Peoples sets bowl rushing mark, App State tops North Texas
Peoples ran for a bowl-record 317 yards and tied another mark with five rushing touchdowns to lead the Mountaineers past North Texas 56-28. North Texas (4-6) of Conference USA fell behind 28-7 and had no answer for Peoples or the App State rushing game, which finished with 500 yards. The Frisco Bowl, set to start bowl season last Saturday, was canceled when the virus struck SMU, one of that game's teams. “If you're going to give up explosive (plays), you're going to have a long day,” North Texas coach Sam Littrell said. Before the game, North Texas announced leading rusher DeAndre Torrey and second-leading receiver Deonte Simpson would not play against the Mountaineers.
No. 20 La.-Lafayette overcome bad snaps to beat App State
Louisiana-Lafayette was 0-8 against Appalachian State, including losses in the last two conference championship games. But Ferrod Gardner and Chauncey Manac combined to sack Appalachian State quarterback Zac Thomas on a fourth-and-9 play at the Lafayette 29. Appalachian State beat Louisiana-Lafayette four times in the previous two seasons, twice in the championship game on this same field. 14 Coastal Carolina in the Sun Belt Conference championship game on Dec. 19. Appalachian State: Head on the road to face Georgia Southern on Dec. 12 in the regular season finale.