Louisiana-Lafayette tops Appalachian State 34-24 with strong defense

On Saturday night, Louisiana-Lafayette secured a 34-24 victory over Appalachian State in a competitive college football matchup. The game featured standout performances, particularly from Ben Wooldridge, who was instrumental in the win by accounting for three touchdowns. The turning point came in the fourth quarter when Landon Burton recovered a fumble in the end zone, extending Louisiana-Lafayette's lead. This recovery followed a significant play where Justin Agu returned a fumble 70 yards, setting up a crucial scoring opportunity. Appalachian State attempted to rally back, with Joey Aguilar connecting on a 26-yard touchdown pass to Eli Wilson, narrowing the score to 27-24. However, Wooldridge's 1-yard touchdown run with just over a minute left in the game ultimately sealed the victory for Louisiana-Lafayette. The win improved their record to 5-1, maintaining their strong position in the Sun Belt Conference with a 2-0 record. In contrast, Appalachian State fell to 2-4, struggling to find consistency this season. Aguilar's performance was marked by both impressive throws and critical mistakes, as he threw three touchdowns but also four interceptions, which proved costly in the tight contest. The game showcased the resilience of Louisiana-Lafayette's defense, which made key plays at crucial moments. This victory not only boosts Louisiana-Lafayette's confidence but also highlights their potential as a strong contender in the conference, while Appalachian State will need to regroup and address their turnover issues moving forward.