BOONE, N.C. – Gio Lopez threw two touchdowns and scored another as South Alabama dominated Appalachian State 48-14 on Thursday night.
The Jaguars (2-2, 1-0 Sun Belt) scored two touchdowns in the first and second quarters to take a 28-0 lead. Lopez found DJ Thomas-Jones for a 10-yard touchdown to open the scoring before Fluff Bothwell scored a touchdown from 22 yards out.
Appalachian St. (2-2, 0-1) got on the scoreboard when Joey Aguilar threw a 47-yard touchdown to Dalton Stroman, who caught the ball over several defenders as time expired at the end of the half.
Lopez threw another touchdown pass early in the third quarter and Bothwell scored on a 14-yard touchdown run later in the quarter to give the Jaguars a 41-7 lead. That lead grew to 48-7 in the fourth quarter before the Mountaineers got back into the end zone in the final minute of regulation.
Bothwell had 116 yards on 16 attempts, while Lopez had 154 passing yards and 105 rushing yards.
South Alabama ran for 322 yards and five touchdowns on 41 attempts in the victory.
Aguilar threw for 266 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Maquel Haywood rushed for 47 yards on seven attempts and scored the game’s final point when he ran in from the 2-yard line with 52 seconds left.
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