In a dramatic finish, Appalachian State defeated No. 18 James Madison 26-23 in overtime on Saturday, ending the Dukes’ perfect season and 10-game winning streak. The game-winning touchdown came from Kaedin Robinson, who barely crossed the goal line before fumbling the ball. The play was initially ruled a touchback, but after a lengthy review, the officials overturned the call and awarded the score to the Mountaineers.
Robinson, a sophomore wide receiver, had a career day with six catches for 114 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter, giving Appalachian State a 14-10 lead. Robinson accounted for all three of the Mountaineers’ touchdowns in the game.
James Madison rallies in the fourth quarter to force overtime
James Madison, the No. 21 team in the nation and the top-ranked team in the FCS, trailed 20-10 entering the fourth quarter but did not give up easily. The Dukes scored two touchdowns in the final period, both on passes from Jordan McCloud to Reggie Brown. The first one was a 75-yard bomb that cut the deficit to 20-17 with 12:48 left. The second one was a 10-yard strike that tied the game at 23-23 with 1:17 remaining.
McCloud, a senior quarterback, had a stellar performance with 457 yards on 33-of-37 passing (89.2%) and four touchdowns. He also ran for 31 yards on seven carries. Brown, a junior wide receiver, was his favorite target with nine receptions for 202 yards and two scores.
Appalachian State survives despite turnovers and penalties
Appalachian State, a Sun Belt team that moved up to the FBS in 2014, had to overcome four turnovers and 10 penalties for 95 yards to pull off the upset. The Mountaineers lost two fumbles and threw two interceptions, giving James Madison plenty of opportunities to score. However, the Dukes could not capitalize on the turnovers, as they only scored three points off them.
The Mountaineers also had to deal with some questionable calls from the officials, such as a roughing the passer penalty that negated an interception in the third quarter, and a holding penalty that wiped out a touchdown run by Nate Noel in the fourth quarter. Noel, a sophomore running back, led the team with 86 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown.
What does this mean for both teams?
The win improves Appalachian State’s record to 7-4 and keeps them in contention for the Sun Belt East division title. The Mountaineers will face Troy next week in their final regular season game and will need a win and a Coastal Carolina loss to clinch the division. Appalachian State is also bowl-eligible for the eighth consecutive year.
The loss drops James Madison to 10-1 and snaps their 19-game home winning streak, the longest in the FCS. The Dukes will still likely earn a top seed and a first-round bye in the FCS playoffs, which will be announced on Sunday. James Madison will try to bounce back and make a deep run in the postseason, as they seek their third national championship in program history.
