Exactly nine years after upsetting Michigan in the Big House, Appalachian State proved that their program’s rich history cannot be defined by a single win.
The Mountaineers traveled to Knoxville to start the season on a Thursday night with an upset on their mind. Ranked #9 in the country, the Tennessee Volunteers struggled heavily against Scott Satterfield’s squad as the Mountaineers pounded away on the ground. Running back Marcus Cox pitched in a great performance (24 attempts, 115 yards, 4.8 YPC) while quarterback Taylor Lamb was efficient through the air, keeping Appalachian State’s offense balanced.
Tennessee failed to control the tempo at home and seemed shocked by the Mountaineers’ ability to compete in the trenches as Appalachian State brought relentless pressure to Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs and opened up huge rushing lanes for Cox throughout the game.