Saturday’s scheduled matchup between the Liberty Flames and Appalachian State Mountaineers has been canceled due to the severe impacts of Hurricane Helene on Boone, North Carolina, and the surrounding areas. The game, originally set for September 28, will not be rescheduled, marking a significant disruption for both teams.
Appalachian State’s athletics department released an official statement confirming the cancellation: “App State’s home football game scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 28 against Liberty is canceled due to severe impacts to App State, the town of Boone, and surrounding areas caused by Hurricane Helene. The game will not be rescheduled.”
Hurricane Helene made landfall on Thursday as a powerful Category 4 storm in Florida’s Big Bend region and has since traveled north, bringing widespread destruction along its path. The storm has caused significant flooding, power outages, and infrastructure damage throughout the southeastern United States, including North Carolina.
The cancellation is a notable development, particularly for Liberty, which has started the season strong with a 4-0 record. The Flames are emerging as one of the teams vying for the coveted Group of Five’s spot in the College Football Playoff. Losing this game against Appalachian State means that Liberty will play one fewer regular-season game than most teams, which could impact their evaluation by the selection committee later in the season if they remain in playoff contention.
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Liberty’s athletic director, Ian McCaw, acknowledged the cancellation’s potential implications and said the team is exploring options to replace the lost game. McCaw told Brett McMurphy of Action Network that Liberty is actively seeking a 12th opponent to fill the gap left by the cancellation.
For Appalachian State, the cancellation also comes as a disappointment, especially for the local community, which was looking forward to the highly anticipated matchup. However, given the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Helene, safety concerns for both players and fans took priority in the decision to cancel the game.
As Hurricane Helene continues its destructive path, both teams and their fans are left to adjust to the aftermath, with Liberty’s playoff hopes hanging in the balance and Appalachian State focusing on recovery efforts in Boone and surrounding areas.
While the game won’t be rescheduled, Liberty will now look for a way to keep their playoff aspirations alive by adding a new opponent to their schedule.
