McDuffie’s 50-yard fumble return for TD lifts Appalachian State past S.C. State 20-13

Appalachian State defeats S.C. State 20-13

BOONE, N.C. — Dominique McDuffie returned a fumble 50 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter and Appalachian State defeated South Carolina State 20-13 in the first round of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs on Saturday.

The Mountaineers (10-2), who defeated S.C. State in the first round before falling to Richmond last year, will face the winner of Richmond and Elon in the quarterfinals on Dec. 5.

Tied at 13-13, South Carolina State went for it on fourth-and-1 from Appalachian State’s 15-yard line. But the Bulldogs (10-2) fumbled, McDuffie recovered and returned it for the winning score with 7:42 left to play.

The Mountaineers only other touchdown came with 4:35 left in the second quarter on a 7-yard catch by Brian Quick from Armanti Edwards.

Malcolm Long was 18 of 36 for 189 yards and a season-high three interceptions for the Bulldogs.