Dre Walker intercepted Mitch Griffis with 2:16 remaining and East Carolina driving at the App State 23. Earlier, Caleb Sandstrom’s strip-sack had handed the Mountaineers a short field they converted into a touchdown. App State won 27-24 on the road, with its defenders delivering the plays that kept ECU from taking the game back.
Charlotte visits Saturday, September 19, at 6 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+. App State has a 79% chance to win in the interactive guide, which links the forecast to its methodology. Results elsewhere offer App State little help this week.
The Mountaineers can make Saturday easier on their defense by getting more out of their rushing possessions. At ECU, Mike Anthony’s offense ran 44 times for just 129 net yards, compared with 28 pass attempts. Yet App State also put together touchdown drives of 83 and 80 yards and scored on all four red-zone visits. The ECU box score captures both the promise and the limitation. App could finish drives, but 2.9 yards per rush and five conversions on 15 third downs left too many possessions vulnerable.
Anthony’s first game as offensive coordinator had produced 299 rushing yards on 39 attempts against Maine. The commitment survived the move to FBS opposition; the return on those carries did not. Against Charlotte, watch whether App’s runners can leave Singleton manageable second and third downs without needing him to rescue possessions through the air.
Malachi Singleton followed his first collegiate start against Maine, when he went 22 of 24 for 291 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, by handling every App State pass attempt at ECU. He completed 20 of 28 for 267 yards and again threw no interceptions. That gives fans a reason to expect continuity at quarterback while asking the running game to contribute more consistently.
At ECU, Samford transfer Sam Pickett III caught four passes for 86 yards, and Lindenwood transfer Darrin Fugitt caught seven for 66. App State reported 66 newcomers at the start of spring practice. Pickett and Fugitt are already giving Singleton productive targets against FBS competition as that rebuilt roster comes together.
App’s defense held ECU to two conversions on 13 third downs despite allowing 417 yards. Those stops strengthen the case for a rebound, though the yardage leaves plenty for Charlotte to challenge. After consecutive five-win seasons in 2024 and 2025, fans have reason to welcome a road win without treating it as proof that the turnaround is complete.
Charlotte offers a particular opening for the ground game. Ole Miss gained 420 yards at 7.2 yards per play against the 49ers, and coach Tim Albin identified continued missed tackles, including defenders leaving their feet too early. App’s runners have an opportunity to turn imperfect tackles into extra yards, though Ole Miss’s production is no guarantee of their own.
App State leads the Charlotte series 4-0. Keeping it unbeaten would be satisfying; doing so with Anthony’s rushing commitment producing more useful yardage would make this home meeting especially encouraging.