The Raycom Media Camellia Bowl was decided by special teams as Appalachian State edged Toledo 31-28 in Montgomery, Alabama on Saturday evening.
The Mountaineers and Rockets produced plenty of explosive plays on offense, but it was a kickoff return touchdown for Appalachian State and a late missed field goal by the Rockets that proved to be the difference in the Mountaineers' win.
Following a third quarter touchdown by Toledo to tie the game at 21-21, Appalachian State's Darrynton Evans returned the ensuing kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown to go up seven. Toledo answered quickly with a touchdown run by Kareem Hunt, capping off a quick strike drive to end the third quarter and tie the game going into the fourth.
After being a shootout for three quarters, the final quarter was a defensive struggle with the only points coming on an Appalachian State field goal that proved to be the game winner. The Mountaineers' defense held Toledo to 43 yards of offense in the fourth quarter and forced a late field goal attempt by the Rockets, who bizarrely took a delay of game to push the field goal attempt back from 25 yards to 30 yards and the kick ended up missing wide right.
While special teams proved to be the deciding factor, Appalachian State's offense had quite the game on the ground. The Mountaineers rushed for 297 yards and three touchdowns on 49 carries, led by 143 yards from Marcus Cox and 126 yards from quarterback Taylor Lamb on only nine carries.
Appalachian State's win capped off a second straight 10-win season by the Mountaineers as they continue to be the cream of the Sun Belt crop despite making the jump to the FBS level in 2014.
