Presley leads Appalachian State to 28-point 4th quarter in 42-41 comeback win over Chattanooga

Appalachian State rally beats Chattanooga 42-41

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Quarterback DeAndre Presley scooped up a fumble by Matt Cline after completing a pass to him and ran it in from 33 yards out, capping a 28-point Appalachian State fourth quarter in a 42-41 victory over Chattanooga on Saturday.

It was the 21st consecutive Southern Conference victory for the Mountaineers, who lost in the Football Championship Series semifinals last season.

Chattanooga got within a point on a 3-yard run by quarterback B.J. Coleman with 51 seconds left. The Mocs tried for a 2-point conversion, but Coleman’s pass was incomplete and Appalachian State recovered an onside kickoff.

Presley completed 22 of 29 passes for 340 yards and two touchdowns for the Mountaineers. Coleman was 23-for-37, also for 340 yards, and threw for three touchdowns for the Mocs.

Trailing 35-14 one play into the fourth quarter, Appalachian State tied the game in a span of 3:53. Presley completed passes of 48 and 26 yards to set up Cedric Baker’s 3-yard run to make it 35-21.

Buster Skrine fumbled the ensuing kickoff, suffering a dislocated shoulder on the play, and the Mountaineers got the ball at the Chattanooga 33, leading to a Presley scoring run from the 4.

Appalachian State got the ball back quickly again, at the Chattanooga 11, when Coleman fumbled after being sacked by Jabari Fletcher. Baker scored the tying touchdown on a 7-yard run.

Chattanooga led 28-7 at halftime. A 46-yard pass from Coleman to Brian Sutherland set up a 3-yard second-quarter scoring run by Coleman. The Mocs completed the first-half scoring with a 67-yard drive in three plays. After Sutherland ran for 34 yards and Coleman hit Joel Bradford for 24 yards to the 9, running back Chris Awuah found Marlon Anthony with a pass for the score.

The Mocs gained momentum early. Mike Hammons’ 29-yard field goal opened the scoring after J.D. Dothard recovered a fumble by Appalachian State’s Travaris Cadet and returned it 26 yards to the Mountaineers’ 25.

After an Appalachian State punt, Chattanooga made it 9-0 on a 53-yard pass from B.J. Coleman to Chris Pitchford. Hammons missed the extra point.

Appalachian State responded with a 52-yard scoring drive, ending in a 2-yard run by Presley, but Coleman’s 36-yard scoring pass to Bradford put the Mocs ahead 16-7.