EditorsNote: A few minor tweaks made
No. 24 Appalachian State answered Louisiana-Monroe's early score with 52 consecutive points in romping to a 52-7 victory in a battle of Sun Belt Conference division leaders on a rainy Saturday afternoon in Boone, N.C.
The East-leading Mountaineers (6-0, 3-0 Sun Belt) notched their 12th consecutive victory -- the nation's third-longest active winning streak -- while earning their 14th consecutive win at home.
After the West-leading Warhawks (3-4, 2-1) drove 82 yards for a touchdown on their opening possession, running back Darrynton Evans tied the score at 7 with a 59-yard run on the Mountaineers' third offensive play from scrimmage. The onslaught continued from there.
Evans finished the first half with 130 of his game-high 136 rushing yards and scored a second touchdown on a 15-yard reception.
With 572 total yards, Appalachian State went over the 500-yard mark in total offense for the first time since November against Georgia State. The Mountaineers' total of 302 rushing yards marked a season high and was their first 300-yard rushing game since Sept. 29, 2018, in a win over South Alabama.
Appalachian State quarterback Zac Thomas completed 18 of 30 passes for 214 yards, with three touchdowns and one interception. He also ran for 58 yards and a touchdown.
After their opening drive, the Warhawks managed only 131 yards in total offense the rest of the way against an Appalachian State defense that came up with three turnovers.
ULM running back Josh Johnson, the Sun Belt's leading rusher who entered the game with an 118.7-yard average compared to Evans' 108.0 mark, managed 77 yards on 13 carries.
Down 31-7 at the half, ULM replaced senior quarterback Caleb Evans with redshirt freshman Colby Suits early in the third quarter. Evans was 9 of 19 passing for only 75 yards, but that put him over the 8,000-yard mark for his career with 8,043. He threw one interception.
Suits, who was 4 of 11 passing in three previous appearances, finished 2 of 8 for 27 yards with an interception.
--Field Level Media
