Black and Gold Take Care of Business in Conway
By Eli Pauca
App State football traveled to Conway, South Carolina, on October 18, 2026, aiming to rebound from a close loss to Old Dominion.
The game started with some early struggles for App State, marked by a penalty that led to a long Coastal Carolina drive, culminating in a 21-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Deuce Bailey to Tristian Gardner. However, the Mountaineers quickly responded with a 12-yard rush from sophomore running back Jaquari Lewis, evening the score.
App State took the lead with a 45-yard pass from senior quarterback Malachi Singleton to junior Nate Branch. Lewis added another touchdown, securing a 14-7 lead at halftime.
The second quarter belonged to Coastal Carolina. After a penalty moved them into scoring position, Bailey threw a 71-yard touchdown pass to Robby Washington. The Mountaineers missed a 40-yard field goal, giving Coastal Carolina another chance. Bailey connected with Ben Verges for an 8-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 21-14 at halftime.
App State had one last drive to make something happen before the break, but a fumble by Singleton gave Coastal Carolina the opportunity to further extend their lead with a 58-yard field goal, a program first.