Eagles Dominate Appalachian State in JLAB Birmingham Bowl

The Georgia Southern Eagles and Appalachian State Mountaineers had played against each other a total of 41 times as they headed into the 2025 JLab Birmingham Bowl, but never at a neutral site. That all changed on Dec. 29, 2025, as the two teams met for the second time in the fall with bowl bragging rights on the line. 

The Eagles beat the Mountaineers 25-23 earlier in the season in Boone, North Carolina, but the “Deeper Than Hate” rivalry was played again in Birmingham, Alabama, with Georgia Southern coming out on top 29-10 to claim Clay Helton’s first bowl win as the program’s head coach. 

The matchup between these two Sun Belt teams added to the excitement at the bowl game. Georgia Southern fans turned out in force to cheer the Eagles to victory.

Eagles immediately flew into action, going 11 plays in 66 yards to take a 7-0 lead on Terrance Gibbs’ first career touchdown. Tripp Bryant added two field goals to end the half, giving the Eagles a 13-3 lead before the break.

Southern started the second half the same way it started the game, soaring down the field to score on a Weston Bryan 3-yard touchdown. Marcus Sanders Jr. took a 32-yard touchdown catch from JC French IV to make the score 26-7. Bryant added a late 27-yard field goal to secure the win for Eagle Nation.

— Bradley Mullis