has won in the series.
The Jaguars will stay at home to take on Arkansas State with kickoff set for 4 pm.
Texas State Bobcats:
The Bobcats offensive line was tested at home last weekend, allowing five sacks on the evening on the way to a 48-35 loss to New Mexico State.
Texas State will return to action on Saturday at home against Georgia State with kickoff set for 3 pm.
Troy Trojans:
The Troy Trojans had a slight scare in the final 30 seconds after Mason Petrino connected with David Ungerer on an eight yard pass. However, the Trojans were able to come away with a 24-21 win after recovering the onside kick.
The Trojans will travel up to Conway to take on Coastal Carolina with kickoff set for 3:30 pm.
UL Monroe Warhawks:
The Warhawks seemed to begin to trend downwards after a couple of tough losses. However, their matchup on Saturday against App State got them back in their wheelhouse with a 52-45 win thanks to Caleb Evans. Evans earned another Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week honor with 356 yards through the air and three touchowns.
The Warhawks have the week off before taking on the Auburn Tigers with kickoff to be determined.
-Clint Domingue