It was going to go wrong, wasn’t it? But it didn’t. Then it went really wrong. But it was unwronged and oh awesome we won, this rules. That was the Oregon State game.

Give all FBS Oregon State’s first five games and like 60% of them are starting 0-5. The combined record of those five foes was 21-2 going into Saturday. Two of them played on Saturday (Houston versus Texas Tech). Point is, that 0-5 record was deceiving, and we saw why.

This was the first game of the season that felt like App State Football. The mojo, the crucial plays, the defensive stands when needed and timely passes.

Davion Dozier being healthy is much needed. He brings a dimension to the offense that no other receiver can. Jaquari Lewis becoming the nailed-on RB2 is another big need to offer a curveball compared to Rashad Dubinion’s fastball run style.

Then you got J.J. Kohl, the very-tall quarterback who was mysteriously injured and is now leading the Apps to victory.

It would have been nuts not to open the QB competition after Boise State. A.J. Swann got roughed up and was already hurt going in. Add on two Pick Six throws and fresh blood was needed. Dowell is playing cool when it comes to who the QB will be in Atlanta this Saturday, but barring any health changes, it should be Kohl.

Kohl moved the team down the field when needed. He pushed forward for the opening touchdown after the Beavs fumbled a kick return and then, late in the game, dove on the ball after Dubinion fumbled in the end zone. This was the low-key play of the game, as at least two Beavers were right there.

There are questions about whether Dowell’s QBs can play well once they get off the script, but Kohl gets a B+ for this one.

During the third quarter, it seemed App State would need to score at least 40 points to win, as Oregon State was driving up and down the field with ease. The defense, despite giving it up between the 20s, came up huge in the red zone. There was a degree of luck as the first interception went right through the WR’s hands and the QB couldn’t take an under-center snap due to a hand injury, but keeping the visitors out of the end zone late in the game on three different occasions got Kidd Brewer Stadium as loud as it has been in a long time.

Was this one of those yearly “mountain magic” games? Maybe. We know No. 61 would have made it so. We’ll count it.

Non-conference is over. Now, sitting at 0-1 in the Sun Belt, App State faces the unique prospect of having all six divisional foes in a row. This is the season. It starts with a perplexing Georgia State in Atlanta, who just fell 14-7 at home to JMU in a game they led 7-0 for most of it. The Panthers, who have been snakebit by the Apps for over a decade, must be feeling good despite the close loss.

On the mountain, beating Oregon State could be the catalyst for bigger and better. App State isn’t going to face teams like Boise State or Oregon State going forward. There’s hay to be made on this schedule. Don’t let the echoes die in a soulless baseball park in downtown Atlanta.