MONTGOMERY, Ala. — As Zach Matics finished up his final practice at Kidd Brewer Stadium Monday evening, he contemplated a scenario where he would be called upon to make one more game-winning kick.
Coming on the field with two seconds left in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl on Saturday evening those dreams became reality when the senior place kicker nailed a 23-yard field goal to lift Appalachian State to its historic 31-29 victory over Ohio University before 21,395 spectators at the Cramton Bowl.
Matics’ kick on the final play of the game completed the 24-point fourth-quarter surge that took the Mountaineers (11-2) from a 24-7 deficit to their first Football Bowl Subdivision postseason win in one of the most wild and wooly contests in recent bowl memory.