Opposites: App State, W. Kentucky meet in Boca Raton Bowl

Posted December 05, 2021 6:00 am

By The Associated Press

Appalachian State wide receiver Thomas Hennigan (5) does a spin move to avoid Louisiana-Lafayette defenders before scoring a touchdown in the second half during the Sun Belt Conference championship NCAA college football game in Lafayette, La., Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton) The Associated Press

Appalachian State (10-3, Sun Belt) vs. Western Kentucky (8-5, Conference USA), Dec. 18, 11 a.m. ET

LOCATION: Boca Raton, Florida.

TOP PLAYERS

Appalachian State: RB Camerun Peoples has rushed for 825 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Western Kentucky: QB Bailey Zappe leads the country with an average of 428.5 yards passing, having thrown for 5,545 yards and 56 touchdowns.

NOTABLE

Appalachian State: The Mountaineers are No. 2 nationally with 109 tackles for loss (8.2 per game) while also ranking in the top 20 in scoring defense (No. 16, 19.3 points), total defense (No. 18, 325.5 yards), pass efficiency defense (No. 12, 114.7), interceptions (No. 10, 15), defensive touchdowns (No. 6, four), red zone defense (No. 15, 73.7 percent) and rushing defense (No. 19, 118.8).

Western Kentucky: The Hilltoppers rank second nationally with a 43.1 scoring average and have two receivers - Jerreth Sterns (137 catches, 1,718 yards, 14 TDs) and Mitchell Tinsley (80, 1,299, 12) over 1,000 receiving yards.

LAST TIME

The teams are meeting for the sixth time. Appalachian State is 4-1 in the series.

BOWL HISTORY

Appalachian State: The Mountaineers will be making their record seventh bowl appearance in as many years since moving up to the Bowl Subdivision, and they have a 6-0 record in those games.

Western Kentucky: The Hilltoppers are making their eighth bowl appearance in the last 10 seasons and 31st overall. They beat Memphis 51-31 in the 2016 Boca Raton Bowl.

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Appalachian State head coach Shawn Clark, right, claps next to quarterback Chase Brice (7) after an extra point during the first half of the Sun Belt Conference championship NCAA college football game against Louisiana-Lafayette in Lafayette, La., Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton) The Associated Press

UTSA safety Kelechi Nwachuku (11) breaks up a pass intended for Western Kentucky wide receiver Josh Sterns (9) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in the Conference USA Championship, Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) The Associated Press

Western Kentucky quarterback Bailey Zappe (4) runs against UTSA during the first half of an NCAA college football game in the Conference USA Championship, Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) The Associated Press

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