Appalachian St. 14, Chattanooga 12

Published Sep. 24, 2011 8:24 p.m. ET

foxsports

Appalachian State relied on its defense in a 14-12 win over Chattanooga on Saturday in the Southern Conference opener for both teams.

Rodger Walker of Appalachian State erased a 6-0 deficit by returning a fumble 74 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the third quarter. Then Jeremy Kimbrough intercepted a pass and returned it 46 yards for a score with 13:38 to play, giving the Mountaineers a 14-6 lead.

The Mocs (2-2) pulled to within 14-12 on a 20-yard touchdown pass from B.J. Coleman to Sloan Allison with 9:51 to play, but Coleman's pass on the two-point conversion attempt fell incomplete. Doug Middleton sealed the win for the Mountaineers by intercepting Coleman at the Mocs' 40-yard-line with 11 seconds remaining.

Appalachian State (3-1) has won seven in a row, 24 of the past 27 and 14 in a row at home in the series.