(BCSNN) — Tripp Bryant kicked a career-high four field goals and Georgia Southern made key defensive stops down the stretch to hold off rival Appalachian State 25–23 on Thursday night at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Sun Belt Conference play.

Quarterback JC French IV delivered his best performance of the season, completing 25 of 37 passes for a career-high 352 yards and a touchdown while adding a 3-yard rushing score. The junior led an Eagles offense that racked up 494 total yards and controlled possession for more than 32 minutes.

Georgia Southern (4–5, 2–3 Sun Belt) struck quickly, with French connecting on a 47-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Sanders Jr. less than a minute into the game. Sanders finished with six catches for a career-high 127 yards, while Camden Brown added 97 receiving yards and OJ Arnold rushed for 105 yards on 20 carries.

Bryant’s leg proved decisive, converting field goals from 21, 26, 23, and 24 yards. His final kick early in the fourth quarter gave the Eagles a 25–16 lead.

App State (4–5, 1–4) rallied late, cutting the deficit to two on AJ Swann’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Jaden Barnes with 1:56 remaining. But Georgia Southern recovered the onside kick and converted two first downs — including a fourth-and-1 — to run out the clock and secure its second win in Boone since 2007.

Defensively, the Eagles held one of the Sun Belt’s top passing attacks in check. Ayden Jackson led the way with nine tackles and an interception, MJ Stroud recorded two sacks and a forced fumble, and former Mountaineer Brendan Harrington added eight tackles in his return to Boone. Georgia Southern limited App State to just 77 rushing yards on 23 attempts.

Up next: Georgia Southern hosts Coastal Carolina on Nov. 15 at 6 p.m. ET.