by Final Stats | Notes | Photo Gallery 
| USATSI Gallery
THE BASICS
The Score: Appalachian State 31, Ohio 29
Location: Montgomery, Alabama – Cramton Stadium
Attendance: 21,395
The Short Story: In the second-ever Raycom Media Camellia Bowl, Ohio’s defense forced three turnovers and had a pair of touchdowns as well as a safety, but Appalachian State emerged with a 31-29 field goal as time expired at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala. on Saturday (Dec. 19).
HOW WE GOT HERE:
– After missing a field goal on its opening drive, Appalachian State struck first as quarterback Taylor Lamb ran for a 21-yard touchdown with 7:17 remaining in the opening quarter.
– The Bobcats clawed onto the scoreboard as redshirt senior kicker Josiah Yazdani converted on a 36-yard field goal with 1:31 remaining.
– On Appalachian State’s next play from scrimmage, redshirt sophomore linebacker Quentin Poling intercepted Lamb and ran the ball back 20 yards for a touchdown that gave the Bobcats a 10-7 lead with 1:23 remaining in the half.
-The Bobcats tacked on another touchdown before halftime as sophomore running back A.J. Ouellette punched the ball in from seven yards out with 20 seconds remaining in the half.
– Ohio forced its third turnover of the game in the third quarter when redshirt senior linebacker Jovon Johnson took the ball out of receiver Ike Lewis’ hands and ran the ball back 46 yards for a touchdown.
– Appalachian State countered in the early in the fourth quarter, scoring 14 points in 42 seconds on a 17-yard pass from Lamb to tight end Barrett Burns and a 26-yard run by running back Marcus Cox.
– The Mountaineers added another touchdown on a six-yard catch by Burns to take a 28-24 lead with 11:56 remaining in the game.
– Johnson made his second scoring play of the game, tackling Cox in the endzone for a safety to cut the deficit to 28-26 with 6:06 remaining in the game.
– Yazdani gave Ohio the lead with 1:47 left in the contest on a 21-yard field goal.
– Appalachian State kicker Zach Matics gave the Mountaineers the lead and the win on a 23-yard field goal as time expired.
BIG PLAYS:
– On a third and 16 on Ohio’s first scoring drive, redshirt junior quarterback JD Sprague extended the drive with a 18-yard run up the middle.
– Ohio scored its first touchdown of the game eight seconds later when Poling dropped into zone coverage and picked off Lamb, running it back 20 yards for his second defensive touchdown of the season.
– A miscommunication between Lamb and center Jesse Chapman caused a short snap that was jumped on by redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Tony Porter on Appalachian State’s sixth play after Poling’s touchdown. Following a 16-yard connection between Sprague and redshirt junior wide receiver Sebastian Smith, Ouellette took the ball seven yards for a score.
– In the third quarter after the Mountaineers recovered an Ohio fumble, the Bobcats responded as Johnson tore the ball out of Lewis’ hands and brought it back 46 yards for his second defensive touchdown of the season.
– Johnson stormed into the offensive backfield and took down Cox in the end zone to pull the Bobcats within two late in the game.
– After Sprague left the field with an injury, redshirt junior quarterback Greg Windham completed a 33-yard pass to redshirt senior wide receiver Kawmae Sawyer on fourth and one to extend the drive and set up Yazdani’s late field goal.
SCORING DRIVES
First Quarter:
07:17 APP ST – Lamb, 21-yard rush (Matics kick), 4-66, 1:31 — 7-0
Second quarter
01:31 OHIO – Yazdani, 36-yard field goal, 11-45, 5:56 — 7-3
01:23 OHIO – Poling, 20-yard interception return (Yazdani kick) – 10-7
00:20 OHIO – Ouellette, 7-yard rush, 2-23, 0:19 — 17-7
Third Quarter
08:06 NIU – Johnson, 46-yard fumble return (Yazdani kick) — 24-7
Fourth Quarter
13:52 APP ST – Burns, 17-yard reception (Matics kick), 11-97, 4:46 — 24-14
13:10 APP ST– Cox, 26-yard rush (Matics kick), 1-26, 0:07 – 24-21
11:56 APP ST – Burns, 8-yard reception (Matics kick), 4-47, 1:02 –28-24
06:06 OHIO – Johnson, 3-yard safety – 28-26
01:47 OHIO – Yazdani, 21-yard field goal, 8-51, 4:19 – 29-28
00:00 OHIO – Matics, 23-yard field goal, 9-73, 1:47 – 31-29
FINAL STATS:
Sprague: 14-for-28, 132 yards and two interceptions, 35 yards rushing.
Ouellette: 45 yards and one touchdown on 14 carries.
Davis: 14 tackles, four solo tackles and one pass breakup.
Poling: 11 tackles, four tackles for loss, one interception and one touchdown.
Johnson: Nine tackles, five solo tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one touchdown.
Papi White(Creek/Seminole): Had 57 all purpose yards in his first game back after missing the previous five games due to an injury. White led the team in reciving catches with four and carried the ball seven times for the Bobcats
