Bitter SoCon Rivals Play As Championship Hangs In Balance
Mike Holloway
Special Contributor
College Sports Journal
STATESBORO, GA. — Appalachian State (6-3, 4-2 SoCon) and Georgia Southern (7-1, 6-1 SoCon) prepare to renew their bitter rivalry once again on Saturday and as both fan bases have grown accustomed to, a Southern Conference title hangs in the balance.
This marks the third consecutive season that the nation's top ranked team will be featured in this match-up, as the Eagles enter the weekend atop the AFCA Poll.
In 2010, it was the Mountaineers who went into Paulson Stadium undefeated and on top of both major polls before falling 21-14 in overtime. ASU returned the favor in 2011 by handing the Eagles their first defeat of the season by a 24-17 final.
The Mountaineers lead the all-time series by a narrow 14-12-1 margin and have won three of the last four games.
However, the road team has not gotten a win since ASU survived in Statesboro by the slimmest of margins in 2008, escaping with a 37-36 victory.
A win for the Eagles would clinch at least a share of the Southern Conference title and earn them an automatic bid to the FCS playoffs, having already defeated second-place Wofford.
