from sunbeltsports.org

Special Teams Student-Athlete of the Week Zach Matics (Appalachian State, PK, Sr., Entrepreneurship) Matics kicked a career-long 51-yard field goal and picked up a critical first down with a six-yard run on a fake field goal to help lead Appalachian State to a 31-13 win over Wyoming … with less than 30 seconds to go and Appalachian State facing fourth-and-five from its own 24 yard line, Matics took an option pitch from holder Bentlee Critcher and picked up six yards for a first down on the fake field goal … one play later, the Mountaineers scored on an 18-yard touchdown pass to take a 21-7 halftime lead … in the fourth quarter, Matics closed the scoring for Appalachian State with the 51-yard field goal, which surpassed his previous career long by 20 yards … it is longest field goal by a Sun Belt student-athlete this season and tied for the 16th-longest in NCAA Division I FBS in 2015 … it is tied for the seventh-longest field goal in Appalachian State history and is the longest by a Mountaineer since current Detroit Lion Sam Martin made a 51-yarder against Savannah State in 2011.

Congrats to him.
A complete turnaround from last year. I was amazed that he made that 51 yarder. Right down the middle too!

Congrats to him. Yes, his turnaround mirrors the team's. Early last year, struggled with PATs and now stepping up and nailing a 51 yarder! Kudos to Coach Satt for believing in him.

That was the highlight of the day for me. Seeing a kid that struggled so badly last year step up and nail a 51 yard FG in those conditions really made me feel good.

Agreed, 89. That was some pretty sweet redemption. Glad to see his hard work paying off.

appst89 wrote:That was the highlight of the day for me. Seeing a kid that struggled so badly last year step up and nail a 51 yard FG in those conditions really made me feel good.

Yep, that was something else. The Sunbelt article did not explain well enough how hard it was raining and the wind was swirling at that time. He hit a low, line-drive, worm-burner straight down the middle.

Gotta give Bentlee some love for the pitch.