In a rain-soaked Cure Bowl victory in Orlando, Florida, on Dec. 16, Appalachian State improved their program’s FBS bowl record to 7-1 by defeating 11-win Miami (Ohio) 13-9.
The Mountaineers finished their season with a 9-5 record, including earning a berth in the Sun Belt Championship game — something that seemed nearly impossible in late October when App State was sitting at 3-4 overall.
It’s unlikely the Mountaineers could have won six of their final seven games without solid quarterback play, and they got that from Joey Aguilar. So much so that the California native who transferred to Boone from Diablo Valley Community College is North State Journal’s 2023 Newcomer of the Year.
The junior quarterback and Cure Bowl MVP passed for 211 yards and scored App State’s only touchdown — an eight-yard keeper in the third quarter — in the Mountaineers’ win over the RedHawks, earning coach Shawn Clark his second bowl win.
“Honestly, it doesn’t really have too much to do with me,” Aguilar modestly said after the game. “I just get the balls to the receivers and they make the rest of the plays.”
While Aguilar plays it cool in interviews, his play on the field speaks volumes.
The Mountaineers entered the season with their quarterback situation in flux after former starter Chase Brice’s eligibility had expired. Many conference analysts cited App’s hole at quarterback as the team’s biggest unknown in 2023.
Redshirt freshman Ryan Burger had beat out Aguilar for the starting role during preseason camp, earning the Week 1 start. But when Burger suffered an injury in the season opener against Gardner-Webb, Aguilar was thrust into action.
He responded by throwing four touchdowns to lead App to a 45-24 victory.
“We’re very proud of Joey. He was not a starter when he came into the season,” Clark said of Aguilar. “It was a true battle, and Ryan Burger won the job. Through injury, Joey came in and his first play (at App State)was a 60-yard touchdown pass.”
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound quarterback’s breakout game was just the start of a special season for Aguilar.
“Our kids and our coaches have been amazing, and we’ve fought through a lot of different stuff,” Clark said. “Joey has really learned how to manage the game … and he’s taking what the defense gives him.”
Aguilar was honored as the Sun Belt Conference Newcomer of the Year and the second-team all-conference quarterback.
The numbers don’t lie. Aguilar racked up a school-record 3,757 total pass yards and 33 touchdowns against 10 interceptions, coming within four touchdown passes of tying the Sun Belt Conference single-season record.
Only Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels of LSU and Heisman finalist Bo Nix of Oregon, who both had 40 touchdown passes, threw for more this year.
Aguilar’s chemistry with his wide receivers — particularly junior Kaedin Robinson — proved to be instant.
Robinson recorded a team-high 905 yards and 10 touchdowns, while junior wideout Christan Horn (566 receiving yards and six touchdowns) and junior tight end Eli Wilson (350 yards and five touchdowns) each elevated their game with Aguilar at the helm.
“All I do is give them the ball and then they make the plays for themselves,” Aguilar said. “So I just thank them for getting the yards after catches.”
In a college football landscape full of quarterback transfers after successful seasons, App State fans can rest assured that Aguilar isn’t going anywhere.
Citing “unfinished business,” he announced in a social media video message on Dec. 4 that he would be returning to Boone to play his senior season with the Mountaineers.
When the 2024 season approaches next summer, App State fans won’t have to worry about who will be running their offense.
