Who Is to Blame for App State's Loss to NC State?

App State's 41-31 loss to NC State cannot be placed entirely on one player, but the coaching staff has to take some responsibility for how the game started.

The Mountaineers fell behind 21-0 and were eventually down 28-7 with just 39 seconds remaining in the first half. While App State deserves credit for fighting back, putting themselves in such a deep hole against an ACC opponent made the comeback much more difficult.

The Mountaineers also had opportunities to change the game earlier but were unable to capitalize on them.

The Defense Gave Up Too Much Early

The defense was another major part of the problem. NC State scored touchdowns on four of its first six drives and built a 28-7 advantage. Duke Scott was particularly effective, finishing with 148 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

App State's defense eventually settled down and even created a crucial interception early in the fourth quarter, but the damage had already been done.

The defense deserves credit for helping spark the comeback, but allowing NC State to build a three-touchdown advantage put too much pressure on the rest of the team.

Missed Opportunities Were Costly

There were several moments when App State could have changed the game's direction.

Early in the game, Colton Phares forced a fumble and returned it 49 yards, but officials ruled the play dead because Scott's forward progress had already been stopped.

Later, App State failed to convert a fourth-and-1 at the NC State 39-yard line. The Wolfpack responded with a touchdown drive.

Another potential turnover involving Alex Mitchell was overturned after review, with officials determining that the receiver was out of bounds while touching the ball.

These plays did not all represent mistakes by App State, but they demonstrate how many opportunities the Mountaineers had to prevent NC State from building its early advantage.

Singleton Was Not the Reason App State Lost

It would be difficult to put this loss on Malachi Singleton. The quarterback completed 26 of 38 passes for 317 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for a touchdown. He engineered a 24-3 run that brought App State from 28-7 down to a 31-31 tie.

Singleton's performance gave the Mountaineers a genuine chance to win the game. However, the offense ultimately could not produce after NC State retook the lead.

The Biggest Failure Came After the Tie

Perhaps the most important moment came after App State had completed its remarkable comeback.

With the score tied 31-31 and 9:41 remaining, NC State responded with a 75-yard touchdown drive. Scott finished the drive with a 16-yard touchdown run, putting the Wolfpack back ahead 38-31.

App State then failed to convert on fourth down on its next possession, giving NC State possession at the Mountaineers' 33-yard line.

That allowed the Wolfpack to add a field goal and create a two-possession game.

For a team that had just erased a 21-point deficit, failing to respond after tying the game was ultimately decisive.

Special Teams Also Played a Role

James London produced an important moment when he made a 48-yard field goal before halftime and later executed a successful onside kick that helped App State tie the game.

But his late missed 42-yard field goal came when App State was already trailing 41-31 and needing two scores.

It was not the reason the Mountaineers lost, but it ended their final realistic opportunity to make the game competitive again.

So, Who Should Take the Blame?

The loss was a team failure rather than the fault of one individual

The slow start, defensive problems in the first half, missed opportunities and inability to answer NC State's final touchdown drive all contributed.

Singleton and the offense deserve credit for bringing App State back from a 21-point deficit. The defense also created the turnover that helped ignite the fourth-quarter comeback.

But ultimately, App State gave NC State too much room early and could not finish the comeback after tying the game.

The Mountaineers showed tremendous fight, but against NC State, the lesson is clear that a team cannot afford to spend most of the game trying to recover from a three-touchdown deficit and expect the comeback to always be completed.