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Marcus Cox Leads Way During App State’s Victory Over Elon, Price Returns and Satterfield Earns First Win

Sept. 23, 2013. Behind 308 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns from true freshman Marcus Cox (Dacula, Ga./Dacula), Appalachian State University football opened its final Southern Conference campaign with a 31-21 triumph over Elon on Saturday evening at soggy Rhodes Stadium.

Cox rushed 26 times for 159 yards and a touchdown and caught five passes for 149 yards and two more scores to help give Scott Satterfield his first victory as a head coach. 

Thanks in large part to Cox’s 50- and 73-yard touchdown receptions, Appalachian State raced out to a 24-0 lead with 2:50 to go in the first half. The Mountaineers carried a seemingly comfortable 24-7 advantage into the final period but Elon scored back-to-back touchdowns to pull within a field goal at 24-21 with 3:43 remaining in the ballgame.

However, Appalachian would not relinquish the lead thanks to Cox, who accounted for all 75 yards on the ensuing possession that culminated with the freshman scoring from three yards out to stretch the advantage to 31-21 with 1:27 to go in the ballgame. Cox toted the ball six times during the victory-clinching 75-yard drive, including a pivotal 18-yard gain on third-and-seven from the Apps’ 28 yard line and the three-yard jaunt that all but sealed the Mountaineers’ 18th-straight win over Elon.

After managing just 353 yards per game in season-opening defeats to Montana and North Carolina A&T, Appalachian State amassed 599 yards of offense on Saturday night, including 404 through the air. Additionally, the Mountaineers’ 31 points were more than they put on the board in the first two games combined (27) and the Apps held a commanding 35:02-24:58 advantage in time of possession.

The high-powered offense had a pair of engineers. Senior Jamal Londry-Jackson (Atlanta, Ga./North Atlanta) made his 22nd-consecutive start at quarterback and completed 16-of-21 passes for 205 yards and a touchdown while behind center primarily for the first and third quarters. Working primarily the second and fourth periods, sophomore Kameron Bryant (Cary, N.C./Panther Creek) completed 9-of-12 passes for 199 yards and two scores. Neither signal-caller turned the ball over.

Appalachian State’s offense was also buoyed by the return of sophomore wide receiver Sean Price (Reston, Va./South Lakes). In his first game of the season, Price caught a game-high eight passes for 99 yards, coming up just a yard short of what would have been his fifth-straight 100-yard performance. As usual, the all-American and Walter Payton Award candidate turned in some highlight-reel-worthy plays, including a 41-yard touchdown from Bryant in the second quarter and a leaping 31-yard catch from Londry-Jackson that moved the Mountaineers off their own goal line in the third.

Seniors Tony Washington (High Point, N.C./T.W. Andrews) and Andrew Peacock (Durham, N.C./Northern Durham) added five catches apiece or 71 and 54 yards, respectively.

Defensively, freshman inside linebacker John Law (Atlanta, Ga./Grady) turned in another monster performance with a game-high 15 tackles, a fumble recovery and a pair of interceptions, the latter of which ended any hopes of an Elon comeback with at the Appalachian 29 yard line with 39 seconds left in the game.

In all, the Mountaineers’ allowed a season-low 21 points and held Elon to convert just five of its 14 third downs.

With its first victory of the season under its belt, Appalachian State returns to Kidd Brewer Stadium next Saturday for what has turned into an intriguing non-conference tilt versus 4-0 Charleston Southern. The Family Weekend contest between the Mountaineers and undefeated Buccaneers is set for 3:30 p.m.

NOTES: With its 18th-straight victory over Elon, Appalachian State completed a perfect 11-0 run versus the Phoenix in SoCon play … the game opened the final SoCon campaign for both programs — Appalachian will join the NCAA Division I FBS Sun Belt Conference and Elon is moving to the NCAA Division I FCS Colonial Athletic Association in 2014 … the Mountaineers’ winning streak versus Elon dates back to 1965 — Appalachian’s last loss in the series came on Oct. 3, 1964 … Appalachian State avoided its first 0-3 start since 1993 … the Mountaineers moved to 25-2 in their last 27 games that immediately followed a same-season loss … Londry-Jackson moved into a tie for third place in Appalachian State history with 476 career completions (tying D.J. Campbell – 1989-92) … the 200-yard passing game was the 18th of his career, moving him into a tie for second in program history with Richie Williams (2002-05). 

APPALACHIAN STATE 31, ELON 21
SEPTEMBER 21, 2013 • ELON, N.C. (RHODES STADIUM)
POSTGAME NOTES

Team

• Appalachian State moved to 1-2 overall and 1-0 in Southern Conference play. Elon fell to 1-3 overall and 0-1 in Southern Conference play.

• Appalachian State snapped a three-game overall losing streak (dating back to 38-37 overtime loss to Illinois State in the second round of the 2012 NCAA Division I Football Championship – Dec. 1, 2012).

• Appalachian State avoided its first 0-3 start since 1993. The Mountaineers also avoided three-straight losses in the same season since ’93.

• Appalachian State moved to 25-2 in its last 27 games that immediately followed a same-season loss.

• Appalachian State set season highs for points (31), total yards (599), passing yards (404) and rushing yards (195).

• Appalachian State’s 31 points were more than it scored in the first two games of the season combined (27).

• Appalachian State’s 599 yards were its most since it amassed 684 in 55-14 win over Coastal Carolina on Sept. 29, 2012.

• Appalachian State defeated Elon for the 18th-straight time, dating back to 1965 (Elon’s last win in the series came on Oct. 3, 1964).

• Appalachian State finished with a perfect 11-0 record versus Elon in Southern Conference play. Both teams are in their final SoCon season — Appalachian State joins the NCAA Division I FBS Sun Belt Conference and Elon moves to the NCAA Division I FCS Colonial Athletic Association in 2014.

Individual

• Scott Satterfield earned his first win as a head coach.

• In the first start of his career, true freshman running back Marcus Cox amassed 308 all-purpose yards (149 receiving, 159 rushing) and scored three touchdowns, one on a three-yard run and the others on 50- and 73-yard receptions (both career highs).

• Appalachian State employed a two-quarterback system. Playing the primarily in the first and third quarters, senior Jamal Londry-Jackson completed 16-of-21 passes for 205 yards and one touchdowns. Playing primarily in the second and fourth quarters, sophomore Kameron Bryant completed 9-of-12 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns.

• Londry-Jackson moved in to a tie for third place in Appalachian State history with 476 career completions (tying D.J. Campbell – 1989-92). The 200-yard passing game was the 18th of his career, moving him into a tie for second in Appalachian State history with Richie Williams (2002-05).

• Playing his first game of the season, sophomore Sean Price caught 8 passes for 99 yards, marking the ninth time in 14 career games that he has had at least 90 receiving yards.

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Photo courtesy of Appalachian Athletics/Dave Mayo

 

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Satterfield earns his first win as head coach of ASU. Photo courtesy of Appalachian Athletics/Dave Mayo

 

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Many ASU fans made the trek to see App State play against Elon. Photo courtesy of Appalachian Athletics/Dave Mayo

 

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Just as starter Jamal Londry-Jacksond did, Kameron Bryant played exceptionally well on Saturday

 

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True freshman Marcus Cox had a career game against Elon. Photo courtesy of Appalachian Athletics/Dave Mayo