Mountaineers climb out of big hole

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Zach Matics’ 23-yard field goal on the final play lifted Appalachian State to a 31-29 victory over Ohio on Saturday night.

The Mountaineers (11-2) rallied from a 24-7 deficit in the fourth quarter to take the lead, only to lose it again late.

Appalachian State started its game-winning drive from its 21 with 1:42 to play.

It was the Mountaineers’ first bowl game since moving up to FBS.

Quarterback Taylor Lamb had a 32-yard scramble then handed off to backup tailback Jalin Moore several times. Moore had a tackle-breaking 15-yarder and a 6-yarder to set up the kick by Matics.

A safety and Josiah Yazdani’s 21-yard field goal had given Ohio (8-5) the lead in a game where the Bobcats scored two defensive touchdowns after a sluggish start.

MVP Marcus Cox gained 162 yards on 24 carries for Appalachian State, which set a Sun Belt Conference record for victories in its second season in FBS.

The Bobcats’ final drive was finished by third-team quarterback Greg Windham after an injury to J.D. Sprague.

Windham came in on a third down and was spun to the ground short on a run. On fourth and 1, he dropped the ball and scooped it up before hitting Kawmae Sawyer, who ran down the right sideline for a 33-yard gain before getting knocked out of bounds to set up the go-ahead field goal.

Appalachian State started its fourth-quarter comeback with a 97-yard drive and two touchdowns in a 42-second span before taking the lead. Lamb hit tight end Barrett Burns for a 17-yard touchdown pass, and they hooked up on an 8-yarder a couple of minutes later for a 28-24 lead with 11:56 left.

Cox ran 26 yards down the left sideline one play after Latrell Gibbs’ interception.

Mondo Williams made a diving interception of another Sprague pass and Cox ran up the middle for a 35-yard gain to set up Burns’ second score.

Ohio scored 17 points over the final 1:31 after being dominated most of the first half. Linebacker Quentin Poling returned an interception 20 yards for a touchdown 8 seconds after a 36-yard field goal by Yazdani.