BOONE, N.C. – For most of the first quarter, the 2019 Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game looked like a romp for the home team.
Appalachian State's 21st-ranked Mountaineers didn't have to breathe hard in scoring three early touchdowns in a span of just over 13 minutes. Not that much later, App State had a 35-14 lead late in the second quarter and had scored touchdowns on five straight possessions against Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns.
"It was 21-0 before you could look around," said Louisiana head coach Billy Napier.
Two quarters later, the host Mountaineers were fighting for their lives and had to survive an onside kick attempt in the final 80 seconds to hold on for a 45-38 victory in the win in the league's second Football Championship Game.