A nail biting finish closed Appalachian State’s homecoming as the Mountaineers eeked out a win over Elon. In the shadows of the Appalachian Mountains, fans filled Kidd Brewer Stadium to see their team stretch their record to 5-0.
Tailgating before the game was hard to miss as it surrounded the stadium and campus. Fireworks welcomed the team as well as a sell out crowd that sent cheers echoing through the mountainous terrain. Fans stuck their hands out in a gun motion at kickoff and the Mountaineers were on their way to a big win. A warm and sunny October afternoon reflected the autumn colors that welcome the excitement of mid season football. The sounds of the App State band, North Carolina’s Band of Distinction, kept the crowd fired up all afternoon. Hi Hi Yikas, the fight song, was sung proudly with intervals of “GO APP!” woven amongst the lyrics. The band and its 300+ members performed at halftime and few people left the stands in search of alternate entertainment. Fans had reason to grow restless in the second half as Elon kept the game close. But, the Mountaineers ran out the clock on a solid drive at the close of the game to preserve a 34-31 victory. With three national championships in the past five years, their 5-0 record is bound to continue to get even more lopsided.
